Cape & Islands - Fall Fun!

Labor Day marks the (un)official end of the Summer season. The college students have left their summer jobs and are back to classes. The buses are rolling and K - 12 students are enjoying school and fall sports. The sun is rising later and setting earlier, the days are getting shorter, and Cape Cod is still waiting for the air to turn cooler and drier... When will the humidity break?!. The traffic has eased up on the major roads, and most of the out of state plates are gone. Don't close up the summer cottage or hunker down inside just yet...

Get outside and enjoy all the Cape & Islands has offer outdoors during the glorious 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 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 8th at Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs. Say goodbye to summer while celebrating wind with kite making, kite flying, Frisbee games, model sailboat racing, kite boarding, musical entertainment and more! Cape Cod Canal Day takes place at Buzzards Bay Park on Saturday Sept 14 and includes something for everyone - a 5K Race, ​Live music, Art & craft vendors, Food trucks, Craft beer & wine, and children's activities. Since 2006, the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival has honored Tennesse Williams, celebrating his Cape Cod connections, by presenting his classic and undiscovered plays. This year's festival runs September 26^th through the 29^th. Members of the Wampanoag Nation along with the Bourne Historical Society host Wampanoag Day on Saturday, Sept 28th 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. 6th Annual Vinegrass Music Festival is Sunday September 29 at Truro Vineyards in North Truro - this is a ticketed event with proceeds to help in Vinegrass' efforts to purchases instruments for Cape Cod kids, and fund college scholarships and grants for camps

The fun continues into October starting with the Milestone Cranberry Bog and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation's 16th Annual Cranberry Festival on Saturday October 16, 2019, Rain or Shine. Watch and learn the history of the berry harvest- event includes demonstrations, hayrides, games, food and music. The Annual Yarmouth Seaside Festival runs October 12th, 13th & 14th - featuring: Fireworks!, bed race competition, giant craft fair, kid's rides, children's tent, Seaside Clowns, musical entertainment, African Dance & Drums, magician, demonstrations, farmers market, 5 K road race, sandcastle contest, lots of food vendors! No parade this year. Visit seaside festival website for complete schedule! The 15th annual Wellfleet OysterFest celebrates Wellfleet’s famous oysters and its deep-rooted shellfishing traditions with a Shucking Contest, Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, 5K Road Race & Tennis, and more. This year's event takes place on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 in the town center. Don't miss this street party of food, art, music, fun and games for children of all ages! Start a family tradition - Crow Farm in Sandwich offers "Pick Your Own Apples" on certain weekends during the fall.

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. See our list for more Cape Cod Hiking Trails. Last, but certainly not least, check out our fishing page to book a Cape Cod fishing charter and catch some fish and excitement!

As always, for wonderful places (and off season specials!) to stay on the Cape check out AllCapeCod.com Lodging; for Nantucket see AllNantucket.com, and for Martha's Vineyard visit AllVineyard.com. Come spend Fall on The Cape and Islands!