Lip-syncing, dancing, music & beer gardens: 12 top things to do on Cape Cod Oct. 21-27

Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times
·8 min read

Song or dance are at the center at several events this week, with music choices ranging from Argentinian music to classical pieces to what will undoubtedly be a wide range of tunes that people choose to lip sync to for an unusual competition.

Dance fans can step to fiddle and piano music at a contra dance, or dance — even in the comfort of their homes — to help support breast cancer research.

Those who love the outdoors can take walks along Mayo Beach or to find lichens, go shopping for glass pumpkins, or be part of two Oktoberfest celebrations. Other choices include the annual Trash Bash fundraiser or a chance to revisit some of the best movies from last summer's Woods Hole Film Festival. For ideas for how to spend your time, take a look:

This member of the Pumpkin People in the Park in Chatham has a bicycle to ride courtesy of the Wheelhouse Bike Co. The displays are put together by local businesses and the event is sponsored by the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association.
This member of the Pumpkin People in the Park in Chatham has a bicycle to ride courtesy of the Wheelhouse Bike Co. The displays are put together by local businesses and the event is sponsored by the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association.

Chatham walk explores area lichens

For a one-mile lichen walk sponsored by the Chatham Conservation Foundation, naturalist Tom Walker will lead participants in an exploration of the great variety of lichens along the Barclay's Pond Trail. Organizers describe lichens as symbiotic organisms formed from the union of fungi and algae that stabilize and add nutrients to soil, provide nesting material for birds, shelter invertebrates, and promote soil formation on bare rock. Cape sea breezes help create ideal conditions for lichens, they say, including along the Chatham trail that includes three ponds.

When: Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21

Where: Barclay’s Pond Trail, Chatham

Cost: $20 (refunded in case of inclement weather)

Reservations (walk limited to 20 people): https://www.chathamconservationfoundation.org/

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Help local nonprofits at the Trash Bash

Nauset Disposal will host its annual Trash Bash community fundraiser on Friday, offering music by the Grab Brothers and DJ Trev, dinner donated by local restaurants, beer and wine, door prizes and more. Proceeds from the party (which were $48,500 last year) will help seven nonprofits: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands, Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, Cape and Islands United Way, Heroes in Transition, Homeless Prevention Council, Lower Cape Outreach Council and Wild Care.

When: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21

Where: Nauset Disposal, 3 Rayber Road, Orleans

Admission: $50

Pre-registration (encouraged): https://trashbash.nausetdisposal.com/

Fiddler, pianist to play for monthly contra dance

The monthly Outermost Contra Dance will feature Rhode Island caller Paul Wilde, local Irish fiddler Clayton March and area pianist Bailey Ford, who performs with the Celtic Roots. Contra dancing is described as “the older cousin to the square dance” that can be family entertainment. All the dances are taught and called, with no need to bring a partner and dancers of all levels welcome, organizers say.

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21

Where: Wellfleet Preservation Hall, 335 Main St.

Admission: $15, $10 for under age 30, $5 with student ID (vaccination cards required)

Information: http://outermostcontra.org/

Multilingual vocalist/songwriter Eleanor Dubinsky, right, and virtuoso Argentine guitarist Dario Acosta Teich will present “A Night in Argentina” concert at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.
Multilingual vocalist/songwriter Eleanor Dubinsky, right, and virtuoso Argentine guitarist Dario Acosta Teich will present “A Night in Argentina” concert at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

Listen to music from Argentina

As part of its Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod will host multilingual vocalist/songwriter Eleanor Dubinsky and virtuoso Argentine guitarist Dario Acosta Teich for “A Night in Argentina” concert. On the program for the New York City-based duo will be interpretations of jazz, folk, pop, Latin, French, and popular and original songs.

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21

Where: Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth

Tickets: $25

Reservations and information: www.cultural-center.org or 508-394-7100

Sandwich Glass Museum will hold its 11th annual PumpkinFest on Saturday.
Sandwich Glass Museum will hold its 11th annual PumpkinFest on Saturday.

Pumpkins for sale, and they’re all glass

Pumpkins created by glass artists will be on display and for sale at Sandwich Glass Museum’s 11th Annual PumpkinFest. The pieces range in size from petite to large scale and come in an array of colors, including Isabel Green’s handblown, limited-edition 2022 Pumpkin of the Year for $125.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 (rain date Oct. 23)

Where: the grounds of Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main St.

Admission: Free

Information: https://sandwichglassmuseum.org/

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Chatham celebrates the season

The Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association will hold an Oktoberfest downtown, featuring live music, vendors, kids games, a Devil’s Purse Beer Garden and more — both in Kate Gould Park and, new this year, Chatham Town Hall. The Chatham Band is due to play at the park at 10:30 a.m., followed by Polka Dan’s Beetbox Band at 12:15 p.m., The Rafters at 2 p.m., and Super Soulshine at 3:15 p.m. People Pumpkin in the Park art figures will be set up at the park through Oct. 31 for visiting and photos.

When: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Where: Kate Gould Park, off Main Street and Chatham Bars Avenue; and Chatham Town Hall, 549 Main St.

Admission: Free

Information: https://chathammerchants.com/oktoberfest

As part of the Pumpkin People in the Park display in Chatham's Kate Gould Park, this group of fanciful creatures was created by the organizers behind First Night Chatham.
As part of the Pumpkin People in the Park display in Chatham's Kate Gould Park, this group of fanciful creatures was created by the organizers behind First Night Chatham.

Take an unusual Wellfleet walk

Mark McGrath will lead a one-way hike on Mayo Beach from the Great Island parking area to Wellfleet Harbor for participants to enjoy bayside views as well as local history. The 2.5-mile, low-tide walk, sponsored by Wellfleet and Harwich conservation trusts, will include walking across the Chequessett Neck Bridge over the Herring River (where the largest salt marsh restoration project in the Northeast will take place upstream), the Wellfleet Harbor pier, the site of two Edward Hopper paintings, the site of the storied Chequessett Inn, and several oyster farms.

When: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Where: Carpooling will take place beforehand at Great Island parking area to bring some cars to the Wellfleet Harbor parking area. Directions to starting point provided with reservation confirmation.

Cost: $20

Reservations (required because space is limited): https://harwichconservationtrust.org/

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Join an anniversary Boston dance on Zoom

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition will host the 25th annual Lesbians & Friends LGBTQ+ Dance Saturday night at Club Cafe in Boston, but Cape Codders can also join the fun virtually via Zoom. This year’s dance will honor event founder Sue Wilson. There will also be a dance lesson from OUT to Dance’s founder and director Liz Nania; music will be provided by DJ Andrea. All proceeds benefit the coalition’s mission of breast cancer prevention.

When: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22

Where: Via Zoom or live at Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston

Tickets: $20 for the virtual event; $40 in advance, $45 at the door in person, or $20 in advance, $25 in person for students (must be over age 21)

Reservations and information: https://mbcc.org/dance/

German food and beer for Pelham House Oktoberfest

The newly renovated Pelham House in Dennis Port will host its second annual Oktoberfest on Sunday, Oct. 23, featuring a beer garden, German food, live music and lawn activities for guests. A seasonal beer comes with a 25-ounce Pelham stein glass. Guests must be age 21 or older.

When: noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23

Where: Sea Level lawn, Pelham House Resort, 14 Sea St., Dennis Port

Tickets: $35

Reservations: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pelham-oktoberfest-2022-tickets-415527131837

The documentary "Free Renty" will be screened Oct. 23 at Cotuit Center for the Arts after winning the Audience Award at last summer's Woods Hole Film Festival. The movie follows Tamara Lanier, an African-American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede ownership of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great-grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty.

In case you missed these movies

The first two of three “Best of the Fest” presentations of movies from the Woods Hole Film Festival will take place this week at Cotuit Center for the Arts, starting Sunday with “Free Renty: Lanier V. Harvard,” with filmmaker Davidi Grubin on hand to talk about his documentary that won this year’s audience award. The film follows Tamara Lanier, an African-American woman determined to force Harvard University to cede ownership of daguerreotypes of her great-great-great-grandfather, an enslaved man named Renty. On Monday will be a screening of the festival’s best short films, including animation, comedy, drama and documentaries from around the world. The center will present “Fashion Reimagined” on Nov. 2.

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 (“Free Renty”) and 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 (short films)

Where: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28)

Tickets: $16, $14 for members

Reservations and information: https://artsonthecape.org/ or 508-428-0669, ext. 0

How well can you perform that song — without actually singing?

Cotuit Center for the Arts will host “Lipsyncpalooza,” a live lip sync competition that invites people up on stage to mouth a song while performing it. Audience members will vote live on the talent (who had to have signed up by Oct. 19 to go on stage). Half of ticket sales will be devoted to cash prizes (30% to the first-place winner, 20% to the second). There will be a limit of one song per individual or group that signed up.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26

Where: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28)

Tickets: $20; $10 per person entry fee for performers

Reservations and information: https://artsonthecape.org/ or 508-428-0669, ext. 0

Acclaimed violinist Emil Altschuler will be part of a trio playing classical music Oct. 27 at Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth.
Acclaimed violinist Emil Altschuler will be part of a trio playing classical music Oct. 27 at Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth.

Trio to present classical music concert

Highfield Hall & Gardens in Falmouth will present an evening of classical music with The Altschuler Summer Music Institute Chamber Ensemble, featuring the trio of pianist Thomas Pandolfi, cellist Allison Eldredge, and violinist Emil Altschuler. All three musicians have performed around the world, and in Falmouth will offer a program of music by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Schoenfield. The ensemble was born during the COVID-19 pandemic as a collaboration between the institute’s faculty and up-and-coming young artists. The institute offers master classes, chamber music and orchestra opportunities taught by faculty from around the world.

When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27

Where: Highfield Hall & Gardens, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth

Tickets: $55, $45 for nonmembers

Reservations and information: www.highfieldhallandgardens.org

To have an event considered as a Best Bet, please send detailed information and any high-resolution photos at least two weeks in advance to bestbets@capecodonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod things to do: lip sync, dance, beer garden, Oktoberfest, walk