Here’s to beauty in numbers: a field of flags, miles of twinkling lights and turnips everywhere. If you’re looking for a spectacle this November on Cape Cod, join the crowd.
Six sights not to miss:
1. 12th Annual Field of Honor Display (November 9-13)
Maybe it’s our proximity to Plymouth Rock or to the shining sea that surely inspired Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates to pen “America the Beautiful,” but patriotism takes on special meaning on Cape Cod. The annual Field of Honor at Johnny Kelley Park in South Dennis honors veterans with a stunning display of American flags, part of a nationwide tribute to men and women in uniform. Take time out to walk among the waving flags and give thanks in a rare field of dreams.
2.14th Annual Glassblowers’ Christmas (November 15 through December 30)
From glimmering whimsical characters to shimmering jewel-toned orbs, the gorgeous hand-blown creations at Sandwich Glass Museum give holiday lights a run for their money. The annual exhibition of handmade ornaments features the work of glass artists around the region and country. Lest you run out of branches or names on your gift list, the exhibit always inspires creative ways to display the ornaments in your holiday—or year-round—home.
3. Eastham's Taste of Turnip Day (November 23)
The under-celebrated root vegetable gets its due at this event sponsored by the Eastham Public Library. Turn up (haha) early to score a few of the uniquely sweet homegrown beauties for your own kitchen, then sample delectable dishes and appetizers (even ice cream!) featuring the ever-so-sweet Eastham turnip at 30+ participating restaurants. The weekend fun also includes live entertainment, turnip-themed games & contests (think turnip-decorating and speed-peeling), and an interactive performance by the Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers. One thing is for sure: Eastham turnips are hands-down worthy of all the exuberant fuss.
4. Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument (November 27)
In a town known for spectacle—whether Carnival parades or sweeping dunescapes—the annual lighting of the Pilgrim Monument is still one of Provincetown’s iconic sights. The lights shine through January, but if you’ve never been there when the switch is flipped, add it to your list of holiday musts. This year’s festivities will be held the night before Thanksgiving from 3 to 5:30 p.m.; attendees will enjoy a DJ, local food and a cash bar. Every year, the silhouette of 3,100 lights against the night sky pays tribute to this beautiful and historic coastal town: May it never know a dull moment.
5. 20th Annual Chatham Turkey Trot (November 28)
This annual Chatham tradition is, quite simply, the best way to make room for Thanksgiving dinner. Participants of the 5k gather at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning (November 28) in the Oyster Pond parking lot on Stage Harbor Road before setting out on the festive run/walk (costumes and turkey hats are always welcome). In the true spirit of holiday giving, the registration fee proceeds support the Lower Cape Outreach Council, which manages 9 emergency food pantries across the Lower and Outer Cape.
6. Gardens Aglow at Heritage Museums and Gardens (begins November 29)
If “gardens aglow” conjures twinkling trees and storybook scenes, the annual festivities at Heritage Museums and Gardens will still surpass your holiday dreams. From marshmallow roasts and reindeer scavenger hunts to old-fashioned carousel rides and model train displays; from cups of hot cocoa and visits with Santa in a vintage Model T Ford to sparkling ice sculptures and live performances in the automobile gallery, this family-friendly celebration is sugarplum-sweet. Now add miles of holiday lights, moonlit skies, and glowing grounds.
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