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Hyannis, Cape Cod, in the summer
With New England’s remarkably brief summer, locals flock to the beaches between June and August to soak up as much beachfront fun as possible. Cape Cod has long been the hub of the region’s warm-weather activities. Every year, it plays host to some of the Northeast’s best summer festivals. Here are just five of our favorites.
Cape Cod Quahog Day (June)
If there’s an official New England mollusk, it’s no doubt the quahog. Every June, Cape Cod hosts the quirky Cape Cod Quahog Day to usher summer in. As a silly take on the annual Groundhog Day, residents look to Doug the Quahog to answer the question of just how many days of sunny, beach-worthy weather lie ahead for New England. Doug is kept safe throughout the year in a velvet-lined clam basket and only sees the light of day once a year to share his forecast with Johnny Quahog, the Secretary General of the Quahog Republic.
SandwichFest (June)
Of course the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts, was just begging to be marketed as a destination for great sandwiches. Enter the annual SandwichFest. Every year, dozens of area restaurants enter the competition to see who will be crowned creator of “the best sandwich in Sandwich.” Beyond sandwich tasting, this family-friendly festival offers plenty of live music, arts and crafts booths, and other quirky activities such as a pet-and-owner lookalike competition.
Cape Cod ChowderFest (June)
There’s no question that New England’s flagship dish is clam chowder. During the summer months, every destination from Maine to Newport plays host to its own clam chowder cook-off. Every June, the annual Cape Cod ChowderFest offers all-you-can-eat samplings under the famous Cape Cod Melody Tent. Visitors vote for their favorite chowder while enjoying live music and other family-friendly activities throughout the day.
Woods Hole Film Festival (July)
Cape Cod isn’t the first place to spring to mind when people think of great film destinations. But the annual Woods Hole Film Festival draws thousands of filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the globe. Throughout its eight-day run, the festival plays more than 100 feature-length films. The week is interspersed with workshops, readings, individual awards and parties.
Pops by the Sea (August)
Even if you’re not a classical or instrumental music fan, the Boston Pops Orchestra is a unique and beautiful experience. While the orchestra typically plays outside the city only on special occasions, the group brings their world-class musical talent to Hyannis during Pops by the Sea. Pops conductor Keith Lockhart is joined by a guest conductor each year to perform the group’s most memorable arrangements on the Hyannis Town Green.
Learn about Cape Cod tours from Boston
- Contributed by Mike Richard
