Music, science, fairs, bestselling authors & 'Jaws': 15 top things to do on Cape Cod Aug. 19-25
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the cancellation of the concerts by the Randy Andys singing group.
Music, ocean science and festivals are the big draws as August days wind down, with ideas from Provincetown to Woods Hole and beyond.
The big festival this weekend is on an island: The Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show & Fair, commonly known as the Ag Fair, goes all weekend, as does the Festival of the Arts in Chatham and CraftFest Cotuit.
Music choices include the Randy Andys in three towns, the Woods Hole Cantata Consort, and Seth Sikes in Provincetown. To learn more about science, there are talks on the ALVIN submersible and its under-ocean discoveries (plus a movie), biodiversity, and the Ocean Twilight Zone Project.
More: Drag ballet, tap and body rhythm: Provincetown Dance Festival expands to two weekends outdoors
Other highlights include Colonial Day at the Manse in Dennis, Earth Extravaganza Day in Sandwich, an art show, and events with bestselling authors Jennifer Weiner and Michael Tougias.
The Ag Fair brings four days of fun to Vineyard
The Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show & Fair returns for the 160th year, with carnival rides and fair food; livestock and agricultural exhibits; contests for growing, crafts, baking' and more; and a variety of musical and other types of entertainment.
When: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 18-20, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21
Where: the fairgrounds of Agricultural Hall, 35 Panhandle Road, Tisbury
Admission: $15; $10 for ages 5-12, 62+ and veterans; free for up to age 4
Information: https://marthasvineyardagriculturalsociety.org/
Learn about King Philip's War
Best-selling author Michael Tougias will give a talk on "King Philip's War," which is describes as "one of America's first and costliest wars" and "one of the most seminal events to shape the American mind and continent," as part of the 1717 Meetinghouse Lecture Series. Tougias, perhaps best known for co-writing "The Finest Hours," previously co-authored a book about the war.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19
Where: 1717 Meetinghouse, 2049 Meetinghouse Way (Route 149), West Barnstable
Suggested donation: $15; $10 for meetinghouse members, students and under age 18
Information: https://www.1717meetinghouse.org/
Festival of the Arts turns 51
The Creative Arts Center will host its 51st Festival of the Arts, this year showcasing and celebrating the work of 120 artisans and craftsmen presenting their original and handcrafted artwork, jewelry, fabric, pottery, fashion, wood, glass, metalwork and more. There will also be a children’s arts and crafts tent and food trucks, as well as continuous shuttle bus service from Chatham Community Center, 702 Main St. and the
Creative Arts Center, 154 Crowell Road.
When: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 19-21
Where: Chase Park, 23 Old Turkey Farm Lane, Chatham
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.capecodcreativearts.org/festivals
Dennis society hosts Colonial Day at the Manse event
The Colonial Day at the Manse event, sponsored by the Dennis Historical Society returns as the annual outdoor-indoor event at the restored 1736 landmark homestead. Featured will be costumed interpreters and reenactors who will exhibit crafts and skills from the 1700s, including spinning, weaving, and sewing. Sturbridge Village veteran Tom Kelleher will demonstrate colonial barrel- making, and the Yarmouth Minutemen will provide a glimpse at early militia training. Exhibits include historical clothing and a maritime room about the town's seafaring history.
When: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20
Where: Josiah Dennis Manse, 61 Whig St., Dennis
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.dennishistoricalsociety.org/museums/josiah-dennis-manse-museum-0
On the islands: 6 Nantucket restaurants where you can grab a quick meal (+ 1 just-reopened bonus)
CraftFest Cotuit features local artists
CraftFest Cotuit, an annual crafts festival produced by the Cotuit Federated Church will feature more than 100 artisans and crafters from several states exhibiting traditional and contemporary creations. Food, live musical entertainment on a Main Stage, and children’s activities are also on the program. The event's Art Tent will offer work for sale by local and regional artists.
When: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20 and Sunday, Aug. 21
Where: The Cotuit Federated Church, 40 School St.
Admission: Free
Information: https://craftfestcotuit.com/
Heritage celebrates the Earth
Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich will host an Earth Extravaganza Day that includes family challenges, eco-themed games and crafts, educational displays, and hands-on activities. There will also be an Earth-focused musical performance by Latin Grammy Award-winning musician/author/activist/educator Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer), and a lecture by landscape architect, Jack Ahern. He is the author of “Design with Nature on Cape Cod and the Islands,” which offers homeowners a sustainable approach to landscape design and resources based on the region’s native plants and plant communities. Heritage's ongoing exhibits, including "Creating Cape Cod" and "From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America," will be open to participants in the event.
When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20; 11 a.m. Mister G performance; 1 p.m. Jack Ahern talk
Where: Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich.
Admission: Free for members; non-member: $21, $11 for youth, free for age 2 and under
Information: https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/mecevents/earth-extravaganza-event-10am-to-2pm/
Woods Hole Cantata Consort presents 'Mozart and More'
The Woods Hole Cantata Consort will celebrate its 49th season by presenting ʺMozart and More,ʺ a concert programmed and conducted by artistic director Maggie Bossi. The show will be performed by a chorus, vocal and saxophone soloists, and a string chamber ensemble, with accompanist Mark Lawlor on piano and organ. The music of Mozart, including two motets, will be the first part of the concert; the second will feature composers born in the 20th century, including ʺAgnus Deiʺ by Paul Winter and Jim Scott and, in honor of the Ukrainians fighting to save their homeland, the consort will present "Ukrainian Alleluia," composed by Craig Courtney.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21
Where: Church of the Messiah, 22 Church St., Woods Hole
Admission: Free; donations accepted
Information: https://woodsholecantata.wordpress.com/
Get outside: More than just swimming: What to do at Cape Cod National Seashore that's not at a beach
'Bruce and ALVIN' topic of WHOI screening and discussion
The Yawkey Foundation, Woods Hole Film Festival, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will present a film screening and panel discussion with an ALVIN pilot, a filmmaker and a WHOI scientist. The short documentary (24 minutes) is "Bruce and ALVIN," about one of the world’s only remaining publicly funded piloted submersibles and pilot Bruce Strickrott. He will be part of a Q&A and discussion with filmmaker and director Josh Seftel and Susan Humphris, research scholar, geochemist and oceanographer Susan Humphris. A reception will follow.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20
Where: Redfield Auditorium, WHOI, 45 Water St., Woods Hole
Admission: FreeInformation: https://events.whoi.edu/bruceandalvinopen
Learn about WHOI’s Ocean Twilight Zone Project
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster will host a presentation about “WHOI’s Ocean Twilight Zone Project,” with fisheries oceanographer and larval fish ecologist Joel Llopiz. His research focuses on the interactions of fish and fish larvae with their environment, particularly what they feed on and how well they are feeding. Llopiz is an associate scientist in biology at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and his role on the Twilight Zone Project is to decipher the mysteries of the mesopelagic food web and its resilience to anticipated environmental change.
When: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23
Where: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 869 Main St. (Route 6A), Brewster
Admission: Free with museum admission
Information: https://ccmnh.org/events/whois-ocean-twilight-zone-project-2295
Seth Sikes returns with "Broadway Babies”
New York cabaret performer Seth Sikes will be back in Provincetown with a show of songs made famous by Broadway legends, including Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone, as well as Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Last year, in a tribute to Provincetown, Sikes released “The Trolley Song,” a music video backed by a full cast and shot using Provincetown’s trolley car.
When: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 and Wednesday, Aug. 24
Where: Post Office Café and Cabaret, 303 Commercial St., Provincetown
Admission: $35
Information: https://www.postofficecafe.net/mevents/seth-sikes-broadway-babes/
Jeff Schell to talk about biodiversity
The fourth presentation in Highfield Hall & Gardens' Biodiversity Lecture series will be “Secrets of the Sargasso Sea: Blooms, Biodiversity and Ocean Tipping Points” with Jeff Schell. The lecture series highlights biodiversity in different environments around the world in collaboration with scientists from the area. Schell is oceanographer and chief scientist with Sea Education Association who has spent his career teaching, sailing and conducting oceanographic research. He will share some revelations from the Sargasso Sea is named for the presence of drifting Sargassum algae that harbor a diverse community of unique organisms.
When: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24
Where: Highfield Hall & Gardens, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth
Admission: $10Information: https://highfieldhallandgardens.org/
Arts, crafts, music and words at Falmouth ArtMarket
This week’s Falmouth ArtMarket will include arts and crafts by area artists and artisans, with a concert by Denya LeVine, who performs ethnic music from around the world, and a book booth featuring Robert Reece, author of “Strong Medicine.” Bright a blanket or chair for the concert. Featured artists will include Sandra Faxon, who makes cut-paper collages and watercolors of sea creatures and local scenes
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25; authors 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; music from 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Falmouth Marina Park, 180 Scranton Ave.
Admission: Free
Information: FalmouthArtMarket.com
Reception held for Judy Pfaff solo show
A "closing reception" for an exhibit of artwork by Judy Pfaff, which will continue on display through Aug. 2, will be held at Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill. The exhibition features reinvented work based on drawings Pfaff recently uncovered from two installations from 1979 : "Prototypes at L.A.C.E" in Los Angeles and "Reinventing the Wheel" at SUNY Purchase. Peopled by stick figures and featuring vivid colors, the work on display combines abstraction and representation in a unique and unexpected way, according to organizers. The award-winning Pfaff's work has included painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation and her pieces are in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Whitney Museum of Art, Tate Gallery, Brooklyn Museum of Art and more.
When: closing reception 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25; exhibition hours through Sept. 2
Where: Back deck at Castle Hill, 10 Meetinghouse Road, Truro
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.castlehill.org/gallery-shows/2022/8/16/judy-pfaff
Reviews: A murderer, a kids' rock band & more: What our critics say about 5 Cape Cod theater shows
'Jaws' stars in music festival kick-off
The giant Beach Road Weekend Music Festival will kick off one day early with a free concert and screening of the shark movie "Jaws." Bands performing will be the Dukes of Circuit Ave and Darby and the Jelly Roll Horn. Free tickets must be reserved.
When: 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 (doors open at 4 p.m.)
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Causeway Road, Vineyard Haven
Tickets: Free but must be reserved
Reservations: BeachRoadWeekend.com
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Author Jennifer Weiner to talk about latest bestseller
Titcomb's Bookshop and the Sandwich Public Library will host an evening withauthor Jennifer Weiner focusing on her latest bestseller “The Summer Place.” Event admission ticket includes a copy of the book. Weiner, who has a home on the Cape, has written 19 books, including "That Summer," "Mrs. Everything" and "In Her Shoes."
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25
Where: Sandwich Town Hall, 130 Main St.
Admission: $30 (includes book)
Information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jennifer-weiner-at-sandwich-town-hall-tickets-348977821057
To have your event considered as a Best Bet, send information at least two weeks in advance to bestbets@capecodonline.com. CapeWeek Editor Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod things to do: music, crafts, science, Jennifer Weiner, 'Jaws'
