Cape Cod Family Guide to Christmas and Holiday Events

With the holidays fast approaching and your calendar filling up, it can be very difficult to keep track of all the amazing Christmas and Holiday events taking place across the Cape Cod community for your family!  This time of year is already hectic enough with everything you Moms have to do that we wanted to make your life simpler!  

We have compiled our annual list of all family friendly Christmas and Holiday Events taking place on Cape Cod as well as Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Plymouth, Carver and Surrounding Areas.  Our listings include parades, cookie strolls, train rides, Santa, and so much more!

Last year's Cape Cod Family Holiday Calendar Event Guide was such a success again that we once again compiled it all in one place. We chose to put the list in date order but broken down by daily events, town wide weekend events and month long events this year!  If you know of any events we have missed please let us know by commenting below or emailing us! 

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Holiday Events

 KDC – JFK Hyannis Museum ARTISM exhibit reception.  
11/17/16 5-7pm
This event is for free JFK Museum Admission for Thursday, November 17th from 5pm-7pm. There will be art, food, music and holiday shopping!  Open to everyone! Please help spread the joy!

Waldorf School of Cape Cod's 26th Annual Holiday Faire
11/19/16 10-4pm
Waldorf School of Cape Cod, 140 Old Oyster Rd., Cotuit, MA
Waldorf School of Cape Cod's annual Holiday Faire is a family event not to be missed. This widely known event is attended by alumni, students, and the Cape Cod community. Enjoy a visit in our Angel room, fish for a prize in the fish pond, choose a treasure from the pocket lady, and lots more. Stay for a delicious lunch served in the Luncheon Tavern and shop Artisan’s Hall where talented, local artisan crafters will sell a wide variety of their handmade wares.
 
Holiday Card Making for the Troops
11/20/16  1-4pm
Orleans, Eastham Elks
Orleans/Eastham Elks #2572 will once again host our annual holiday card making for our troops on Sunday, November 20th from 1-4pm. Children and adults of all ages are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
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Nonni’s Workshop
11/25/16-11/26/16
11am-2pm
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Children will choose from a selection of crafts to make/wrap and give for a heart felt handmade surprise. Tickets are $1 each.  More info here.
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Breakfast with Mrs. Claus
11/26/16 8-10am
Orleans Yacht Club, 39 Cove Rd, Orleans
Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Mrs. Claus while awaiting the arrival of Santa by boat at 10am!  Breakfast spread by the Hole-In-One Restaurant.  $7 adults, $5 children.  Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Lower Cape Outreach Council.  Santa will meet with the children at Snow’s Home and Garden, 22 Main St., Orleans 10am-Noon.

10th Annual Holiday Shopping Fair
11/26/16 9am-2pm
Chatham Community Ctr
This Holiday Vendor Fair features a large and varied selections of itmes from our local artists, crafters and area vendors. The PARK (Postitive Afterschool Recreation for Kids) will be offeing baked goods, hot chocolate, coffee & tea. The Boy Scout will be selling decorative wreaths. Fee $25

Lighting of the Lobster Pot Tree 
11/26/16 5-6pm
Lopes Square, Provincetown
The Lobster Pot Christmas Tree is an annual holiday tradition in Provincetown! A unique lobster pot tree is built each holiday season the heart of the town's Lopes Square, stacked with over 100 real lobster pots borrowed from local lobstermen. Lighting at 5:30 pm.
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Hyannis Christmas Stroll & Harbor Lighting
12/2/16
Hyannis Village
Hyannis Main Street All along Main Street there's a full day of family fun with breakfast with Santa,  strolling carolers, arts & crafts, trolley and horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo, and much more.
As daylight turns to dark, Hyannis Harbor comes to life with the annual Harbor Lighting & Boat Parade. It's an evening of music, food, and colorfully lit boats cruising the Harbor.
 
Illumination Ceremony
12/2/16 4-5pm
Drummer Boy Park Brewster
Illumination Ceremony at Drummer Boy Park includes carol sing-a-long, tours of the Windmill Village, cocoa and treats and a visit from the jolliest old elf himself

Tree Lighting & Family Carol Sing
12/2/16 5:30-6:30pm
Done Park, Harwich

Photos with Santa - Santa Arrives by Fire Truck
12/2/16 6:15-8pm
Harwich Chamber of Commerce 
Photos and Visit with Santa 6:15-8:00 pm Your Photo with Santa - ($5.00 donation to Harwich Chamber of Commerce)

Christmas in Cotuit
12/3/16
Cotuit Federated Church and more
Most activities begin at 10 am at local places including the Federated Church and library.  Santa arrives at the town dock 3:45pm

Gingerbread Boy Puppet Show & Cookie Decorating
12/3/16 10:30am
Sandwich Public Library
Gingerbread Boy Puppet Show & Cookie Decorating, Sandwich Public Library 
Run, run as fast you can to attend our annual holiday treat with our Library Children’s Room Friends. Free but you must register to reserve your seat (and cookie!), beginning 11/17 at www.sandwichpubliclibrary.com event calendar

Decorate Gingerbread Houses
12/3/16
10am and 12:30pm Seatings
Shoreway Acres Inn, Falmouth
Come decorate gingerbread houses and enjoy a festive activity! 508-540-3000 space is limited.
 
"Where's the Snowman?" Contest
12/3/16 8:30am-5pm
Brewster Businesses
Just for children 12 and under! Visit participating Brewster businesses, find the snowman and enter to win a $10 'kid friendly' gift certificate. Sponsored by Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank.

Breakfast with Santa 
12/3/16 8:30-10:30am
Harwich Elementary School 263 South St

Decorate Gingerbread Houses
12/3/16
11am-12pm
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
$10 per house includes admission for 1 child and adult. Preregistration required. More info here.

Eastham Holiday Festival
12/3/16 10-1pm
 Two locations. Orleans-Eastham Elks Lodge and The Gift Barn, Eastham
Free, toy donation appreciated
Eastham Holiday Festival Take the trolley running between the Elks Lodge and The Gift Barn for lots of fun family activities like arts and crafts, entertainment, prizes, and plenty of refreshments for all. Santa will be at The Gift Barn to meet the children.

5TH ANNUAL JINGLE JOG 5K AND KIDS ELF RUN
12/3/16 9-10am
Wear your wildest holiday “jingle bells” festive outfit to run the course starting at Marina Park at the Falmouth Harbor and finishing the New Balance Falmouth Road Race course then winding back through Falmouth Heights. The Elf Run will consist of a half mile run for children 12 and under. Stayed tuned for more details and registration information. www.falmouthchamber.com

HOLIDAY STROLL IN THE VILLAGE
12/3/16 5-8pm
Main St Falmouth
Stroll down Main Street, past the beautifully lit Village Green and through Queens Buyway. Enjoy the trolley ride through the festively lit street to Santa’s Workshop. Visit with Santa and Parade Characters at the Buyway Shops. Enjoy holiday festivities, movie, music refreshments, and caroling while you get a head start on your holiday shopping! Extended shopping hours. 
 
LIGHTING OF THE FALMOUTH VILLAGE GREEN
12/3/16 7-8pm
Falmouth Village Green
The Falmouth Brass Choir will lead the caroling before a special visit from Santa as we light up the green. People are encouraged to bring flashlights. Dress warmly. Be sure to enjoy the Main Street to Queens Buyway Stroll before and after the Lighting of the Green at 7 pm 
 
Santa's Workshop and Holiday Fair
12/3/16 from 10-3 hosted by Bourne PTA.
at Bourne Middle School
 We'll have a shopping area for children and a separate shopping area for adults. Along with face painting, crafts, cookie decorating, a bake table, photos with Santa and more.
 
Santa Stampede 5k 
12/3/16 9am-1pm
Barley Neck Inn, 5 Beach Rd, Orleans
Join the Stampede! The Santa Stampede 5K & Family Fun Run is held throughout scenic East Orleans. Kick off your holidays at our festival fun run! This year registrants will receive a long-sleeve t-shirt, as well as the same top-notch timing, a gift bag with goodies from our sponsors, and finish line expo with vendors and food. Features: Join our famous Holiday Costume Contest for runners! Win one of our fabulous prize packages! .

Harwich PTO Holiday Bazaar
12/3/16 9am-12pm
Harwich Elementary School

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show
12/3/16 10am-4pm
Eddy Elementary School
50 exciting vendors and plenty of free parking. Free admission!

Eastham Holiday Festival
12/3/16 10am-1pm
Elks Lodge, 10 McKoy Road, Eastham
http://www.easthamchamber.com
Hundreds of children anticipate this wonderful community event! Activities include hands-on holiday crafts, face painting, balloon twisters, raffles, kids performance demonstration, free pizza from Red Barn Pizza & Santa at the Gift Barn! 10 am. to 1 p.m.  Free trolley ride runs from the locations.

Taylor-Bray Farm Holiday Festival
December 3 & 4, 2016, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Taylor-Bray Farm, 108 Bray Farm Road, Yarmouthport
Free. $5 parking donation requested.
Taylor-Bray Farm Bring the kids or the grandkids to historic Taylor-Bray Farm for this back-in-time Holiday Festival. Take a hay wagon ride with Farmer Don. Visit with the donkeys, sheep, chickens, and other farm animals. There'll be delicious homemade baked goods and handmade wreaths, swags, centerpieces and crafts for sale in the barn. Complementary refreshments will be served. 

Breakfast with Santa 
December 3, 2016
Two Seating Options:
8:30am-10:00am 
10:30am - Noon 
Ocean Edge Resort BALLROOM

*Seating/Tickets for this event is limited. This event may sell out and admission at the door may not be available. Tickets can be purchased at the Rec Office at the Eddy Elem. School.
Ages 3-9 - $6 
Ages 10+ - $12  
Kids 2 and under Free. 

Your ticket includes a full buffet breakfast and each child ticket will receive a voucher for arts & crafts. (Additional crafts for sale). Bring your camera for pictures with Santa (for a donation, please!).  All proceeds will benefit local children & families as part of our Brewster Holiday Hope fundraising drive.

Gala Family Party
12/4/2016 2:00-4:00pm
Cape Cod Museum Of Natural History, 869 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631
 Music, crafts, home-made sweets buffet and photos with Santa! FREE admission for everyone! Sponsored by the Cape Cod Museum  of Natural History and Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, with Eat Cake 4 Breakfast and Hopkins House Bakery & Gift shop
 
Santa Arrives at the Chatham Fish Pier
12/4/16 1:30-2:30pm
Chatham Fishing Pier
 43rd Annual Santa Claus arrival at the Chatham Fish Pier on the Coast Guard Vessel at 1:30 PM on December 4 followed by a fire truck ride to the Community Center for a 2:00pm visit with Santa and a small gift.

53RD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE 
12/4/16 12-2pm
Falmouth
Theme: “Dreams Come True”
Parade steps off at noontime from Dillingham Avenue and proceeds down Main Street to the Village Green. Known as Southeastern Massachusetts’ largest holiday parade, featuring theme decorated floats, marching bands, live animals, costumed characters and Santa Claus!
 
Santa Comes to the Fish Pier
12/4/16
Chatham Fish Pier, Barcliff Avenue, Chatham
Chatham Merchants Association When Santa makes his pre-Christmas journey to Chatham, it's big doings! No less than the United States Coast Guard provides his escort - delivering Jolly Old Saint Nick safely to the Chatham Fish Pier via Coast Guard cutter. It's all part of Chatham's festive Christmas by the Sea!
 
Yarmouthport Christmas Stroll
12/7/16 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Rt. 6A, Yarmouthport
Yarmouthport Christmas Stroll The village of Yarmouthport rings in the Holiday season with its annual Christmas Stroll on December 7th. As is the tradition, the Village's businesses, restaurants, B&Bs, and museums welcome all with holiday decorations, food, and seasonal music.  
 
Annual Tree Lighting Parade & Ceremony 
12/9/16 5:45pm-7pm
Sears Park, Chatham
Meet at the Chatham Community Center for the parade that begins at 5:45pm and proceeds down Main Street to Sears Park. Tree lighting ceremony follows at 6:00pm.

Santa's Workshop
12/9/16 6:30-8pm
Chatham Chamber of Commerce
Meet Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas!

Santa Breakfast & Holiday Splash Open House
12/10/2016 8:30-11:30am
National Marine Life Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA, 02532
Join us for a continental Breakfast with Santa and our Holiday Splash Open House! Featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9-11 am. Also featuring breakfast goodies, holiday arts and crafts, and tours of our marine animal hospital! Admission: $5/person; Members FREE Admissions proceeds help care for sick turtles and seals.

Breakfast with Santa
12/10/16 9-11am
Chatham Wayside Inn 512 Main St
Santa and Mrs. Claus invite you to join them for a very special breakfast at the Chatham Wayside Inn.
More information to follow regarding ticket purchase.

Santa's Workshop
12/9/16 611am-3pm
Chatham Chamber of Commerce
Meet Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas!

Mashpee Christmas Parade
12/10/16, 5:30 p.m. 
Parade begins at Mashpee Commons
Mashpee Christmas Parade Among all the festive events on Cape Cod in December, the Annual Mashpee Christmas Parade is one you won't want to miss!
Each year the parade seems to get bigger and better. Stay tuned for details on the 2016 parade theme and special, featured performers ... 

Historic Bass River Holiday Cookie Stroll
12/10/16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Old Main Street, South Yarmouth
$15 (advance purchase required)
Yarmouth Libraries Tour grand homes in the historic village of Bass River, see the sights, and pick up home-baked cookies along the way. What could be better??
When you purchase a ticket for the Cookie Stroll, your ticket is actually a cookbook with recipes for cookies served at the sites along this two-mile walking tour. 
Tickets to this popular event are limited and sell out quickly.

Holiday Sing A Long
Tones in Motion, Dec 16, 2016 10:30-11:15am
Atria Woodbriar, Gifford St Falmouth
Join Tones in Motion Music Therapy for our annual holiday sing along as we share our holiday cheer with our grand-friends of Atria Woodbriar. We will move and groove holiday style! 

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​Town Wide Holiday Weekend Events

Christmas in Harwich
When: Dec 2-4, 2016
Where: Various locations in Harwich
Christmas in Harwich   Many activities and events are free. This weekend in Harwich begins with the Harwich Port Stroll where locals and visitors join together for the tree lighting ceremony and caroling. Also on Friday evening, have your photo taken with Santa (he arrives by fire truck), and take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Harwich Port.
The rest of the weekend includes merchant open houses, village stroll, music, refreshments, and plenty more.

Holly Folly Weekend
December 2 - 4, 2016 
Around town in Provincetown
Holly Folly Weekend the Provincetown Business Guild's Gay and Lesbian Holiday Festival, kicks off on Friday with the "Holly Folly Shop Hop", a great time to peruse Provincetown's amazing variety of shops and galleries for unique gifts that'll "Wow" everyone on your list - pets included!
Throughout the weekend there'll be events all over town. Open houses, dance parties, drag bingo, a Jingle Bell Bathing Suit Run down the center of town ... that's just a little sampling of the fun and frivolity in P'town this Holly Folly Weekend.  

Falmouth Holidays By The Sea Weekend
December 2-4, 2016
Town Green, Falmouth Harbor, Main Street, and other locations in Falmouth
Falmouth Holidays By The Sea in Falmouth is jam-packed with fun for everyone! 
This festive weekend includes the arrival of Santa sailing into Falmouth Harbor, the Annual Lighting of the Falmouth Village Green with caroling and a special visit from Santa, and the downtown Holiday Stroll. Noon on Sunday is kick-off time for the annual Falmouth Christmas Parade. Renowned for being southeast Massachusetts’ largest Christmas parade, highlights include decorated floats, marching bands, live animals, costumed characters and Santa Claus, too. It's one of the premier Cape Cod events in December - definitely not to be missed!
 
Brewster for the Holidays
December 2 - 4, 2016
Brewster for the Holidays This town-wide celebration is a long-standing tradition in the historic "Sea Captains Town" of Brewster.
Festivities begin on Friday morning when local shops, galleries and inns open their doors for a weekend of family-friendly events, activities and promotions.
Highlights of Brewster for the Holidays include the Tree Lighting and the Lighting of the Windmill at Drummer Boy Park, blacksmith demonstration and windmill tours, a Holiday band concert, Arts & Crafts Show, and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History's Gala Family Party.
 
Chatham Christmas Stroll Weekend
December 9-10, 2016 
Throughout the town of Chatham
Chatham Christmas Stroll Christmas in Chatham will bring you back to days gone by. This weekend is part of a month-long celebration of the Holidays that includes a town light parade, caroling,  visits with Santa, music and theater performances, sweet treats, Christmas fairs, open houses and shopping throughout the town. 

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​Month Long Events

Seaside Christmas in Orleans
Beginning in late November and continuing through December
Various locations in Orleans
Seaside Christmas in Orleans For a host of family friendly Cape Cod events in December, come to Orleans! During the month-long Seaside Christmas celebration, shopkeepers, gallery owners and restaurateurs welcome visitors with special events and tasty treats - and some nice discounts and promotions to help preserve your shopping budget. Getting out and about around town, there's a jam-packed roster of things to see and do including Christmas tree lightings, caroling, Nauset Model Railroad Club's Open House, and tons more.

"Gardens Aglow"
Weekends (Fri., Sat., & Sun.) November 25 to December 18, 2016 from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Heritage Museums and Gardens, 67 Grove Street, Sandwich
Adults $18; children $7, 2 and under free
(508) 888-3300, ext. 175; Heritage Museums & Gardens
Heritage Museums & Gardens is putting on the glitz again this Holiday Season with it's treasured annual event - Gardens Aglow! At this extra-special time of year, the good folks at Heritage adorn their acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands with more than 10 miles of twinkling, sparkling lights. It's truly an awesome thing to see! Come stroll throughout the grounds and buildings and enjoy festive holiday displays, family-friendly activities, marshmallow-roasting, music and special performances, visits with Santa Claus, displays of model trains - and even a visit by some baby animals.

Edaville Express: Where's Santa?
Info: Join Mrs. Claus & Santa’s elves at the Edaville boarding station as they embark on a 45 minute interactive train ride adventure to find Santa; while enjoying chocolate milk, Hood® Eggnog & cookies. Fueled by Christmas cheer including: sing along to your favorite Christmas songs, dancing elves that give out shiny bells, & lots of bright lights that twinkle in the night! Each guest receives a special present! Reservations Required. Admission includes access to Edaville USA Theme Park, including Christmas Festival of Lights. 
This is recurring on dates listed 
Dates: 11/23, 12/1,12/7,12/8,12/14,12/15,12/ 21,12/ 22,12/ 28 &12/29
There are two time  Times: 5 PM & 6 PM
Pricing: $18 - $47
Visit website.

The Polar Express Train
Multiple departure times
Buzzards Bay Depot, 70 Main Street, Buzzards Bay
Ticket prices vary  
 (888) 797-7245; Cape Cod Central Railroad
Bourne, Massachusetts
The delightful children's story, The Polar Express, comes alive as you board the railroad's festively decorated train cars for a ride to visit Santa and his elves.
 As the train chugs along the tracks, everyone gets into the Holiday spirit with merry music, a reading of the Polar Express story, sweet treats and mugs of hot cocoa.  Of course, the Jolly Old Gentleman himself will be there when the train stops just outside the North Pole, meeting and greeting everyone with a rousing "Ho, Ho, Ho!". What a fun way for the whole family to celebrate the Holiday Season!

Annual Glassblowers' Christmas
November 14 - December 30, 2016 during daily Museum hours (9:30 am - 5 pm)
Sandwich Glass Museum, Main Street, Sandwich Village
Adults $9; Ages 6-14 $2; 6 and under free; Members free
(508) 888-0251 / Sandwich Glass Museum
The Sandwich Glass Museum is all dressed up for the Holidays. In addition to the spectacular glass exhibits the Museum is known for worldwide, this time of year features special trees decorated with hundreds of unique glass ornaments created by some of the region's foremost glass artists.

Spectacle of Trees
December 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10, 2016 
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, Main Street, Hyannis
"Tree Bucks" (raffle tickets) $10 each
Spectacle of Trees While you're on your Christmas stroll in Hyannis, be sure to stop by the JFK Museum on Main Street. Throughout the Museum you'll see rooms filled with Christmas trees  - all festooned with lights and ornaments, and surrounded with decorations and gifts. They're all waiting for lucky raffle winners to take them home. (Yes, if you have the winning ticket for your favorite tree, it'll be yours to keep - decorations, gifts and all!).

"The Enchanted Village"
December 2 - 23, 2016
Cape Codder Resort & Spa, Rt. 132, Hyannis
Free; donations of new, unwrapped gifts and/or gift cards are appreciated. Enchanted Village
At the Enchanted Village, visitors are immersed in a fantasy world, dazzling with tens of thousands of sparkly lights, colorful animated displays, and a fantastic Santa's Village. The over-the-top display put on each year at the Cape Codder Resort draws families from near and far!
Santa comes to visit on weekend evenings, gaily costumed carolers spread the holiday spirit, and (weather permitting) there's a crackling bonfire with marshmallow roasting and a sing-along.
Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift or a gift card to place under the Giving Tree as a donation to the Independence House in Hyannis. Note: This event is open to the public as well as to guests of the Resort.

Country Christmas Open House
December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 2016
Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich
Thornton Burgess Society Step back in time, into Ida Putnam's 1903 jam kitchen, for a glimpse of Christmas on Cape Cod over a century ago. The scent of jams and jellies cooking on the stove will have your mouth watering! Try a sampling of the delicious Jam Kitchen products and a cup of mulled cider. Browse the variety of holiday gift ideas in the Green Briar shop offering jams, jellies, relishes, books and many nature-related items.

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