Cape Area Festivals In The Shoulder Season

By Christine Lynch

When my children were school age, we marked the passing of summer vacation by the Big Events: the Fourth of July festivities, the Barnstable County Fair, the Falmouth Road Race. When the road race was over, it felt as though the summer was winding down. Then, once King Richard’s Faire started, the kids knew school was looming. Happily, we found some festivals that they could look forward to on weekends throughout the fall.

Now there seems to be even more of these events sprinkled throughout the months leading up to the winter holidays. Some are a short drive from the Upper Cape, but all are well worth the trip. Here are a few to put on your calendar this year.

September

King Richard’s Faire

Talk about crowd pleasers. This iconic event began in 1982 and will celebrate its 45th year (there was no Faire in 2020) beginning on September 5 and running every weekend through October 25. Once you leave your vehicle in the lot, you walk back in time as you pass through the entrance, seemingly stepping into a time machine. Suddenly, you are part of the throng strolling the village along with townsfolk, wenches, musicians and courtiers.

Vivid colors, sounds and tempting food scents pull you in many directions, so have your Mappe of the Realm ready to guide you (available online).

Besides victuals/beverages, imaginative shops and ongoing events, there is the Gaming Glen for rides and challenges, including axe and knife throwing, archery, crossbows, a Jacob’s Ladder, dragon joust, M’Lady’s Shady Maze and pony rides. And, of course, there is live jousting with knights and fine steeds.

Linger here as long as possible before stepping back into the modern world. Full information and tickets can be found at Kingrichardsfaire.net.

Martha’s Vineyard Jazz
And Blues Summerfest

Enjoying more of the extended summer on Martha’s Vineyard in the lovely town of Oak Bluffs is enough for a good time. But it gets decidedly better when the Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest begins on Friday, September 4, and runs through Sunday the 6th. This is a major music event featuring women in jazz, blues, Latin soul and more.

Performing in the lovely Union Chapel, this year’s lineup includes Huntertones & Uptown Royalty NYC, Endea Owens & The Cookout, The String Queens, Sammulous, Affiniti NYC and Dominque Smith. For complete information, see www.mvjazzbluessummerfest.com.

Outer Cape Music Festival

Also, on September 5 and 6, but at the outer end of Cape Cod, the Outer Cape Music Festival will assemble on Wellfleet Pier. Saturday music will include Electric Six, Forty Thieves and Friends, the Boston Naturals, Natalia Bonfini Band, Club 9 Ball and Matt Devlin. On Sunday, Baha Men will perform, along with Crooked Coast, Bar Maids, Watch Your Step, Kami Lyle and Friends, Feat, Joey and Johnny Spampinato, Barbara Blazedell and Tim Utt. Food trucks and vendors will be on site.

Please note that all profits from the festival go to local charities. See outercapemusicfest.com for information.

Eastham Windmill Weekend

The Outer Cape Town of Eastham will celebrate all that makes it unique from September 11 through 13 with events on the storied Windmill Green, First Encounter Beach and the Elks Lodge. Built in 1608, the Eastham Windmill, which was relocated (originally from Plymouth to Truro, to a venue by Eastham’s Salt Pond to this Village Green) and restored, is the oldest and last working gristmill on the Cape. It is open to the public during the months of July and August to see it in operation.

Windmill Weekend events will include a historic bike ride, road race, car show, talent show and sand art contest. On the Green there will be food vendors, live music, and a wine and beer garden. Parking is limited, so shuttles will be provided. For information, visit easthamwindmillweekend.org.

Cape Cod Wildlife Festival

Those who love nature, animals and being outdoors on the Cape should plan to be at the Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary (345 Bone Hill Road in Barnstable) on Saturday, September 12. From 10 AM through 3 PM the festival will feature a live animal presentation by Wild Animal Ambassadors and the Atlantic Shark Conservancy’s Great White Shark program activities. There will also be a walk-through, life-size inflatable North Atlantic right whale, food trucks, live music, representatives from local environmental organizations, hands-on activities, book signings and a raffle.

This event is free for all, but registration is required. For information, call 508-362-7475 or visit massaudubon.org/programs/long-pasture/102928-16th-annual-cape-cod-wildlife-festival.

Cape Cod Canal Day Festival

The Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce is holding this fun canalside event on Saturday, September 19. Buzzards Bay Park will be jumping with the day’s events from 11 AM to 6 PM. But first, starting at 9:15 AM, will be the Canal Day 5K, running along the water on the Canal Service Road. Registration information is at https://www.capecodcanalchamber.org/all-events/cape-cod-canal-day.

Then, at 12:15 PM, there will be the adorable Costumed Dog Parade, sponsored by Wareham Animal Hospital. For registration info, see https://web.capecodcanalchamber.org/events/CCCD-Dog-Costume-Parade–1700/details.

Cape Cod Canal Day offers live music, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, a cornhole tournament and activities for children. Parking will be available at the Buzzards Bay Recreation Area lot at 90 Main Street. If needed, the rain date is Sunday, September 20.

A special feature will be the Canal Day Excursion Train ride, which will run two round-trip, narrated excursions. Travel across the famous Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge and along the canal to the historic village of Sandwich, then to West Barnstable before returning to Buzzards Bay. Along the way you’ll learn the story of the building of the Cape Cod Canal. For information, see capetrain.com/rides/cape-cod-canal-day-excursion-train.

Harwich Cranberry
Arts And Music Festival

This notable festival is marking its 50th anniversary this autumn. Held in the Harwich Community Center on September 19 and 20, with plenty of parking, there will be live music and dancing, loads of craft items, food trucks, and wines and Devil’s Purse beers. Kids will have their own area for activities.

On Saturday night, a choreographed Drone Show will light up the sky.

See harwichcranberryartsandmusicfestival.org.

Cape Cod Brew Fest

Another Saturday, September 19, event for your calendar is the Cape Cod Brew Fest at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds, which will be celebrating its 14th annual gathering. More than 40 breweries will serve up more than 150 types of brews. This is a 21-plus ticketed event. There will be no admittance for those underage or without a ticket.

Your ticket includes beverage samples from dozens of breweries, live music, access to food trucks and vendors, plus your own custom glass to take home. Live music will run throughout the day, with local country act North Country taking the stage from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. Information and ticket purchase are at capecodbrewfest.com.

October

SandwichFest

On Saturday, October 3, SandwichFest will take place in the heart of Sandwich village from 10 AM until 3 PM. The day will combine a juried craft show, live PorchFest music performances on downtown porches, a dog parade, antique cars, activities for the little ones, various food trucks, and a beer and wine tent. One featured activity appropriate for this town is the sandwich-making competition. Information can be found at sandwichchamber.com.

Kindness Festival

On October 4, the sixth annual Kindness Festival will be held at Buzzards Bay Park from 10 AM until 3 PM. This event is presented by the nonprofit organization Kind Hearts for Kids Inc., whose mission is dedicated to the welfare of children and teenagers in foster care or in the care of grandparents.

The day’s events will include a Kids Zone offering games and activities, animals and a raffle benefiting host Kind Hearts for Kids. You’ll find vendors and information booths, a bake sale and a new pop-up dirty soda booth, the “Fizzy Unicorn.” Among the food choices will be Kono pizza and Frosty Friends food trucks.

Also featured will be musical performances by the Pound and Center Stage Dance, and keynote speaker Dr. Funmi Aguocha from the Office of Behavioral Health Promotion.

For more information, see Kindhearts4kids.org.

Wellfleet OysterFest

This year’s uber-popular Wellfleet OysterFest is set for Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18. Running since 2001, the Town of Wellfleet invites everyone to experience the renowned shellfish from local waters. Oysters and clams will take center stage so visitors can learn about Wellfleet’s shellfishing industry while enjoying the weekend’s activities and savoring the daily catch.

First and foremost will be the abundance of good food, but the festival will also feature a wine and beer garden, fine arts and crafts, talks and cooking demonstrations. There will be tours of shellfish farms, the annual road race and live music starting at 10 AM both days. For children, there will be a crafts and games area. Every year the anticipated event is the competitive Oyster Shuck-Off, considered the biggest in the country and attracting shuckers from all over.

November

America’s Hometown 

Thanksgiving Celebration

As the weather gets brisk and thoughts of the holidays take hold, the Town of Plymouth will roll out a free celebration on Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22. Commemorating the first Thanksgiving held in that area, the weekend is known as America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration. First held in 1996, festivities will include a historically themed parade through Pilgrim Town Center, a marketplace with food and craft vendors, live music, arts and crafts, a pancake breakfast and kids’ activities.

A featured experience will be Wampanoag and Pilgrim living history. There also will be a Craft Beer and Wine Garden and Holiday Village. For complete information, see usathanksgiving.com.

This is a good start for a list of seasonal fun, but always check local news outlets and social media posts for additional planned events.