BY Joanne Briana-Gartner
From art shows to cultural festivals to theater performances, the Upper Cape is awash in things to do this summer. So when you’ve had enough of the beach, check out some of the special events going on this season. Please check individual venue websites to verify event dates, reservation requirements and admission prices.
The 4th of July holiday is celebrated with fireworks off of Falmouth Heights Beach.
Independence Day
Fourth of July celebrations in Falmouth will culminate in a fireworks display over Falmouth Heights beginning at dusk on July 4. Sandwich will mark Independence Day a few days early with fireworks at the Henry T. Wing School on July 1, preceded by a performance by the Moonlighters from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Festivities on July 4 in Sandwich will include a road race, parade and athletic events.
Art Shows & Galas
The Falmouth Art Center’s Summer Soiree featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music exhibits and an auction will take place on July 14 from 5 to 7 PM. Tickets are $100, and proceeds support the center. Ticket purchase is online or by calling 508-540-3304.
The Cape Cod Museum of Art will host its annual gala and art auction, “Paint The Town,” on August 12 beginning at 5 PM. Proceeds will benefit the museum.
The Cahoon Museum Of American Art in Cotuit will host its annual Brush Off, a live art auction and cocktail party on Friday, July 7, from 5 to 7 PM. The fundraiser will feature food from Edible Creations by Gerry, music from Bart Weisman, a silent auction in the museum’s garden gallery and a live auction by Charlie Baily Gates with more than 100 paintings from local and regional artists up for bid. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased through the Cahoon’s website. Proceeds from the event will help fund arts education and access. Exhibits this summer at the Cahoon include “Look Up! Weathervanes of Cape Cod”; “Refreshments at the Sea: American Artists on Cape Cod,” a survey of art related to Provincetown; and “Julie Child: 65 Years of Biological Illustration” featuring the work of an artist who has spent a lifetime documenting marine animals for scientists at the Marine Biological 
Laboratory, creating horticultural illustrations for gardening books, teaching and collecting biological specimens of interest.
The Falmouth Art Center’s much-anticipated Summer Juried Show will be on view June 30 through July 31, featuring works in all mediums except photography. An opening reception for the show will take place July 7 from 5 to 7 PM.
The Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis will host a major retrospective of work by illustrator, artist, author and Chatham resident Bob Staake from July 12 to October 15. Mr. Staake is internationally known for his iconic covers for The New Yorker, bestselling children’s picture books, award-wining illustrations and eclectic art.
“End to End: Cape and Island Artists and the Land” runs through September 3 at Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth. The show looks at how the topographical and geological character of Cape Cod informs artists who make their home here.
The 2023 Adirondack Chair Trail continues throughout the summer in Sandwich as local businesses and organizations display special Adirondack chairs painted by Sandwich Arts Alliance artists. Trail maps are available at the Sandwich Arts Alliance Center & Gallery as well as the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center and at each of the 22 sponsors’ locations. On August 23, the chairs will be auctioned off at a festive event with proceeds supporting the arts and cultural programming in Sandwich.
Special exhibits this season at the Sandwich Glass Museum include a show of work by contemporary glass artist Michael Egan, along with a show of vintage salt vessels, many of them made by Boston & Sandwich Glass Company.
“Creating Cape Cod,” a special exhibit telling the story of the region’s development as a tourist destination, is one of the special exhibits this summer at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Also at Heritage is the outdoor sculpture exhibit “Otherworldly” featuring the work of Massachusetts artists Chris Frost, Elisa Vanelli, Robin Tost, Nicolas Nobili and Sue Beardsley.
Music Festivals
Coast-Fest, the musical brainchild of local favorites Crooked Coast, returns to Falmouth Marine Park on August 5. The lineup for the all-ages show includes Crooked Coast, Couch, Hayley Jane, Funky Dawgz, Sixfoxwhisky, Combs Brothers Band and DJ XP. Tickets can be purchased at www.coast.fest.com.
Bands for Badges, another popular family-friendly, day-long music festival, returns to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 12, with a lineup that includes Scott Stapp, Cowboy Mouth, Magnolia Boulevard, Entrain, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Aldous Collins Band and Monica Rizzio. Bands for Badges benefits local first responders and their families including firefighters, police officers, EMTs and military personnel.
Jazz
Jazz lovers will have plenty of opportunity to hear the genre they love. Jazz duo Kate McGarry and Keith Ganz will perform July 9 at Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth. Ms. McGarry is a Grammy-nominated performer recognized for bringing authenticity and vitality to every song she performs. Guitarist Keith Ganz, also a Grammy nominee, is known for his melodic voice on both electric and acoustic guitars. Tickets are $50. Tickets are available through Highfield’s website or by calling 508-495-1878. The event is co-sponsored with Falmouth Jazz, which will also present the Harry Allen Trio on August 5 at 6:30 PM at the Gallery on Main in Falmouth. The evening will feature Mr. Allen on saxophone, Grey Sargent on guitar and Marshall Wood on bass. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.falmouthjazz.org.
The Cape Verdean Club of Falmouth will present a Sunday Afternoon Jazz Social on July 23 from 2 to 5 PM featuring We Jazz Up with Frank Wilkins on piano, Lenny Stallworth on electric bass and Sergio Bellotti on drums. Tickets are $25 at the door. The club is at 126 Sandwich Road in Falmouth.
Theater
The Cape Cod Theater Project continues its 25-plus year tradition of workshopping new plays in Falmouth with a season that includes plays from Steph Del Rosso, May Treuhalf-Ali, Fernanda Coppel, Mary Elizabeth Hamilton and Stephen Belber. Performances begin June 29 and will be offered through July 22. The staged readings, which offer the chance for audience comment at feedback following each show, take place at Falmouth Academy’s Simon Center for the Arts. Individual tickets and all-access passes can be purchased online.
College Light Opera Company’s season of nine plays in nine weeks is already underway with the following shows still to come: “9 to 5” opening July 4, “The Music Man” opening July 11, “The Merry Widow” opening July 18, “The Little Mermaid” opening July 25, “Yeomen of the Guard” opening August 1, “Jesus Christ Superstar” opening August 8 and “Singing in the Rain” opening August 15.
The Cape Playhouse in Dennis also offers a busy summer season featuring both plays and musicals. Still to come are “Hello, Dolly!” which will be performed on the main stage at Cotuit Center for the Arts July 12 through August 6. The center’s black box theater will see “Three Little Girls Down a Well” presented July 13 through July 30 and “The Experts Guide to Pulling Off an Art Heist” August 17 to 31.
Film
The 32nd annual Woods Hole Film Festival will take place July 29 through August 5 at venues in Falmouth and Woods Hole. Festival selections will also be available to screen online. Tickets are available through the festival website and in person at the box office beginning July 10. The festival features full-length and short narrative films, documentaries and animation as well as workshops, master classes and panel discussions.
Baseball
With more than 350 active collegians annually playing in the major leagues, the Cape Cod Baseball League is one of the country’s premiere college summer baseball leagues. The 10-team league plays throughout June and July and culminates in an August playoff series.
Schedules for the Falmouth Commodores and the Bourne Braves can be found online. This year’s all-star game will be played on July 22 in Harwich.
Fairs
The Barnstable County Fair, with performances, exhibits, food and a thrilling midway takes place July 17 to 23 at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth. For those willing to travel, Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair, complete with rides, livestock shows and a woodsmen competition, takes place August 17 to 20 in West Tisbury.
Cultural Celebrations
The 102nd Annual Mashpee Wampanoag Pawâw (Powwow) will be held July 1, 2 and 3. The pawâw features special events, contests, food, vendors, drumming and dancing and will be held on the Pawâw Grounds at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee.
Wampanoag Heritage Day will be celebrated at Heritage Museums & Gardens on July 29. Events and activities will include a performance by the Wampanoag Singers and Dancers, a family activity guide, hands-on activities and traditional crafts. Visitors can explore and learn more about the wetu, a reproduction of a historic dwelling; the Three Sisters demonstration garden; and a mishoon, or dug-out canoe. A pop-up market will include local artisans and food. Activities are free with museum admission.
Cheers of Viva la France! Will be heard coming from Highfield Hall and Gardens July 14 when the museum celebrates Bastille Day with musician Dahlia Dumont from 5 to 7 PM. The event will include a mix of classic French waltz and African and Latin American grooves mixed with soul, folk and eastern European melodies. Tickets are $55. Purchase is through Highfield’s website or by calling 508-495-1878.
The Greek Food Festival will take place July 7 and 8 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church at 1130 Falmouth Road in Centerville. Hours are 4 to 10 PM on Friday and 11 AM to midnight on Saturday.
Books
The Friends of Falmouth Public Library will hold its Annual Summer Book Sale, featuring thousands of used books, from Thursday, June 29, to Monday, July 3, on the library lawn. Hours of the sale are every day from 10 AM to 4 PM, except for July 3, which will be 10 AM until noon.
Used books are for sale during library hours at the Woods Hole Public Library with books for sale shelved downstairs in the library. The West Falmouth Library also maintains several shelves of books for sale in its lower level.