We all know that Cape Cod is famous for its sunshine, sandy beaches, fried foods and fishing, but that’s not all. Throughout the year, there are a great variety of opportunities to partake in any number of wonderful social events, from Big Nick’s Ride to the Hookers Ball! Don’t miss out on these fun, fabulous happenings. Here are just a few of the great events happening in 2019:
Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Yarmouth – Everyone loves a parade! Get your Irish on at the 14th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 9 and join thousands of spectators who come from near and far for this special event. For more information, visit capecodstpatricksparade.com.
Father’s Day Car Show, Hyannis – The Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is a great opportunity to treat Dad to a day of engines and chrome. It’s the one day a year that Main Street is closed to “regular” car traffic, so you can stroll, eat, socialize and, most importantly, gawk at the incredible pieces of classic machinery. The event will be held on June 16 in 2019. Be there! For more updates and information, visit the Greater Hyannis Chamber Father’s Day Car Show page on Facebook!
Fourth of July (Cape-wide) – Independence Day on Cape Cod is a celebration like none other. Most towns have their own schedules of fireworks and fun, taking place from sandy beaches to main streets. Cape Cod is THE place to be to celebrate the Fourth. Visit capecod.com closer to Independence Day to get updates on each town’s events.
Hookers Ball, Chatham – The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance throws this incredible fundraising gala each year. The fundraising/auction benefit also happens to be one of the Cape’s best summer parties. You’ll have a blast while supporting our local fishing heritage. Tickets sell out extremely fast for this one, so keep your eye on their website for updates at capecodfishermen.org/hookers-ball. If you can’t get tickets, check out their schedule of events for another opportunity to take part in this organization’s events!
Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, Barnstable – This special motorcycle ride for Cape Cod military who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan has become an enormous annual fundraising event. Proceeds benefit the Nicholas G. Xiarhos Memorial Foundation. The July 21, 2019, event includes live entertainment, food vendors, raffles and more. For more information, visit ngxride.com.
Barnstable County Fair – Held on the Barnstable County Fairgrounds, this is an annual agricultural fair like no other. Every day at the Barnstable County Fair is filled with something new to do, animals to see, fun foods to eat, rides to experience, and local and world-famous acts to entertain you. Keep visiting capecodfairgrounds.com/events/barnstable-county-fair, as the dates for 2019 have not yet been finalized.
Provincetown Carnival – Provincetown Carnival is a week-long celebration of LGBTQ life, including parties, art fairs, a costume ball, and more, and culminates in the Carnival Parade. While the year-round population of Provincetown tops out at 3,000 people, the Carnival Parade attracts nearly 90,000 visitors annually. The 2019 event will run from Aug. 15-24, with its famous parade on Aug. 22. For more information, visit ptownevents.com/provincetown-carnival/.
Pops by the Sea, Hyannis – This is Cape Cod’s single largest cultural event and the most important fundraising event of the year for the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. The famous Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performs at the Hyannis Village Green on Aug. 11. For tickets and more information, visit artsfoundation.org/events/citizens-bank-pops-by-the-sea. This event is sponsored by Citizen’s Bank.
Yarmouth Seaside Festival – This fun, family-friendly event, which typically takes place Columbus Day weekend each year, includes a parade and fireworks, an arts and crafts fair, rides and games, a pie-eating contest, live music, kids’ entertainment, great food, a beach bonfire and so much more. Keep visiting yarmouthseasidefestival.com for the event dates for 2019.
Wellfleet OysterFest – This annual celebration of the town’s famous oysters, clams and its deep-rooted shell-fishing traditions is a two-day event, on Oct. 19 and 20, not to be missed! Wellfleet’s town center comes alive for this family festival that brings together locals and visitors for a weekend full of food, art, music, fun and games. For more information, visit wellfleetspat.org/wellfleet-oysterfest-homepage.
About Ann Luongo
