Barnstable High School Senior Emmalisa Belfiore, 18, plans to work on college applications and spend time with her family over February break.
For Cape Cod students, tomorrow afternoon marks the start of the February school vacation. Many locals will be heading north to ski. Some lucky vacationers will be on their way to sun and fun in warmer climes. And plenty of you will be staying right here on Cape Cod.
“We are going to spend a couple nights visiting my mother and father in Rhode Island, then we’re going to visit some friends in New Hampshire to do some outdoor skiing activities,” said Martha Swindler, an English teacher at Barnstable High School and mother of two. “My husband is working at the boat show in Boston this week and it’s a very fun kid-friendly thing to do, even if you can’t afford to buy a boat. We also plan on going to see the Blue Man Group in Boston because there are actually some very affordable family matinee rates.”
Sounds like a lot of fun to me, definitely more fun than what I’ll be doing this break. Which will be staying up until 3 a.m. every night to catch up on schoolwork and fill out scholarship applications while I drink every last drop of coffee in my house in an effort to keep my eyes open. At least I can take comfort in the fact that not everyone will be having a ton of fun without me this February break. Emmalisa Belfiore of Marstons Mills will be sharing in my suffering as she also scrambles to meet some fast approaching scholarship deadlines.
“Over February vacation I usually go away with my family to New Hampshire and ski,” she said. “But this year I’m probably going to just be spending a lot of time doing scholarship applications and just spending as much time with my family as possible.”
Hannah Kerr, also a senior at Barnstable High School is headed to Maine to visit an aunt and her grandmother.
Hannah Kerr
“We go snowmobiling, and skiing and stuff like that,” she said. Kerr also will be going to sleepover with her basketball team and she plans to work a few days here and there and catch up on some schoolwork.
For those of you who are staying on Cape and don’t have a mountain of scholarship applications to fill out, you may need some suggestions for winter fun that is entertaining and won’t break the bank? So check out our list of The Top 10 Things To Do On February Break right here on Cape Cod.
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1. Ice Skating – Who doesn’t enjoy ice skating? Even if you aren’t any good it’s always fun to try – or at least watch other people fall on their butts trying. Ice skating is the perfect family activity, great for all ages and a good way to spend time together as a family this vacation. Check out the Tony Kent Arena in South Dennis.
2. Bowling Break – Bowling is another fantastic way to spend some time with the family this February vacation. Check out Ryan family amusement, the Orleans Bowling Center, or the Lanes Bowl and Bistro in Mashpee commons.
Ryan Reynolds in ‘Deadpool.’ (Photo by Joe Lederer)
3. The Movies – A pretty obvious choice, but what better way to bond with your peeps and stay out of the cold than to grab some warm delicious popcorn and hit that new movie everyone’s been raving about. You can be sure to catch me at the theater seeing “Deadpool: this vacation.
4. Cape Codder Day Pass – We may be having a mild winter this year but that doesn’t mean you don’t miss the water. Grab a day pass to the Cape Codder Resort and relive the summer with their beautiful indoor pool.
5. The Art ‘Herstory’ Exhibit at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod – Learn some valuable history (or should I say herstory) at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod by checking out their art exhibit featuring the works by famous women. It runs from February 3-28 and the hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
6. Teen Time with Julie Blanchard at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod – Beginning Feb. 13, Julie Blanchard will be directing classes for teens in grades 8-12, that wish to hone their drawing skills. Classes are on Saturdays and are $30. Call (508)-394-7100 to register.
7. Bayside Resort Hotel – Book a staycation at this beautiful West Yarmouth hotel . The February break vacation package includes:
Spacious Accommodations for four
Admission to all scheduled shows and events
Breakfast with “Olaf”, “Elmo”, Sponge Bob” and “Tigger”
Scavenger Hunts
PJ Movie Party
Family BINGO with Prizes
Mad Scientist Discovery Shows
Kids All-Day Movie Madness
Educational Animal & Rainforest Reptile Shows
Ice Cream Socials – Build Your Own Sundae!
Magic Shows & Face Painting
Kid’s Karaoke Party
Kid’s Pizza Parties (Parents Welcome!)
Parents Happy Hour – Moby Dick Poolside Pub
8) Catch Up on School Work – Perhaps the most boring of options, but maybe the most needed (and definitely the cheapest).
9) Cape Cod National Seashore’s Winter Film Festival – On Feb. 8, 15, 21, and 22 the Cape Cod National Seashore will be showing family friendly movies and admission is free! Come view educational films showcasing the beauty of nature. The
The Coast Guard Station in the Cape Cod National Seashore
shows start at 1:30 p.m. Refreshments are available 30 minutes prior to the film.
10) Cape Symphony’s Country Legends – On Feb. 20 and 21, Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas, contestants from “The X Factor” and “The Voice” will sing songs from artists including Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. Adult tickets start at $32 and students start at $16. Check out capesymphony.org for more info.
Another great option is to take in some Cape Theater.
The Cape has lots of great live theater this winter, including kids shows perfect for school vacation week. For kids and adults alike, here what’s on stage in the next few weeks:
For the Whole Family…
Shrek the Musical – Join Shrek and his loyal steed Donkey, as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona. February 12 – March 6.
Presented by Cape Cod Theatre Company- Home of Harwich Jr. Theatre, 105 Division St., West Harwich.
7:30 pm Fridays, 2:00 pm Saturdays and Sundays, through March 6, School vacation matinees: 2:00 pm February 16-18. $20-$25, $15 youth under 21. www.hjtcapecod.org. 508-432-2002.
The True Adventures of Snow White and Prince Charming – A family-friendly retelling of the classic fairy tale, perfect for winter vacation. February 15, 20, 21 & 27 at 1:00 pm. February 17, 19 & 26 at 7:00 pm.
Presented by the Woods Hole Theater Company at Woods Hole Community Hall, 68 Main St.
$15, $10 children 12 and under. www.woodsholetheater.org. 508-540-6525.
Yours Anne, The Life of Anne Frank – Based on “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” and the play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, this renowned chronicle of two Jewish families secreted in a cramped garret in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. February 25 – March 13. Thurs & Fri at 7 pm Sat & Sun at 2:30 pm.
Presented by Eventide Arts at Gertrude Lawrence Stage inside Dennis Union Church, 713 Main Street (Rt. 6A), Dennis Village. www.eventidearts.org/box-office. 508-398-8588.
For the Adults on Valentine’s Day Weekend…
Death Trap – A thriller by Ira Levin. Murder, Mayhem and Laughter. Final Weekend
Presented by The Academy Playhouse, 120 Main Street, Orleans.
8 pm February 12-13 and 2:00 pm, Sunday February 14, 2:00 pm. $24. www.apacape.org; 508-255-1963. $24.00.
The Vagina Monologues – One Night Only – All proceeds go to Cape Cod Center for Women
Presented by Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Rt. 28), Cotuit.
7:30 pm, Sunday February 14. Performance followed by talk-back. $10. www.artsonthecape.org. 508-428-0669.
Something Different…
Play with Your Food – to Benefit Local Food Pantries. Staged readings of original scripts by local and regional playwrights. $10.00. Admission is FREE with a donation of a non-perishable good that will be donated to a local food pantry.
Presented by the Cape Cod Community College Performing Arts Program, Studio Theatre of the Tilden Arts Center on the West Barnstable campus. Fridays at 7:00 pm, February 19 and 26 & March 4 and 11.
— By Kaitlyn Holzworth
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