St. Patrick’s Day fun, festivals, flowers & talk: 13 top things to do March 11-17
With St. Patrick's Day on a Thursday this year, some people are celebrating this weekend, some on the 17th, and some just after the actual holiday. Ideas on the early side are heavy on music, food and Irish history. Want a different reason to get people together? One party on Saturday celebrates living year-round in Provincetown.
For those looking for something else to do, how about learning to count fish? A winter walk through a pristine part of Mashpee? Telling a story? Finding out how to grow orchids or roses? (And yes, you can do it!) Plus there's a way to find out more about a pioneering woman in science from Nantucket. Here are some ideas:
Learn how to count herring
Jo Ann Muramoto, MassBays regional coordinator for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, will give training on how to help count river herring, aid from the public that local environmental organizations say is vital. Her training will be a combination of in person at the Centerville Library and virtual (she will be online).
When: 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday
Where: Virtual and Centerville Library, 585 Main St.
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.centervillelibrary.org/
Take a winter walk
The Mashpee Conservation Department will continue its schedule of free naturalist-guided tours with a visit to the Jesu Pond Conservation Area and the upland forests, salt marshes and Abigail’s Brook area on property that is part of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. The tour will last for an average of one to two hours, but may be longer or shorter, depending on the wishes of the participants. All ages are invited and children are encouraged to come.
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Jehu Pond Conservation Area, 357 Great Oak Road, Mashpee
Cost: Free
Information: 539-1400, ext. 8540
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Year Rounders Festival returns
The Provincetown and Outer Cape Year Rounders Festival will again showcase Outer Cape artisans, committees and town boards, local nonprofits and more. A silent auction will benefit the free event. Face masks and proof of vaccination along with identification will be required. Festival-goers are asked to bring their own reusable bags and refillable water bottles.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Provincetown Town Hall, 260 Commercial St.
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProvincetownYearRounders/
Children’s museum to celebrate with Irish Festival
Cape Cod Children’s Museum will hold its first-ever Irish Festival — two years after it had first planned such an event as the COVID-19 pandemic began. The celebration will include Irish music with DJ Stephanie Viva, the Falmouth Fiddlers, and soloist Caroline Brennan; performances by students from the Kanaley School of Irish Dance; and a reenactment of Irish folk tales by Sandwich High School senior drama student Owen McDevitt. There will be crafts, a scavenger hunt, photo opportunities and more. Patrons will receive discount coupons to sponsor Scally’s Irish Ale House in West Yarmouth. After the event, the museum will be open to the public with decorations in place.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (museum then open 1 to 3 p.m.)
Where: Cape Cod Children’s Museum, 577 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee
Tickets: $15; $10 for members (limited to four each)
Reservations (required and limited) and information: https://capecodchildrensmuseum.org/; 508-539-8788.
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Talk focuses on Irish contributions to Boston
Just before St. Patrick’s Day, historian/author Anthony Sammarco will give an illustrated talk — in person and via Zoom — about “The Boston Irish” and how immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries changed the city and contributed to its development. He will discuss institutions that were founded for and by them, and what those immigrants accomplished in government, business and the church. Sammarco has written more than 70 books about the development and history of Boston.
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Osterville Village Library, 43 Wianno Ave. and via Zoom
Cost: Free
Registration and information: 508-428-5757 or http://www.ostervillefreelibrary.org/newevents.asp.
Irishfest fundraiser helps cancer research
Mashpee residents Kathy Kelleher and Jim Kiley will host the 3rd Annual Irishfest to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s running program to conquer cancer, as well as Kelleher’s Boston Marathon run in April and Kiley’s participation in the Asics Falmouth Road Race this summer (attendees may choose the charity). There will be complimentary small bites, cocktails with a cash bar and live entertainment, including Ireland – The Band, The Cape Cod Bagpiper and local radio personality Stephanie Viva, who will emcee and be DJ.
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: New Seabury Country Club, 95 Shore Drive West, Mashpee
Admission: $50
Reservations: Tickets at the door or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-irishfest-tickets-264756512857.
Got a story to tell?
Provincetown Theater will bring back The Mosquito Story Slam, both in person and with a live-streaming option. This month's theme: "Love it or leave it!"
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford St. and livestreaming
Tickets: $20
Reservations and information: provincetowntheater.org
Westwater joins Goodrich band for cultural center concert
Americana/roots musician Naomi Westwater, a nominee for a 2020 Boston Music Award, will perform with the Goodrich Family Band as part of this weekend's musical offerings at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. The band unites the backgrounds of four roommates — Eleanor Elektra, Max Ridley, Taylor Holland and Zoe Rose Depaz — in jazz, folk-punk, Americana, indie and singer-songwriter styles. For the group’s debut EP, “Balance, Right?” from 2020, each member contributed an original song, and combined their different influences to create "the sound of friends helping each other through the ups and downs of life.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
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
COVID-10 protocols: Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test conducted within 72 hours prior to the event
Can you grow an orchid, too?
The Cape and Islands Orchid Society will hold a meeting, open to the public, that features a talk by Glen Decker on “Paphiopedilums and Their Differences … and How to Grow Them!” (If needed because of weather or COVID-19 concerns, the talk will be virtual.) Decker, former owner of Piping Rock Orchids, has been growing orchids and winning awards for it for over 40 years. His writing includes as technical editor for the "Orchids for Dummies" book. There will be a small selection of plants available for sale.
When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 205 Old Main St., South Yarmouth
Admission: Free
Information: https://caios.org/
Learn more about astronomer Maria Mitchell
For Women’s History Month, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum will host a lecture about pioneering female astronomer Maria Mitchell of Nantucket. The virtual talk, “Maria Mitchell: Daughter of an Unusual Island and Family,” will be presented by Jascin N. Leonardo Finger, deputy director and curator at Nantucket’s Maria Mitchell Association. She will discuss Mitchell’s role in astronomy and education, particularly for women; other members of the Michell family; and the work of the association.
When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: On Zoom and Facebook Live
Admission: Free
Registration and information: https://www.capecodmaritimemuseum.org/lecture-series
Highfield Hall celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a concert
Previewing the holiday in Falmouth will be an evening of Irish music and step-dancing with Golden Lane, a group of musicians from southeastern New England that specializes in lively dance music of Ireland (jigs, reels, etc.) in a traditional style. They also perform songs in English and Gaelic, with step-dancing accompanying the tunes. The band is John MacDonald on guitar and banjo; Pat Black, on the bodhrán (Irish drum), whistle and vocals; Bill Black, on the guitar, banjo, bouzouki and vocals; Colin Everett, on the uilleann pipes and whistle; and Mark Oien, on the fiddle. The show is family-friendly, with audience interaction and questions allowed about the music or instruments.
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Highfield Hall & Gardens, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth
Tickets: $20, $10 for members
Registration (required) and information: www.highfieldhallandgardens.org
COVID-19 protocols: Masks will be required.
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Learn about growing roses
Irwin Ehrenreich, owner of "The Rose Man" rose care service, will be the guest speaker at The Garden Club of Yarmouth meeting — which is open to the public. Ehrenreich, a Master Gardener and American Rose Society Master Rosarian, will explain rose classification, garden designs, structures and layouts as well as how to grow and care for roses — from spring pruning through winter protection. He will include a slide show of his gardens, which contain 500-plus roses. His Barnstable home garden was featured in Country Garden magazine, on NECN's New England Dream Home on HGTV Gardens, and in C.L. Fornari's book, “A Garden Lover's Cape Cod.”
When: 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 15
Where: Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, West Yarmouth
Admission: Free
Information: https://www.gardenclubofyarmouth.org/
St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser features music, food
Celtic music will be at the center of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration hosted by Provincetown Dramatic Arts as a fundraiser to send the group later this year to the 19th annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in Ireland. There will be dancing, and traditional and current Irish music, with local singers and DJ Beth O’Rourke. Corned beef, other food, and Guinness beer will be available for purchase.
When: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17
Where: Orleans/Eastham Elks Lodge, 10 McKoy Road, Eastham
Admission (limited): $20, $15 for under age 16
Reservations: https://bpt.me/5387822
COVID protocols: Proof of vaccination required, masks for patrons when not eating or drinking
For your event to be considered for Best Bets, contact Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll at kdriscoll@capecodonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: St. Patricks' Day, festivals, flowers: 13 top things to do on Cape Cod
