The winter season is so much more than just the Holidays. Often, the entire month of December is dedicated to holiday light shows, visits from Santa, special performances, and other fun events. Of course, do not forget about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for extravagant, active, or crazy events. The Cape Cod holiday season follows suit with its own style of holiday flair. Whether you come early in the Holiday Season, or wait until New Year’s Eve, you’ll likely find a celebration or two on the Cape to enjoy some hot chocolate and twinkling lights during the darkest days of the year.
Brewster for the Holidays – December 6-8, 2024 (website not updated yet) Christmas in Brewster starts early in the month with a weekend full of events. The weekend kicks off with a holiday lighting extravaganza. Along with a traditional tree lighting, Brewster adds a unique twist by lighting the historic windmill at Drummer Boy Park – across the street from Brewster By The Sea Inn, and easily seen from our Sea Meadow room. The evening also includes caroling, a visit by Saint Nick, and a holiday concert by the beloved Brewster Band. All weekend long, shops and other businesses will have raffles and special deals. While you are browsing, be sure to look for snowmen hidden in local businesses to be entered in a raffle. A list of all the special deals will be published closer to the date.
Holiday Strolls
Many of the towns in Cape Cod have Holiday Strolls throughout the month. The different strolls feature tree lightings, parades, discounts and snacks at shops, and performances. The schedules for many of the strolls are still being finalized but make your plans today for lodging at Brewster By The Sea Inn for the weekend stroll you want to explore.
Hyannis: Sip & Shop Holiday Kickoff and Boat Lighting – December 6, 2024 & Love Local Fest and Hyannis Main Street Holiday Stroll – December 7, 2024 Harwich: Merry Market, Tree Lighting & Fireworks at Wequassett Resort – December 7, 2024 Falmouth: Falmouth Village Holiday Stroll – December 7, 2024 & 61st Annual Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade – December 8, 2024 Dennis: Dennis Village Stroll – December 8, 2024 Yarmouth Port: Yarmouth Port Christmas Stroll – December 8, 2024 Chatham: Christmas By The Sea – December 13-15, 2024 Performances and the Arts
Holidays at Highfield at Highfield Hall and Gardens – November 22-24, November 29-December 1, December 5-8, and December 12-15, 2024. Highfield hall is an historic estate built in 1878. During the holiday season the home is beautifully decorated. Along with the holiday decorations, there will be eight artistic vignettes related to favorite children’s books that will invoke a sense of nostalgia. Throughout the event days there will be musical and dance performances.
Gardens Aglow at The Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich – November 29, December 1, 4-8, 10-15, and 17-23. This treasured holiday tradition features beautiful light displays throughout the gardens with festive seasonal décor, and fun activities. Visit their website for tickets – they go fast!
Holiday on the Cape at Barnstable Performing Arts center – December 6-8, 2024 Matinee and evening performances will be highlighted by a rendition of Handel’s Messiah, music from The Polar Express, and performances by Broadway singer Scarlett Strallen and the Cape Symphony Dance Company.
The Artful Holly Folly at the historic Mary Heaton Vorse House – December 7, 2024 Master artists will be displaying works while visitors enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails by cozy fires.
Holiday Bazaar at Wellfleet Preservation Hall – December 7-8, 2024 Shop for homemade crafts and artisan products on three floors of Preservation Hall with even more vendors outside.
Cape Cod Celtic Christmas Celebration at Bass River Arts Campus – December 14, 2024 Now in its 15th season, Stanley and Grimm perform holiday songs from Ireland, Scotland, and Canada.
The Giants in Sandwich – throughout the season Giant lighted sculptures dwarf regular holiday lights along 6A in Sandwich. Michael Magyar has created at least a dozen of these sculptures, and the placement has broadened into other towns including Dennis. Keep an eye out as you travel throughout the Cape.
Uniquely Cape Cod Events
Lobster Pot Tree Lighting in Provincetown – November 30, 2024 Where else in the world can you find a Christmas tree built out of lobster pots? Everyone gathers at 5:30 pm to await the ceremonial lighting.
Holly Folly in Provincetown – December 6-8, 2024 Think Pride Month but in December. Holly Folly is an LGBTQ+ holiday-themed weekend with a Jingle Bell Run during which people run while wearing their bathing suits, drag bingo, dance parties, and sing-alongs.
Season of Illumination Parade in Mashpee – December 14, 2024 This is Cape Cod’s only nighttime holiday walking parade. The parade begins at 6:00 pm and boasts many floats decorated with sparkling lights.
New Year Celebrations and Activities
Chatham hosts one of Cape Cod’s longstanding New Year’s Eve celebration. First Night Chatham is family-friendly, alcohol-free, and full of the arts.
First Light in Provincetown – December 27, 2024 – January 2, 2025 New Year’s Eve is so important in Provincetown that they celebrate it for seven days. The days are filled with performances, fine art, delicious food, and Commerical Street shops with festive experiences. But the true highlights of the event happen on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Provincetown. At dusk on New Year’s Eve, MacMillan Pier is lit up by fireworks to celebrate the coming year. Then on New Year’s Day, hundreds of people brave the ice cold air and water temperatures for the Annual Provincetown Polar Plunge.
First Day Hikes Cape Cod – January 1, 2025 Many parks across the nation plan hikes on January 1 to encourage people to get outside and start the year off on the right foot (or the left foot). Cape Cod has built upon the idea with a regional collaboration that has grown to 18 free events on a single day. There are sunrise walks in Harwich, West Dennis, and West Barnstable. If you prefer to have your morning coffee first, try a mid-morning hike in West Falmouth, Harwich, North Chatham, Wellfleet, or Provincetown. The Margaret Wyman Turtle Garden Sanctuary hosts two Turtle-riffic Walk and Talk opportunities. Finally, if morning is still just a bit much on the morning after midnight champagne, try an afternoon hike in North Chatham, Brewster, Mashpee, Wareham, Falmouth, West Barnstable, Marston Mills, or Orleans.
