Axe-throwing, music, comedy, dogs, & ponies : 15 top things to do on Cape Cod June 24-30
Music-lovers will find a variety of choices this week: There's music on film on Martha's Vineyard, Hyannis Sound's a cappella songs in four Cape Cod towns, "classical showstoppers" in Sandwich, chamber music in Orleans and a Judy Garland tribute in Provincetown. There's even a chance to hear music around a beach campfire.
Other choices include a Strawberry Day in Sandwich, and a day celebrating dogs and their owners in Falmouth. A comedy series on an outdoor stage begins at one Cotuit cultural organization, while an online art auction begins for another. If you're looking for something to do, take a look here:
June 22-26: Nantucket Film Festival: New movies, celebrities, climate change and an Oscar winner
Film and music merge on Martha’s Vineyard
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society will show seven movies over three days, often with filmmakers and others in attendance for Q&As, for its 10th annual FILMUSIC festival. It’s four days of feature films and musical performances that “celebrate the convergence of music, culture and film.” Movies include “The Reverend: Minister of Music,” “The Conductor,” “Bonnie Blue: James Cotton’s Life in the Blues,” “Learning To Live Together: The Return of Mad Dogs & Englishmen”; “Let There Be Drums”; “Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story”; and “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over.”
When: June 23-26
Where: Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven
Tickets and information: https://mvfilmsociety.com/
Music and campfire at Circle by the Sea
Circle by the Sea will return for a 40th summer season of monthly campfire musical gatherings at Sandy Neck Beach. Featured musicians will be Karen Woodhall and David Jackson and Friends., with open talent welcome. There will be marshmallow toasting for this family event. Participants are asked to bring instruments, a mask, beach chairs, a flashlight, a piece of firewood (optional), and non-alcoholic beverages. The event is canceled if it rains.
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Sandy Neck Beach, Route 6A, on the Sandwich/Barnstable line
Cost: $7 requested donation
Information: 508-563-6647 or Circle by the Sea on Facebook
Hyannis Sound performing four nights a week
The all male professional a cappella group Hyannis Sound has returned for the summer, and is performing four nights a week through Aug. 19 in four towns. The group, founded in 1994, is annually composed of 10 college-aged men from around the country. Its repertoire for all ages ranges from jazz standards to rock ‘n’ roll. Examples of their songs are posted on social media and their music is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
When: 7 p.m., except 7:30 p.m in Hyannis
Where: Mondays at First Congregational Church, 68 Main St., Falmouth; Tuesdays at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 625 Main St., Chatham; Thursdays at Dennis Union Church, 713 Main St.; Fridays at First Baptist Church, 486 Main St., Hyannis
Tickets (at the door): $15; $10 for under age 10, over age 65, students, and active and retired military. Cash, check, PayPal and Venmo are all payment options.
Information and a full schedule: www.hyannissound.org
Brush Off online art auction begins Saturday for Cahoon museum
The Cahoon Museum of American Art will hold its annual fundraising Brush Off Online Art Auction starting Saturday, featuring 140 works by 84 regional artists. Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, basketry, and photography will all be in the mix. Proceeds from the auction support the museum’s exhibition and educational programs and participating artists.
When: 9 a.m. Saturday through 8 p.m. July 9
Where: online at cahoonmuseum.org
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Bring your dogs to their day at Highfield
It’s all about dogs at “Hounds of Highfield,” designed as a celebration of the human bond with canine friends. The family-friendly event will feature dog contests, a doggie parade and costume contest, an obstacle course, a service dog demonstration, raffles, prizes and more. Local rescue groups, retail vendors and food trucks will be on site.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (rain or shine)
Where: Highfield Hall & Gardens, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth
Admission: Free (donations encouraged); small fees for contest entry
Information, including full schedule: https://highfieldhallandgardens.org/
Enjoy Strawberry Day at Green Briar
Green Briar Jam Kitchen will hold its annual Strawberry Day, serving a homemade fresh strawberry dessert and demonstrating old-fashioned jam-making. Visitors can also buy jam among the gift items in the Mercantile and view the gallery exhibit on the life and works of naturalist/author Thornton Burgess.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Green Briar Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich
Fee: $6
Information: 508-888-6870 or www.thorntonburgess.org
Learn about the women’s movement of 50 years ago
Wellfleet Public Library will host an installation and film screening of Catherine Russo’s “A Moment in Herstory: Stories from the Boston’s Women’s Movement of the 1970s.” The display will include books, magazines, posters, newspapers and photographs from the 1970s, and Russo will be on hand for that and the movie.
When: installation available noon to 4 p.m. Saturday; movie 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: Wellfleet Public Library, 55 W. Main St.
Admission: Free
Information: 508-349-0310, https://www.wellfleetlibrary.org/
Take the kids to see ponies and pirates
Ponies and donkeys in pirate costumes? That will be just part of the fun for "Ponies of the Caribbean" at Mills River Sanctuary and Rescue in Marstons Mills. The reservation-only event will include a treasure hunt, Marcus the magician from Magicompany, visits with the sanctuary's animals and human "pirates" (including Jack Sparrow), a raffle, a gift shop and refreshments.
When: 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Where: Mills River Sanctuary and Rescue, 240 River Road, Marstons Mills
Tickets: $20
Reservations: Patti Maroney at 508-367-4379
Information on the sanctuary: https://www.millsriverrescue.com/
Comedy series begins in Cotuit
The outdoor series “Summer Comedy with Jim Ruberti & Friends,” presented by Scamps Comedy Productions and Cotuit Center for the Arts, will kick off Saturday with headliner Dave Rattigan and Mike Karsok. Materials is suitable for ages 18 and up. Host Ruberti is a Boston comedian and actor who grew up on Cape Cod and started entertaining here more than 30 years ago.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: outtdoor performance space, Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28)
Tickets: $35/$33 for seniors/$30 for members
Information: artsonthecape.org; scampscomedy.com
Bid on birdhouse art and more
Wellfleet Preservation Hall and the Lily House will bring back the hall’s Garden Party and Birdhouse Auction in a “new and improved” way, with a variety of local artists contributing birdhouses, paintings, sculpture, photographs and garden décor. Snowy Owl coffee, mimosas and morning treats will be served. Proceeds from this year’s event will support both year-round programming at the Hall and the Lily House, a community hospice home.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Sunday (preview and silent auction starting at 10 a.m., live auction at 11 a.m.)
Where: Geiger Hall and backyard garden at Wellfleet Preservation Hall, 335 Main St.
Admission: Free
Information: 508-349-1800 or wellfleetpreservationhall.org
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Chatham musicians hold spring concert
Chatham Music Club will return to live music with a “Classical Showstoppers” show. The club has a nucleus of professional musicians, and the program will include vocal and instrumental solos and ensembles. Maury Castro, the church’s organist and choirmaster, will play an orchestral transcription of Wagner’s “Pilgrim’s Chorus” from “Tannhäuser” on the church’s new Dobson pipe organ. Guests will include scholarship winners Alex Borkowski on piano and Kai Waynen on violin.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 625 Main St., Chatham
Admission: $25, free for students
Information: chathammusicclub.org
Songs to mark Judy Garland centennial
British singer Debbie Wileman is marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of singer/actress Judy Garland with a five-stop "Happy 100th birthday, Judy!" U.S. concert tour that includes Provincetown. Just two weeks after releasing her first album titled "I'm Still Here," Wileman, performing as Garland, will sing songs Garland became famous for and might have sung in later years. Wileman is a suburban British mother whose singing went viral during the early days of the pandemic after she began posting a song a day as various famous singers, and her performances caught the attention of pros in the music business.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Provincetown Town Hall, 260 Commercial St.
Tickets: $74-$150
Reservations and information: https://m.bpt.me/event/5429120
Ryan’s holds ‘Axes & Ales’ night
Y101 radio and Cisco Brewers will celebrate one of their “Axes & Ales” nights with axe-throwing at Ryan Amusements in South Yarmouth. There will be axe-throwing challenges, beer, free swag, and raffle prizes from sponsors and Y101’s Dan Mahoney on the scene. Ryan’s expert Axe Coaches will be on hand to teach throwing techniques to novices and enthusiasts. Depending on turnout, all guests are likely to have multiple chances to take a throw. Axe-throwing is restricted to age 18-plus, but all ages can watch and participate in Ryan’s cornhole, bowling and arcades.
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 27
Where: Ryan’s Amusements, 1067 Route 28, South Yarmouth
Fees: Free
Information: https://ryanfamily.com/locations/south-yarmouth/
'American Idol' singer is first act for Eastham summer concert series
Eastham singer and 2022 "American Idol" alum Natalia Bonfini will bring her trio to the Windmill Green in Eastham to kick off the summer series of Monday-night outdoor concerts put on by the Eastham Visitors Services Board.
When: 7 p.m. Mondays (and concerts by various local musicians continue at 7 p.m. Mondays in July, 6 p.m. Mondays in August and 5 p.m. Sept. 5)
Where: Windmill Green, 2505 State Highway (Route 6), Eastham
Admission: Free
Information: https://easthamchamber.com/
Meeting House concert features violin and harp
The second concert in the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival will showcase the "exquisite conversation" of chamber music with combinations of playing on several pieces by guest artists violinist Alex Velinzon and harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson with pianist Donald Enos, the festival's artistic director. Velinzon is concertmaster of the Boston Pops Orchestra and harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson is originally from Cape Cod. This concert is lightly themed on nature and draws from a range of historical periods, cultures, and musical styles.
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 27
Where: Church of the Holy Spirit, Episcopal, 204 Monument Road, Orleans
Tickets: $90 for the season; $25 per concert at the door
Reservations and information: http://www.meetinghousemusic.org or 508-896-3344
To have your event considered for a Best Bet, contact CapeWeek Editor Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll at kdriscoll@capecodonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod things to do June 24-30: Music, comedy, dog, axe-throwing
