This year’s Wellfleet Oyster Fest is coming quickly! Here are a few words about the event, and why you should be looking forward to it!
Like many towns in Massachusetts, Wellfleet depends heavily on its proud (and famous!) oysters, clams, and other shellfish, as well as on the industries and traditions surrounding them. This festival celebrates these cornerstones of Wellfleet’s well-being with tastings, music, sporting events, shucking contests, and more!
The festival is supported by many local contributors, including volunteers and local businesses. It is organized by Wellfleet SPAT—Shellfish Promotion and Tasting, a non-profit begun in 2002 that is dedicated to sustaining the town’s shellfishing and aquaculture industries. The festival furthers their mission by improving awareness of shellfishing practices through different activities that are part of the festival.
Food, music, art, beverages, competitions—where do we begin? Let’s start with the food, since oysters are the staple of the festival! Fishermen know that people are out in droves for their catches, so unless you plan on eating them straight from the seafloor, the shellfish you get here are going to be the freshest imaginable. Some restaurants also come out and set up their own tables serving up chowder, stuffed shellfish, and all other sorts of goodies. Plus, you can even see cooking demonstrations to watch masters at work and get some tips! And speaking of all things edible, locally-brewed beers, ales, and wines are all for sale as well!
Like much of Cape Cod, Wellfleet is proud of its local arts scene. This includes our musicians, so there will be live performances throughout the festival—whether you prefer country rock or string duets, you’re sure to find something you like. You’ll be sure to find plenty to delight your eyes as well as your ears, as many artisans come out to show off their crafts, whether photos, jewelry, paintings, or ceramics. It’s a great place to seek a souvenir!
Finally, what’s a festival without some competition? While the “shuck-off” is the most publicized, there’s other places to test your mettle in a variety of ways, from tennis to running to spelling!
For a full list of activities, check out the Oyster Fest schedule here: http://wellfleetspat.org/wellfleet-spat-events-fundraising-to-fund-local-programs/wellfleet-oysterfest-homepage/wellfleet-oysterfest-schedule-of-fest-activities/
This two-day festival will be held on Saturday, October 15th and continue the next day, Sunday October 16th. The events are centered around Wellfleet’s town center, around Main Street. The cost is $10 per day, with various vendors setting their own price for their food and other wares. Sorry, but no pets or outside alcohol allowed!
If you’re a fan of seafood—and if you’re visiting Cape Cod, we hope you are—then this is a great even to plan your stay around. Come experience a brisk and beautiful New England fall, and have some fun while you’re at it!
Cape Cod is always a wonderful place to visit. The area’s nice weather, unique culture, and unparalleled natural beauty keep visitors flocking to the cape throughout the entire year. But September is a very special time to be on Cape Cod. This is not only due to the amazing weather you will find here at the end of summer, but also because of the great events that sweep through the Cape during this time of year. Here are some of the most notable events that you will not want to miss!
On Sunday, September 25th, 2016 you can enjoy the festival boasting the most positive energy you will find throughout the Cape. For this special day, Cape Cod Beer creates a beer garden in a park overlooking Hyannis Harbor. From 11 am to dusk, visitors can see the spirit of the town and the Cape as a whole up close and personal with a variety of great foods, homegrown artists, designers, farmers, and so much more. But the highlights of the event are the unique and delicious craft beers that will be poured from the opening of the festival until 6 pm.
Cape Cod is a community that cherishes the gifts of its natural landscape. From September 16 to the 18th, visitors and locals alike can join in on events celebrating the natural beauty of the area. Throughout the weekend, the bays, ponds, lakes, marshes, creeks, and beaches are showcased like never before. There are endless opportunities to enjoy all of this beauty through guided walks, bike rides, lectures, discussions, kayak trips, and so much more. This event is a must-attend for all the lovers of nature out there, as you will be blown away by the nature here.
This is a very special weekend dedicated to celebrating the history and the culture of this amazing place. From September 16th to the 18th, you can enjoy events and activities of all types. The fun and education is kicked off on Friday night with a historical talk, followed by a cocktail party in the evening. From there the festivities really get going, with a pancake breakfast on Saturday and a flea market on Sunday. Other events include, but are not limited to, kids’ events, a dog show, a golf tournament, dinners, and a silent auction.
There is so much more happening on Cape Cod for this wonderful month. Make sure you visit the Cape before September is over!
Your vacation to the Cape is coming up next week, and aside from staying in a luxury New England Vacation Rentals home, and maybe going to the beach, you really don’t have any plans for while you are there. The nice thing about Cape Cod is that you don’t need to spend your trip participating in activity after activity after activity; a Cape vacation tends to be about slowing down and discovering the beauty that is Cape Cod. But because it is fun to do things on vacation, we have provided a list of top activities occurring next week on our island. Don’t feel pressured, though, the only thing you absolutely have to do while staying on Cape Cod is to enjoy yourself!
Some of us can’t pass up the chance to be frightened, while some of us are eager to learn the history of whatever place we are visiting, and the Barnstable Village Haunted & History Tour offers the opportunity to do both, meaning everyone in your family can enjoy this spooky event! The tour begins at the US Coast Guard Heritage Museum at 7:00PM on August 7th, 10th, and 13th, allowing you a few chances to participate during your stay on the Cape. Costing $15 for adults and $8 dollars for Children 8-12 (kids under 8 are free!), this two-hour tour features 10 stops along the “Old Kings Highway,” including a cemetery!
Held on August 10th from 10:00AM till 3:00PM, this charming event takes place at the Green Briar Animal Center. If you have young children, they won’t want to miss this fun-filled event, especially as they have the opportunity to meet the famous Peter Rabbit himself! You and your family will experience the thrill of animal meet & greets, story time, and even play games of chance geared towards the interest levels of your youngsters! This free event is held at 6 Discovery Hill Road in East Sandwich.
In our humble opinions, you can’t consider a vacation to be an excellent one unless you’ve spent some time enjoying top notch live music, and the Provincetown Jazz Festival, held August 11th & 15th, has been a premier way to spend your down time for 12 years. Featuring musicians from all over the world, including Europe and New Zealand, the $30 ticket price is extremely reasonable, meaning this event has sold out a few times over the years! Being a non-profit event, your dollars will go to a worthy cause, so you can feel good about yourself as you listen to the best Jazz music around. The August 11th event will be held at the Crown & Anchor at 247 Commercial Street in Provincetown.
Cape Cod is our favorite spot on Earth and the events listed are just a few of the many reasons why we love this place so very much. Book your New England Vacation Rentals luxury vacation property today and start exploring the wonder of Cape Cod!
Winters are long and hard on the island, so when the temperatures start rising and the days begin to last longer, Cape Cod residents just want to get out and celebrate the sun and all it offers! Local celebrations mean even more fun and enjoyment for vacationers who only get to experience island life for brief periods, so our helpful staff at New England Vacation Rentals has compiled a list of activities you just might want to plan your vacation around. We want to make sure you don’t miss out on a single thing while visiting our great island; Cape Cod is that wonderful!
Featuring harbor cruises, lighthouse tours, and historical walks, along with a host of other events and activities dedicated to the Cape’s rich Maritime history, the entire month of May is a party! Attend a lecture on salt marshes, take a class on painting outside, or tour artist shanties for a chance to meet local artists and purchase their wares. There are many activities spread out all over the island, so be sure to visit the www.capecodchamber.org for a complete list of things to do during Maritime Days on Cape Cod.
Experience a launch party for Dry Line Cape Cod Gin created by our very own South Hollow Spirits distillery. For under 12 dollars a person, you can spend a couple of hours tasting Dry Line cocktails and appetizers at Chatham Bars Inn as you watch the sun sink into the waters surrounding our beautiful home, but only if you’re over 21; this is an adults-only event.
The Heritage Museums & Gardens is home to the annual Rhododendron Festival every spring, and with thousands upon thousands of flowers in bloom, this is one sweet smelling event! Explore the museums, walk the gardens, and relax; it’s that tranquil and peaceful. Your younger children will enjoy the carousel, and the older ones (and yes, we’re talking about your husband here!) will thrill at the sight of the Heritage’s colorful antique automobile collection!
The race itself begins a little before 10 on Saturday morning, but festivities last all weekend. When else are you going to get the opportunity to experience a genuine New England style yacht regatta? The large and colorful boats will present bystanders with many scenic photo opportunities and we should know; many of our staff members have their own photos of regattas from precious years gracing the walls of their homes and offices. Food, drink, entertainment, and souvenirs help mark this epic weekend that is the official start of summer. You’re not going to want to miss out on a chance to party with the friendly residents of Cape Cod!
Cape Cod is a hot spot for tourists and as such, it offers all kinds of fun events and yearly festivals to keep everyone entertained. Though peak season on Cape Cod is the summertime, no matter what time of year you visit the area you will find something fun and exciting to do. Here are some of the most popular annual events to look forward to on Cape Cod.
Start the year off with First Night Chatham. This annual New Year’s Eve event welcomes those from near and far and offers the “cod-drop” at midnight, fireworks, open-houses at many of the businesses, and live music and entertainment. Be sure to purchase a button ahead of time!
The Cape Cod Orchid Show, which happens every January showcases some of the most beautiful orchids in a myriad of colors. Learn about growing these flowers and see some of the spots of Cape Cod where they are in full bloom. In March, take part in the annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day parade. Many line the streets and watch the floats, local bands, and leprechauns march by. The parade is centered in Yarmouth and isn’t something to be missed!
Every May is the Cape Cod Maritime Days event, which celebrates the area’s maritime heritage, and has been voted one of the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.
Cape Cod Quahog Day is always held on the very first day of summer. The local prized clam, lovingly named “Doug,” has a task not unlike the groundhog who predicts the beginning of spring. A festival is held in which Doug will predict the length of the upcoming summer season and visitors gather from miles around to hear the predictions, enjoy amazing food, beautiful weather and more.
There’s a large Independence Day Parade in Chatham every year drawing thousands and Cape Cod fireworks in many towns to celebrate the 4th. It’s a chance for locals and the visitors alike to come together in celebration.
Carnival in Provincetown takes place in August offering an extravagant parade, colorful costumes, music, food, and fun! Take part in the Falmouth Road Race every August as runners run for charity and make their way through the picturesque town. If you’re not a runner yourself, you can cheer the runners from the sidelines.
The Bourne Scallop Festival takes place every September as does the ClamBQ (A New Orleans inspired food and music festival with lots of fresh seafood and live music to enjoy). The Orleans Surf Film Festival is always a hit in October at The Jailhouse Tavern and a Pancake Breakfast with Mrs. Clause and Santa the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a great way to usher in the holiday season. Of course the Wellfleet Oysterfest is always the place to be in mid-late October, this multiple day festival offers live music, beer & wine, local shops and galleries selling goods, and of course the star of the event, freshly shucked oysters!
Thousands of vacationers are drawn to Cape Cod every year to relax on the sandy beaches, explore the historic towns, and mill about the charming harbors. Cape Cod family vacations are always exciting; even if you can only get away for a quick weekend trip, your time spent here is guaranteed to be well worth it. With some careful planning, first-time visitors to the Cape can make sure they get the most out of their trip, and not leave feeling like they missed out on anything. Below, you’ll gain a good sense of where to stay, where to eat, and what to include on your itinerary, so you don’t waste any precious time once you arrive.
You will have several lodging places to choose from at the Cape, but keep in mind that there are many benefits to staying in a vacation home rental instead of in the impersonal, tight quarters of a hotel room. New England Vacation Rentals offers a variety of homes to choose from, ensuring that all visitors will find something to suit their budget and location preference. Amenities include concierge services and maintenance requests, so that all you have to worry about is enjoying your time on Cape Cod. Whether you’re looking for a large property situated right on the water, perfect for a Cape Cod family vacation, or a cozy house positioned in the heart of one of the Cape’s villages, New England Vacation Rentals can accommodate.
The main things to think about when it comes to eating during your two-day stay on Cape Cod are where you’re going to have breakfast and where you’re going to get excellent seafood. Many places cater to both, so finding either shouldn’t be too terribly difficult. Of course, where you end up will all depend on which area of the peninsula you’re in, but a few places to start include Maison Villatte in Falmouth for breakfast, The Clam Shack for a tasty seafood lunch right on the dock, and Quahog Republic to mingle with the locals for a drink or two.
In Provincetown, try out Pop + Dutch for a delicious breakfast sandwich, The Canteen for a variety of seafood options, and Aqua Bar for a waterfront nightcap. If you’re in the lower Cape area around Chatham, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Monomoy Coffee for breakfast, Impudent Oyster for a seafood lunch or dinner, and Chatham Bars Inn for an after-dinner cocktail.
With only two days to pack in all that you want to see and do, it helps to have a clear plan outlined ahead of time. Begin your first day in Falmouth, check out Old Silver Beach, and stop to take pictures of the very New England-esque Nobska Point Lighthouse. Later in the afternoon, head to Hyannis to catch a glimpse of the Kennedy compound, and walk through the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum before signing up for a whale watching tour that leaves from Hyannis Harbor. You may find your second day best spent taking a ferry ride to Nantucket, where you can bike around and experience the National Historic District’s museums, boutiques, and art galleries.
Any of these suggestions are sure to make your first trip to Cape Cod a memorable one.
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