With autumn soon showing its true colors across the Cape’s stunning landscapes, it’s time to slow down the hustle and give a proper welcome to the harvest season with family and friends. Here’s the local roundup of outdoor festivals and events that make it easy to plan a cornucopia of fall outings!
Seaside Le Mans
Saturday, September 9
Speed demons will love this fast-paced Formula One Kart Race at Mashpee Commons. Watch competitors race around a quarter-mile track in European-style racing karts, all while raising money for local charities. Free for spectators, the event also features live entertainment and children's activities. Make a day of it and visit the Mashpee Commons shops and restaurants while you're there.
Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17
Kick-off the season and support over 100 vendors selling unique, handmade items and crafts at this celebrated September artisan market and music festival. Enjoy this year’s live music lineup at the CranJam, and step onto the wooden dance floor under the tent when the spirit moves you. Bring a blanket or chair to stay awhile and make some new friends, get reacquainted with your favorite food truck menus, and don’t miss the Saturday fireworks at dark!
Cape Cod Canal Day
Saturday, September 16
Any day that celebrates the beautiful Cape Cod Canal is a great day in our books. Buzzards Bay Park plays host to food trucks, live music in the gazebo, kids’ activities and a 5k road race. Sample craft beer and wine, peruse the work of local crafters and compete in a heated corn hole tournament!
Cape Cod Brew Fest
Saturday, September 23
Head to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth for this annual beer festival celebrating American craft brewers from 50 + breweries, featuring over 150 distinct styles of beer. General admission tickets at this 21+ event include unlimited samples, live music, access to food vendors & trucks, and a branded, custom pint glass to take home. Don’t forget to reserve a discounted Designated Driver ticket so you can safely enjoy and support the craft brew industry.
Love Local Fest
Sunday, September 24
Shopping local has never been as fun as one of Love Live Local’s Love Local Fests. Held three times a year, the fall edition of this free fest will be held on the Hyannis waterfront at Aselton Park. Peruse the work of 75+ Cape Cod makers, artisans, artists and farmers, as local entertainers, kids' activities and a craft beverage garden set a lively vibe. Shopping local has never been more fun!
Mashpee Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 30
Brush up on your Oktoberfest lingo at home, then come out to the Mashpee Commons Village Green to celebrate fall with a day of merry-making and fun activities the whole family will enjoy. Delight your kids with the art of face painting and pumpkin decorating, peruse over 50 craft booths, savor delicious food, and raise a glass to autumn at the authentic German Bier Garten featuring live music…and a stein race? Worth investigating!
Vinegrass Music Festival
Sunday, October 1
Gather around the vines with friends surrounded by the natural beauty of Truro Vineyards for a memorable day spent listening to American Roots Music. The annual Vinegrass Festival lives on, bringing the roots genre of music and authentic sounds of Americana, bluegrass, and folk right to your backyard! Support this nonprofit along with an all-star lineup while you sip the vineyard’s signature wines and spirits, order from the food truck, and bask—or perhaps even dance—in the golden autumn light of the Outer Cape.
Pumpkin Day at Bourne Farm
Saturday, October 7
Plan a perfect fall day with your kids on the beautiful grounds of the historic Bourne Farm nature sanctuary in West Falmouth, where you can pick your own pumpkins, say hello to the animals at the petting zoo, or take an old-fashioned hayride—one of the best ways to admire the colorful landscape and changing leaves. Pony rides, autumn-inspired crafts, a bounce house, and the perfect backdrop for a fall photoshoot make it easy to have a ‘Yes Day’ focused on family fun without too much planning! Keep everyone fueled with lunch available for purchase and a classic bake sale table.
Yarmouth Seaside Festival
Saturday, October 7 through Monday, October 9
Join your neighbors at this favorite local gala event of days gone by, founded in 1978 and jam-packed with fun and entertainment for all ages. Arts and crafts, rides and games, delicious food, and live music and shows take center stage at this year’s comeback event that includes two days of scheduled activities, The Yarmouth Seaside Festival 5K along the Bass River, and a fireworks display on Seagull Beach. Check out the online schedule for family favorites like the kid’s rotating Mad Science and Animal Adventures tent shows, old-fashioned field day races, and even a pie-eating contest!
Wellfleet OysterFest
Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15
This annual fest that pays homage to the world-renowned Wellfleet Oyster may look a little different than before, but extending the fun into an entire month of activities can only mean good things. Get your shuck on with fun, tasty and educational pop ups throughout the month-long celebration. Main event is October 15-16 ay Wellfleet's Baker's Field! A full line-up of events will be posted here.
Chatham's Pumpkin People in the Park
Oct 14-31
Take a seasonal stroll to admire the fascinating pumpkin displays that draw thousands of visitors to Kate Gould Park in Chatham every year—listed as one of America’s best towns for Halloween by Travel+Leisure. Celebrate the infamous ‘people’ unbelievable fashioned out of pumpkins, strike a pose with your favorite, then visit the celebrated shops on Main Street. Plan your visit right to also take part in the Chatham Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, October 21!
Sandwich Glass Museum PumpkinFest
Saturday, October 21
Be mesmerized by the shimmering, handblown glass pumpkins at the 11th annual outdoor pumpkin fest at Sandwich Glass Museum. This fanciful show and sale event showcases seasonally themed glass art you can illuminate around your home day or night for the perfect autumn décor. They also make great gifts!