Cape Cod Fairs & Festivals

Cape Cod is renowned for its scenic beaches and charming towns, but it also hosts a variety of unique festivals and events throughout the year that showcase the region's rich culture and vibrant community spirit. From celebrations of local arts and crafts to events that highlight the area's history and natural beauty, these festivals offer something for everyone. Whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time visitor, these distinctive gatherings provide an opportunity to experience Cape Cod in a memorable way.

Barnstable County Fair

Named the “Best Local Event of 2022” by the Cape Cod Times, the Barnstable County Fair brings classic fair fun to the Cape! Enjoy rides, music and entertainment, delicious food, and agriculture and animals showcases for a week in July. A staple event is the Demolition Derby, where crowds gather to watch JM Motorsport Productions’ intense motorsports insanity in action. Get the small-town, big-fair feel at the Barnstable County Fair. Visit the website for more information.  

Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival

Explore the various plant and floral offerings that Cape Cod blooms have to offer at the Hydrangea Festival! The festival typically occurs for about ten days in July, featuring tours of gardens, workshops led by experts, and special promotions at local nurseries. Not only is this festival a feast for the eyes and an excellent photographing opportunity, but the garden tours support local nonprofits in the community. Stay up to date about this event by following the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Falmouth Holidays by the Sea

Happy Holidays! If you’re in the Falmouth area during December, there are plenty of fun activities to experience that will get you in the Christmas spirit. Join in song for caroling in Woods Hole Village. Watch Santa Claus arrive to town via boat. Walk in the Christmas Parade or run in the Jingle Jog. Falmouth knows how to get attendees excited for the most wonderful time of the year! Visit the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce’s webpage for the event for more information.

Brewster in Bloom

Brewster in Bloom occurs in late April or early May and is an excellent start to the blooming season on the Cape. There are a wide array of events, including a parade, a 5K run, antique tours, concerts, craft shows, and an overflow of community spirit. See Route 6A lined with daffodils and partake in the exciting family activities - it truly captures Brewster’s essence and charm. Stay tuned in about this event by visiting the Brewster Chamber of Commerce site.

Hyannis Father’s Day Car Show

What better way to spend Father’s Day than to see some of the coolest cars around? The Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce hosts a car show every Father’s Day right on Main Street in Hyannis. The event is free to attend and showcases hundreds of different vehicles, making it one of New England’s largest car shows. Local shops and restaurants are open throughout the day for you to explore while you’re out and about in Hyannis. If you or your dad are car fanatics, you can’t miss this event. Learn more about the event on the Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce’s webpage.

Eastham Windmill Weekend

Eastham’s Windmill Weekend in September is an excellent tradition that leads locals and visitors alike from summer into the fall season. On the Windmill Green and across town, there are events and activities all can enjoy. Check out the Talent Show, vendor fair, parade, vehicle show, road race, live music, and more! This event reminds everyone of the joys of gathering the community together and celebrating local businesses and organizations. For more information about the event, visit their website.

Wellfleet OysterFest

If you visit downtown Wellfleet on a special weekend in October, you’re in for a treat. Main Street is transformed into a festival full of vendors, live music, activities for children, and no shortage of oysters. There are demonstrations, presentations, and classes for attendees to learn all they can about oysters. And don’t forget to make time to witness the renowned Shuck-Off competition, America’s largest oyster shucking competition. The event is unlike any other that you’ve seen. Learn more about OysterFest by visiting the Wellfleet Oyster Alliance’s website here.

Festival of the Arts

The Creative Arts Center in Chatham hosts a Festival of the Arts every August. They celebrate local art by featuring a diverse array of handcrafted items, fine art, and unique creations from talented artisans. This festival is free to attend and is just a few minutes away from Main Street in Chatham. The event is a must-visit for art enthusiasts and collectors, providing a vibrant atmosphere that showcases the rich creative talent of Cape Cod. For more information about the Festival of the Arts, visit their website.

Cape Cod Canal Day

Get excited for Cape Cod Canal Day! Festivities occur at Buzzards Bay Park in Bourne, made possible by the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce. Visit vendors, play in the cornhole tournament, or run in the road race - there is plenty of entertainment at this event. The Cape Cod Central Railroad often runs excursion trains throughout the day from Bourne to Sandwich and back. Stay updated about the event by visiting their webpage here.

Provincetown Pride

Provincetown has always been a town known for LGBTQ+ awareness, support, and empowerment. What better way to spend Pride Month than attend the events Provincetown has planned? Typically held during the first weekend of June, Provincetown Pride promises events of all sorts; drag shows, comedy shows, parades, rallies, and festivals showcasing local businesses. There are often other events in Provincetown promoting queer celebration throughout the year. Check out the Provincetown Business Guild’s website for more information.

Cape Cod’s collection of festivals and events offer something special for every resident and visitor throughout the year. Events such as these highlight the region’s powerful community spirit. If you are visiting during a time of the year when one or more of these events is taking place, you should definitely give them a try.

Cape Cod’s Art Museums

Summer has emerged on Cape Cod and the stunning beaches and quaint villages are buzzing with that famous summer rhythm. Beyond the Cape’s sun-drenched shores lies a hidden gem for art enthusiasts – its diverse array of art museums. From notable galleries showcasing local talent to prestigious institutions housing world-renowned masterpieces, Cape Cod offers a unique and enriching experience for all who appreciate the beauty and creativity of the artistic world. With its scenic landscapes serving as inspiration and its vibrant cultural scene fostering creativity, Cape Cod emerges as a haven for both artists and art lovers alike, making it a wonderful destination for indulging in the wonders of visual expression. Read on for a highlight of some exhibits scheduled this summer. Also, be sure to check each institution's website for a full schedule of events and classes.

Cape Cod Museum of Art

60 Hope Lane, Dennis 508-385-4477

Cape Cod Museum of Art celebrates the work of artists with a Cape Cod connection, past to present. The museum includes seven indoor exhibition spaces and is surrounded by a sculpture garden set on beautiful grounds. This summer, over 30 large sculptures are installed on the 22-acre Cape Cod Center for the Arts campus in the Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational (CCOSI). Inside the Museum, Showman With A Paintbrush: The Life and Art of Arthur V. Diehlis on view through July 23. Diehl was a historically significant figure in the Provincetown art scene. The exhibition features his masterful, atmospheric, and often historically accurate paintings that capture the importance of Provincetown as a major fishing port between the mid-1800s and the 1920s, on. Curated by Diehl’s granddaughter, Eugenia Diehl Pell, this exhibition will coincide with the release of Diehl’s definitive biography. This month, you’ll also find Departures: an International Juried Exhibition. A full schedule of art classes for youth and adults is offered year-round. Their Sunday Summer Concert showcases local musicians performing in a wide range of genres in the sculpture garden. Also, be sure to check out the Museum Shop which features lovely gifts handmade by local artists and artisans. www.CCMoA.org

Heritage Museums and Gardens

67 Grove Street, Sandwich 508-888-3300

Heritage Museums and Gardens sits on 100 sprawling acres, complete with walking trails, outdoor discovery opportunities, gardens, classic automobiles, and more. This year, learn about the New England Impressionist movement with the exhibit: Impressionist New England: Four Seasons of Color and Light. New England has long captured Impressionist painters’ attention, both as a setting and a subject. This exhibit explores work from artist colonies around the region. Cotuit artist Alfred Glover is showcased in the exhibit; Alfred Glover in the Garden. Enjoy colorful depictions of animals, trees, and other wildlife around Heritage’s grounds and gardens.

View a traditional Wampanoag Wetu structure on the lawn of Heritage’s 17th Century House. This full-scale reproduction of a Wetu alongside a Wampanoag-style vegetable garden was constructed by members of the Wampanoag Tribe, following centuries-old construction methods. The placement of the Wetu beside the 17th-century house provides a powerful juxtaposition between the English colonists and Native Wampanoag people.

This year’s automobile exhibit, From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America, presents the story of the automobile’s evolution. Explore vehicles from the late 1800s to the 1960s to understand how the automobile evolves. In Charging Ahead: Early Electric Cars in America, Heritage offers examples of early electro vehicles and their charges, such as a 1908 Bailey Electric.

Provincetown Art Assoc. & Museum

460 Commercial Street, Provincetown 508-487-1750

PAAM is a nationally recognized, year-round cultural institution and a major influence in the art culture of Cape Cod. This important museum features the work of artists connected to Provincetown. Rosalind Pace is best recognized for her vivid and stirring poems. Rosalind Pace: Poiesis, Five Decades of Collage, on display until June 23, showcases her passion for visual art. View her collection of collages crafted over 5 decades. Julia Salinger: The Insistence of Memory is on display until July 7. In this multimedia exhibition, Salinger explores the question: “Why do we choose to retain certain moments and filter the rest, while other lost fragments emerge years later.” An Outer Cape Village: Photographs of Marnie Crawford Samuelson profiles fishermen, artists, and makers who live and work on the Outer Cape. The work of Marnie Crawford Samuelson will be on display until July 21. Find these and many more excellent exhibits this month at PAAM.

Cultural Center of Cape Cod

307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth 508-394-7100

The Cultural Center of Cape Cod is one of the most engaging and accessible cultural organizations in the region, offering instruction, exhibition, and entertainment in a range of visual, literary, and performing arts. Enjoy interesting, innovative, and experimental art embedded in a world-class, historic, and community-driven space. Check their website for a list of current and upcoming exhibitions.

Highfield Hall

56 Highfield Dr, Falmouth, MA 508-495-1878

Highfield Hall is a vibrant cultural center surrounded by restored gardens, walking trails, and conservation land. The beautiful restored 1878 estate of the Beebe family has transformed into a center of cultural and community life in Falmouth. Art exhibits, cultural classes, outdoor installations, and children’s programs are just a handful of what Highfield Hall offers. Visit their website for a list of current and upcoming exhibitions.

Wellfleet Preservation Hall

335 Main St, Wellfleet, MA 508-349-1800

Wellfleet Preservation Hall is a wonderful cultural center that uses the transformational power of the arts to bring people together and impact positive change. It is a community center that celebrates people from all backgrounds and walks of life. This May, the Preservation Hall will be showing the work of members from the New England Wax (N.E.W.) organization in an exhibition titled Transparency from May 21 through June 27. Transparency, featuring works from 27 artists, seeks to investigate the concept of transparency in all its forms. Utilizing light, texture, form, and color, works in this exhibition play with the literal qualities of transparency, with pieces that are both ethereal or illusory and grounded in the physical world.