Cape & Islands - Heading into Fall!

As the sun sets earlier and the days get shorter, the air turns cooler and drier (good bye humidity!), and the traffic eases up on the major roads, thoughts turn to back to school and colder weather. But, don't close up the summer cottage or bunker down inside just yet, as the Cape & Islands has a lot to offer outdoors during the fall months!

Several towns celebrate the spirit of community, the change of seasons, or the fall harvest with festivals that include something for everyone. The 35^th annual Eastham Windmill Weekend, is "a community festival, a fair, and a family party

all rolled into one", held on the weekend following Labor Day. Activities include a sand art competition, road races, band concerts, arts and craft show, tricycle race, dancing, a parade along Route 6, food and more. Martha's Vineyard Wind Festival is September 1st at Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs. Say goodbye to summer while celebrating wind with kite making, kite flying, Frisbees, model sailboats, kite boarding, musical entertainment by The Flying Elbows, Woodwind Instruments, and supporting American Cancer Society's "Bark For Life!" Members of the Wampanoag Nation along with the Bourne Historical Society host Wampanoag Day on Saturday, Sept 22nd from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Complex. Come celebrate Native American cultural with food, crafts, games, dance, and more traditions. The 43rd Annual Bourne Scallop Festival takes place September 21st through 23rd. This 3 day festival features scallop & herb roasted chicken dinners, a food court - beer & wine, chowder, lobster rolls, raw bar, hotdogs, burgers, desserts and much more, a large juried craft show, Midway rides & games and non-stop music entertainment! Too much to mention here, visit bournescallopfest.com for complete schedule.

The fun continues into October starting with the Milestone Cranberry Bog and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation's 10th Annual Cranberry Festival on Saturday October 6, 2012. Watch and learn the history of the berry harvest- event includes demonstrations, hayrides, games, food and music. The annual Wellfleet OysterFest celebrates Wellfleet’s famous oysters and its deep-rooted shellfishing traditions. This year's event takes place on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 in the town center. Don't miss this street party of food, art, music, fun and games for children of all ages! The 34th Annual Yarmouth Seaside Festival runs October 6th, 7th & 8th - featuring: Fireworks!, parades, giant craft fair, kid's rides, children's tent, Seaside Clowns, musical entertainment, African Dance & Drums, magician, demonstrations, farmers market, races, sandcastle contest, lots of food vendors! Visit seaside festival website for complete schedule! Tony Andrews Farm in East Falmouth offers "Pick your own pumpkins" and pre-Halloween scary, and for the timid, not so scary, hay rides during the month of October.

For those who prefer the solitude of nature, the cooler crisper weather makes for a perfect day of hiking, biking or fishing on Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket. The Cape Cod National Seashore stretching from Eastham to Provincetown has several walking trails and bike paths, in addition to the beaches which are still nice to visit in the fall. The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary consists of woodlands, salt marsh, barrier beach and heath lands. Its 5 miles of scenic trails wind through the habitats of a wide variety of wildlife, including songbirds and shorebirds. Visit Mass Audobon Wellfleet Bay web page for visitor information. Other Mass Audubon Cape Cod & Island sanctuaries are located in Barnstable, East Falmouth, Wareham, Vineyard Haven, and Nantucket. Last, but certainly not least, check out our list of Cape Cod Hiking Trails