This summer is already shaping up to be unlike any other we’ve experienced. While the Covid-19 crisis has affected our day-to-day lives, there are still many ways we can have fun this summer—while vacationing responsibly, of course!
The arts are alive and well on Cape Cod! Thankfully, a few art festivals have managed to happen this summer—among them are the Artist Cottages in Orleans Market Square. Stroll down a shell path to 8 different cottages featuring a variety of art including photography, pottery, fabric art, home décor, paintings, mixed media and jewelry. Please note that face masks are required. Also not to be missed—the HyArts Artist Shanties in Bismore Park on Ocean Street in Hyannis. Artwork in the shanties vary from week to week and include painting, jewelry, sculpture, glass, ceramics, mariner knot work, wood carving, and much more!
Do you have a Cape Cod story to tell? Then check out The Mosquito Story Slam, a live storytelling event! The Mosquito has presented thousands of stories to audiences at sold-out events all over Cape Cod. The theme of this slam will be “Suddenly Last Summer.” Audience members are invited to prepare five-minute, true stories based on the theme. Ten storytellers will be chosen to tell their tales! This event is happening on August 27th at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. Tickets are $20 per person and the event is limited to only 100 participants, so be sure to purchase your ticket early!
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If fresh seafood and produce is what you’re after, please check out the Midnight Our, a fishing boat, selling their daily catch right off the boat! Looking to pick-your-own produce? Visit Coonamesset Farm in Falmouth where you can pick your own in-season produce—from peas to peppers and greens to herbs—nothing is fresher than something you’ve picked yourself! There are a number of local farmer’s markets in the area worth checking out, as well! And if you’re looking for more items freshly picked, check out the Cape Cod Lavender Farm Farm located in Harwich. They have a fantastic, rustic gift shop full of goodies made from the lavender growing in the surrounding fields. You’ll find lavender lemonade, jam, sachets, room sprays, freshly harvested lavender, lavender plants and more!
If outdoor music is your thing, check out the Dennis Yarmouth Summer Concert Series, an event that occurs every Monday in August. Enjoy this outdoor music series at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. The Hyannis Sound, an a cappella group of college young men, will be performing every Thursday night at 6PM at Whitehouse Field in Harwich. Attendance is capped at 100, so be sure to get a ticket in advance! There’s also the Popponesset Marketplace Concert Series happening Thursday through Sunday evenings. The concerts are free for the entire family, and feature a variety of musicians and local talent.
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Several local towns have joined the popular outdoor movie trend happening this summer! On the Outer Cape, there’s the Wellfleet Drive-In, the oldest drive-in on the Cape that shows double features! There’s also Drive in Movie Thursday happening in the Mashpee Commons parking lot. Shows start at 8:30pm and the first 150 guests will receive a FREE BAG OF POPCORN from Smith Family Popcorn. Be sure to grab takeout dinner from one of our participating restaurants at Mashpee Commons in time for your film! On the Mid-Cape there’s the Yarmouth Drive-In hosting live events including concerts and comedy shows, along with movies. Please note that tickets for most of these venues should be purchased in advance.
If you’re in the mood for a little spooky evening fun, be sure to check Barnstable Village’s Haunted & History Walking Tour happening every night, except Monday and Friday, through November 15. Walk the historic and haunted “Old Kings Highway” in Barnstable Village, making over ten stops, and hear many ghost stories along the way! Mask and reservations are required, please call 508-241-1151 to reserve your spot.
Enjoy one of the Cape’s popular whale watches, like the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown and the Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises! If you’re interested in going on one, a reservation is recommended, and face masks are required.
The observation deck has re-opened at the Chatham Fish Pier. Come sit among the seals and gulls, and watch fishermen unload their daily catch!
Now through Columbus Day, be sure to check out the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail! There are 17 amazing sand sculptures to see throughout the town of Yarmouth—be sure to take part in the Sand Sculpture Trail Photo Contest, as well!
If you’re looking to get out and enjoy our beautiful local surroundings, here are some of our favorite hikes:
On the Upper Cape, there’s Beebe Woods located in Falmouth next to Highfield Hall. Beebe Woods consists of 383 acres of land and hosts an extensive network of walking trails that cover miles of varied terrain, including wooded ridges and steep-sided hollows, and a picturesque pond known as the “Punch Bowl” that lies deep within the woods.
Down a bit on the Lower Cape is The John Wing Trail located in Brewster near the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. This 1.3 mile trail takes you through an upland forest, salt marsh, salt meadows, dunes and mud flats.
Out on the Outer Cape, you will find Fort Hill Trail. This loop trail crosses open fields and connects with the Red Maple Swamp Trail where you walk along a boardwalk. At several points you’ll find spectacular vistas of the Nauset Marsh area. This trail is a real treat if you’re a bird watcher!
If you find yourself on the island of Nantucket, try to get out to the quaint town of Siasconset to enjoy the ‘Sconset Bluff Walk, also known as the Cliff Walk. This trail leads from the picturesque fishing village of Siasconset, where small rose-covered cottages sit atop the bluff, out to Sankaty Head Lighthouse. You’ll find yourself walking along some of the most beautiful properties on the island on one side of you, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic on the other.
And finally, out on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, there are the Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary Trails located in West Tisbury. The trails are along a hillside, providing many glimpses of the water overlooking Vineyard Sound and the Elizabeth Islands. At the bottom is a little pond on one side, the beach in the middle, and the Sound on the other side, really a gorgeous sight. A little warning—you might experience a bumpy ride on your way to the trail, but it’s worth it!
Check out the below video to find out more about the hikes we mentioned above: