Parties, butterflies, rhodies & 'Shark Tank': 10 top things to do on Cape Cod May 27-June 2
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer on Cape Cod (and elsewhere!) and we've got two parties here to celebrate.
More into nature? Other top events this week include the continuation of the Rhododendron Festival at Heritage Museums & Gardens, the opening of the butterfly house at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, and a beach walk in Harwich.
Plus a landmark Asian artifact exhibit opens on Nantucket, the symphony goes Irish, a pianist plays two shows, Juneteenth events start with books, and Cape Cod Beer hosts a local contest similar to TV's "Shark Tank." Take a look and if you're looking for even more ideas, check out our online calendar at www.capecodtimes.com/calendar:
Rhododendrons in peak bloom for Heritage festival
The annual Rhododendron Festival at Heritage Museums & Gardens continues through Monday, with much of its 100 acres covered with colorful and varied blooms. Visitors can enjoy a walk surrounded by walls of flowers, learn more about the plants (some nearly a century old) from staff and volunteers, explore Heritage’s connection to noted rhododendron hybridizers through new signage, take self-guided tours, and use a family activity guide. Rhododendrons are for sale, and visitors can learn how to care for their plants through a series of online videos or by participating in the hands-on Rhododendron Care Workshop on June 1. The Run for the Rhodies 5K Trail Race will take place Saturday along nature trails, with participants able to walk, jog, or run along the scenic pathways. Race registration includes museum admission for the day.
When: through Monday, with race on Saturday and workshop on Tuesday
Where: Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich
Admission: $11-$21
Information: https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/
Music: 'Me and the Strat': Musician Bob Mould plays Provincetown solo + 3 more concerts to see
Beach party at Naukabout
Naukabout Brewing Company will hold a four-day Memorial Day Weekend Beach Party to kick off the summer season, featuring nine acts of live music (four each on Saturday and Sunday) and a cornhole tournament on Saturday. There will be specialty beers and food, backyard games and contests, with wearing Hawaiian shirts and sandals encouraged.
When: noon Friday, then during open weekend hours through 8 p.m. Monday (cornhole tournament noon to 2 p.m. Saturday)
Where: Naukabout Brewing Company, 13 Lake Ave., Mashpee
Cost: $15 for cornhole tournament entry
Information: https://www.naukabout.com/memorial-day-22; https://www.facebook.com/events/3228760994024629
Concert pianist Sergei Novikov returns to Cape for two shows
Pianist Sergei Novikov will perform two concerts, with music ranging from Tchaikovsky to “Phantom of the Opera” and from Duke Ellington to Billy Joel. Part of the profits from concerts will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help assist Ukraine. Novikov has performed for such luminaries as Presidents George H.W. Bush and Joe Biden; musicians Billy Joel and Reba McEntire; actor Paul Newman; and received official recognition from the Queen Mother of England for his music.
When: 3 and 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Road
Reservations: https://www.speakingmusic.biz/ or 800-595-4849
Exhibit of rare Asian artifacts opens on Nantucket
The Nantucket Historical Association will open the exhibition “Asian Treasures from the Billings Collection,” offering the first public look at the bulk of a 4,000-artifact collection that Nantucket residents and world travelers David Billings and Beverly Hall Billings have assembled over 50 years. The items are related to political, economic and religious events over millennia.
The exhibit will feature paintings, textiles, bronzes, jade items, robes, scholar’s items and a Japanese Buddhist household shrine. Ceramics, though, will predominate – including some of the earliest known pieces of earthenware from 5,000 BCE and porcelain that dates from the Qing Dynasty, the last Imperial Chinese Dynasty. While the Billings collection concentrates on China, additional pieces will appear from India, Burma, Tibet, Korea and Japan..
When: opening Friday, May 27 and on display during museum hours through Nov. 1
Where: Whaling Museum, 13 Broad St., Nantucket
Information: https://nha.org/
Know what you're seeing on the beach
Field guide author and science educator Gil Newton will lead a Red River Beach Walk early Saturday morning to explain what you can see on the shore of Nantucket Sound. The walk, sponsored by Harwich Conservation Trust, will include mentions of shellfish, crabs, echinoderms (including sea cucumber), sponges, seaweeds, the "living fossil," and other creatures.
Newton’s field guides will be available for purchase ($10, proceeds going to HCT’s land-saving work) and include "Marine Habitats of Cape Cod," "Mysteries of Seaweed," "Activities for the Cape Cod Beachcomber," and "Thinking Green on Cape Cod."
When: 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Red River Beach (Driving directions will be included with your registration confirmation email)
Admission: $15
Registration and information: https://harwichconservationtrust.org/
Coming up: Nantucket Film Festival to honor Oscar winner Barry Jenkins, John Turturro, Ramin Bahrani
It's party time at Mashpee Commons
Mashpee Commons will kick off a summer schedule of family friendly, open-air events with a block party Saturday to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. The party will include live music, face painting, balloon twists, a photo wall, cornhole and gift card contests. Block parties will also be held on June 25, July 16 and August 13, and other events later in the summer will include free outdoor movies and live music.
When: block party 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mashpee Commons Central Square, 22 Steeple St.
Admission: Free
Information: https://mashpeecommons.com/events
Cape Symphony brings spirit of Ireland to listeners
After snow cancellations in January, Cape Symphony will play its rescheduled “Passport to Ireland” concerts. The orchestra will be joined by Grammy Award-winning fiddler Eileen Ivers and Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 29
Where: Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, 744 W. Main St., Hyannis
Tickets and information: 508-362-1111, capesymphony.org
Museum’s butterfly haven reopens for season
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History will open its Butterfly House and Pollinator Path for the season on June 1, offering daily chances through Sept. 4 to see – and feed – butterflies in an enclosed area up close. The Pollinator Path is filled with multi-colored blooming plants such as Orange Butterfly Weed (providing a place for butterflies to lay their eggs), Yarrow, Purple Coneflower and other varieties that attract pollinators and provide them with nectar. Inside, visitors can watch caterpillars go through the different stages of their life cycle.
When: 10:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. starting Tuesday, with daily feedings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 869 Main St. Brewster
Admission (by pre-paid ticket): museum admission, plus $30 for up to eight people per pod per 15-minute time slot or $50 per eight-person pod for feeding times
Reservations (required): 508-896-3867, ext. 133
Information: https://www.ccmnh.org/
Find the next Cape Cod business
Organizers call it “‘Shark Tank’ without the Teeth!” EforAll Cape Cod and Love Live Local are co-hosting a “Cape Cod Made Pitch Contest” for people with a business or non-profit that’s “Cape Cod Made.” Applicants have already been chosen, but pitch contests need an audience, which selects a fan favorite $500 prize winner. Other prizes are $1,000 for first place, $750 for second and $500 for third.
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: 1336 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis
Admission: Free
Information: https://eforall.org
Climate change and beyond: Need a read? Take a look at these 5 new books by Cape Cod authors
Library holds book events to mark Juneteenth
As a start to Falmouth Public Library’s Juneteenth celebration, there will be two book-related events in the first days of June. Author Ted Reinstein will give a talk on his book “Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier.” The library’s Narrative Nonfiction Book Club will hold a discussion of “The Yellow House,” by Sarah M. Broom. Other activities are scheduled through mid-month.
When: author talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1; book club at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 2
Where: Hermann meeting room at Falmouth Library, 300 Main St.
Admission: Free
Registration (required) and information: https://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org/.
To have your event considered for a Best Bet, contact CapeWeek Editor Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll at kdriscoll@capecodonline.com or bestbets@capecodonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @KathiSDCCT.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod things to do May 27-June 2: Party, butterflies, 'Shark Tank'
