The countdown has begun! Another page on the calendar has been torn off, bringing us closer to the lazy days of summer, with Memorial Day generally counting as the starting pistol for our favorite time of year. And although this special day offers the taste of sweet ice cream, the feel of sunburned noses, and the smell of fireworks, it’s the deeper side of the holiday that brings meaning into our lives, and for everyone who has lost someone close during their service for our country, spending Memorial Day close to the spot where our country began is the best way to honor those brave souls. This guide to Memorial Day on Cape Cod events will ensure you get to acknowledge both sides of the coin in ways that are fun and meaningful!
Moving is the only way we can describe this hour-long ceremony featuring Scouts, VFW members, American Legion members, the Chatham Coast Guard Color Guard, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Starting at 10 AM on May 27 and ending at 11:15 AM, it’s the perfect way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
We love a parade and the Brewster Memorial Day Parade every year holds a special place in our hearts! Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign War #9917 and beginning at noon, everyone from the very young to the very old will feel patriotic as they watch the red, white, and blue decorations on marching bands and floats stream on by. This is one of the favorite tourist attractions for Memorial Day on Cape Cod.
Offering special readings to commemorate the day, Eastham’s Memorial Day on Cape Cod Ceremony is another local favorite. Those participating in this acknowledgment of Eastham’s veterans and their families include the fire department, police department, and the Coast Guard. Emotional and heartfelt, everyone is invited to attend!
Nothing represents our nation better than a good old-fashioned parade, and this one in Dennis has all that we love about the simple march. From decorated floats to marching bands to fire trucks and police cars gliding by with lights flashing, the visual wonders will make you smile as the speeches given will bring a tear to your eye!
Of course, the events listed here are just a sampling of the wonderful ways Cape Cod celebrates this meaningful holiday, and New England Vacation Rentals are first in line to celebrate, no matter which village we are in! And when it’s time to reserve your vacation digs, we hope you’ll think of us and our homes that are built in the classic New England style and are the perfect place to celebrate any holiday. We have extensive list of vacation rentals, including our Eastham rentals and properties in Brewster, Dennis Port, Orleans, Truro, and Provincetown. Reserve yours today!
Memorial Day Weekend is the much anticipated unofficial launch of the beginning of the summer season and all the fun that lies in the warm months ahead. With three whole days to enjoy warmer weather and no work, Cape Cod has lined up a long weekend’s worth of activities for local residents and visitors to the area to enjoy. Below, we have listed just a handful of the many activities to choose from this Cape Cod Memorial Day Weekend.
On Saturday, May 28th, from 10 am – 12pm on Santuit Road, guests can join ecologist and author Professor Gil Newton on an interpretive walk through the many diverse ecosystems of the 97-acre town-owned conservation area. While doing so, hikers can learn more about the salt marsh ecosystems as well as the flora and fauna that thrive in the area. Plan to meet on Santuit Road Park at the 2nd gate. Non-members can expect to pay $5 each.
This well-known yearly activity, the Figawi Race from Cape Cod to Nantucket, has earned widespread recognition both as a prestigious sailing event and as one of New England’s very best parties of the entire year. People from all over the island and beyond come in flocks to Cape Cod during Memorial Day weekend dressed in their best nautical attire. It’s a true Cape Cod experience!
This festival can be enjoyed all through the month of May, not just during Memorial Day. The annual Maritime Days festival is a month long celebration dedicated to celebrating Cape Cod’s seafaring heritage. Many events can be enjoyed during Maritime Days, including guided kayak tours, harbor cruises, lots of exhibitions, a special museum and much more.
On Memorial Day itself, from 10 am – 11 am, participants can meet up at the Veterans Field Road parking lot to observe Memorial Day as it was intended. Join the ceremony as it moves to multiple different memorial sites, including the World War I Memorial, Main Street, Nickerson Park, Oyster Pond, Seaview and Main, and Veteran’s Circle.
Another Memorial Day option is the Annual Pancake Breakfast which will be held in the Our Lady of Victory Hall on 230 South Main Street from 8 am – 11 am. Adults are $7 each and kids under 12 are $4, with toddler under 3 eating for free.
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