Cape Cod Kidz

The Cape Cod Kidz What to Do on the Weekend Guide

Featuring Christine's top picks for December 2 through 4, 2011

By Christine Chapman

So the weather outside is unnaturally warm for this time of year, it didn't snow on Thanksgiving and I actually had to think twice before figuring out whether to put something warm on over the weekend or not-at the end of November in New England! Go figure! Well, I'm not going to complain about it-it's confusing but wonderful and my family's enjoying the opportunity to be outside at a time when we usually feel like a bunch of stir crazy monkeys trapped in the house wearing layers!

But it's already December this weekend, folks! The countdown is on for Christmas vacation and although it's warm out still, we've already got the tree up and trimmed and we're humming those Christmas tunes and watching the Christmas movies and mulling apple cider as part of the seasonal ritual. So with all that in mind...here's hoping you had a great Thanksgiving and that you're ready for all that Cape Cod has to offer as the holiday season kicks off! 

Weekend-long activities:

Brewster will be extra festive this weekend. Here, the Higgins Windmill at Drummer Boy Park on Route 6A. cckidz photo.

• 5th Annual Brewster for the Holidays (December 2, 3 and 4, 2011) 5th Annual Brewster for the Holidays--a magical weekend of festivities to launch your holiday season. Enjoy an old fashion town celebration complete with concerts, parties, music, food and family fun. Many special events mark this weekend of celebration. Friday Evening December 2^nd: Wreath and Tree lighting at the Drummer Boy Park, Brewster Band Concert at the Brewster Baptist Church; Sunday afternoon December 4^th: Gala Family Holiday Party at the Cape Cod Natural History Museum. All festival events are sponsored by local businesses and are free of charge unless noted on the event calendar. Check the Calendar of Events for details of time and place as well as all other special things happening around town during our Brewster for the Holidays celebration. Complete calendar of events here: http://www.02631.com/pg-3.htm

• Heritage Gardens Aglow Annual Celebration of Lights 5:00PM - 9:00PM all weekend. The museum's buildings and grounds will sparkle with festive lights and decorations and Old St. Nick will hold court in the museum's Ford Model T (as his sleigh is in the shop). There will also be a gingerbread house display and kids' holiday crafts area. Tickets are $7/member adults, $4/member children ages 3 to 17, $10/ non-member adults, $5 member children ages 3 to 17, and free for children age 2 and under. Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich.

• Cape Cod Enchanted Village 5:00PM - 9:00PM at The Cape Codder Resort & Spa in Hyannis. 10th annual event. Come bring the kids to see a magnificent display of more than 100,000 lights, animated reindeer and more. In addition, carolers and Santa Fri-Sat from 5:30 to 8:30 and Sun from 5 to 7 thru 12/18. Lights remain on display through January 2, 2012. As you approach our courtyard each night at dusk, you will be dazzled by the glow of more than 100,000 lights. Topiary animals will greet you as you make your way past rows of miniature Christmas Trees and Santa's Reindeer to a Santa's Village reminiscent of an old fashioned Enchanted Village. On Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30pm to 8:30pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 7pm, strolling carolers will walk among the visitors, spreading holiday spirit through song. And, back by popular demand, Santa will be taking some time out of his busy schedule to visit us at the Cape Codder! Children are welcome to sit on his lap to tell him their holiday wishes. Hot apple cider, hot chocolate and cookies (available for purchase in the Hearth 'n Kettle) may be enjoyed by the glow of the Cape Codder's bonfire, while children roast marshmallows and sing along with the carolers (weather permitting). The centerpiece of the Enchanted Village will be a 12 foot tall "Giving Tree" with a 3.5 foot star on top. Guests to the Enchanted Village are encouraged to bring NEW, unwrapped gifts or Gift Cards or non-perishable food to place under the tree. All donations will be given to Independence House in Hyannis. Last year, the "Giving Tree" yielded over $10,000 in food, toys, and gift cards for Independence House!

• Christmas in Harwich is another fun, weekend long event and I will post the actual events below by date but this sounds like fun: http://www.harwichcc.com/event-christmas-harwiches.php

Here are some great things to consider on Friday December 2, 2011

• HYCC Stroller Skating 9:30AM - 10:30AM at The Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis. All levels of skating ability are welcome! We'll help you get started! Kid-Friendly Music: We'll lower the volume to a level that is acceptable for babies' ears! This is a great way for new moms and caregivers to get a workout that offers aerobic strength training and fun interaction with their babies, older children and other moms!! EVERY FRIDAY starting November 11th! 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ADMISSION IS JUST $5 (includes your adult skate rental!)Bring your older kids! Family Admission is $10 Child Skate Rentals are just $2 during Stroller Skating.

• Small Fries: Animals in Motion - Ages 2-5 10:00AM - 11:00AM at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellfleet. Engage your preschooler in nature with this Mommy-and-Me style class. We'll use songs, stories, role plays, crafts and hands-on explorations to discover the world around us and develop our cognitive, motor, and social skills. Each class focuses on a special animal or habitat.

• Preschool Storytime is at10:30AM at Eastham Public Library in Eastham for ages 2 - 5 will include stories, fingerplays, songs, silliness and a craft. All are welcome.

• Toddler Town will happen from 10:30AM - 1:00PM at Wellfleet Public Library in Wellfleet. Join us for stories and crafts at 10:30am and lots of fun in our "indoor gym" at 11am!

• Critter Capers 10:30AM - 11:00AM at Green Briar Nature Center in East Sandwich. Families are invited to drop by for a half hour visit with a Thornton W. Burgess Society naturalist and one of the resident animals at the nature center. Learn about life cycles, habits and habitats. This program, which is offered every Friday morning, is suitable for children ages 3 and up with an adult. Advance registration is not required. Free to Society members, $2 per person for non-members.

• Holly Jolly Time! 10:30AM at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford. Join Santa's elf in creating holiday crafts that will make great gifts for parents and grandparents. Each week will feature two different holiday crafts. Program includes: two crafts, a holiday snack and zoo admission. Please Note: Space for Holly Jolly Time is limited. Zoo Members: $7 per child; Non-Members: $10 per child.

• Christmas in Harwich: Harwich Port Stroll from 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Tree lighting ceremony & family carol sing kicks off the stroll in Doane Park at 5:30pm. Santa arrives by fire truck at the visitor center at 6:15 pm, photos ($5) and visits until 8pm. Free horse-drawn carriage rides through the Port. Pilgrim Church chili/hot dog cafe, Girl Scout craft/bake sale, cookie walk, Harwich strings, live nativity, CCEYM silent auction, Guild of Harwich Artists Small Works show at the Port Building. Garden Club boutique, merchant open houses, music, refreshments, good cheer from 6pm to 9pm.WOMR 92.1 FM/91.3 FM Lady Di's Christmas Music Program. Points throughout Harwich Port .

• Kid's Night Out 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM for students aged 6-10 years. Head out to the YMCA of Cape Cod in West Barnstable to drop the kids off for a planned, themed activity, dinner and swimming afterwards. This is a wonderful monthly activity on the first Friday each month.

• Rock Night at HYCC (Grades 3-7 only) 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM at Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis-a favorite for skaters in grades 3-7-get those skates on and skate to whatever is popular in rock and roll these days!

• HJT presents "Madeline's Christmas" - A Musical 7:30 PM Enjoy the Madeline Christmas story, in musical form! Books and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier. Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Directed with musical direction by Robert Wilder. Choreography by Suzette Hutchinson. Sounds like great fun at Harwich Junior Theatre in W. Harwich.

Treat the whole family to a live show as "Madeline's Christmas" premieres this weekend. HJT photo.

Saturday December 3, 2011 has a lot going on, too!

• Christmas in Harwich: Saturday Events 8:30AM - 6:30PM. There is lots going on today in Harwich: Harwich Elementary School Pancake Breakfast with Santa, 8:30am-10:30am. Harwich Elementary School PTA Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair, 9am-1pm. Community Center Holiday Extravaganza, 9am-2pm. Snow's Home & Garden Seasonal Train Display, 9am-5pm. Brooks Free Library Big Ryan's Tall Tales, 10:30am. Brooks Academy Exhibits & Open House, 1pm-4pm. Brooks Free Library Let's Deck the Halls Sing-Along with Dan McCarthy, 2pm-3pm. Merchant open houses, music, refreshments and good cheer. Cove Club Open House, 10am-2pm, 383 Route 28, Harwich Port, light refreshments, gift items for sale to benefit Cove Club Education Training Fund. East Harwich Stroll, 1pm-4pm. Stop & Shop - letters to Santa table and raffle for two new bicycles to benefit HECH. Merchant open houses, Santa, music, refreshments and good cheer. FREE enclosed trolley shuttle between Harwich Center/Harwich Community Center/East Harwich provided by Cape Destinations.

• Doughnuts with Santa 9:00AM Enjoy the North Pole's favorite pastry! Gift from Santa, train ride and admission to the Zoo for the day is included in program price. Don't forget to bring your camera to take a picture with Santa! Participants must pre- register and pay in advance by visiting www.bpzoo.org or calling (508) 991-4556 x 18. Please Note: Professional photos will not be provided at these events. We invite you to bring your own camera if you wish to take a photo with Santa. Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

• Harwich PTA Holiday Bazaar & Craft Fair 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM This fun community event at Harwich Elementary School features a children's shopping room where they can get gifts for family and loved ones (all gifts $1!), a Craft Fair with a wide variety of vendors, local community organizations, entertainment, snacks, and more! Don't miss this great opportunity to support our schools and do your holiday shopping!! Come early for the Pancake Breakfast with Santa starting at 8:30 a.m.! Part of the Christmas in Harwich events!
  Harwich Elementary School, Harwich.

• Bridgeview Montessori School's Holiday Artisan Fair 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM Bridgeview Montessori School's Holiday Artisan Fair is on December 3, 10 am - 3 pm. Hand-created items by professional artisans: jewelry, felted purses, crocheted hats, scarves and sweaters, unique fleece clothing for adults and children, felted fairies and animals, colorful hula hoops and fuzzy monster dolls, nautical prints, pottery, and folk art. 885 Sandwich Road, Sagamore. For information call 508-888-3567. Bridgeview Montessori School, Sagamore.

• Live Animal Story Time 10:30AM - 11:00AM Drop by and join a naturalist for a lively story of "Peter Rabbit" and friends and a visit with one of the animals featured in the day's story. Suitable for families with children ages 3 and up. Advance registration is not required. Green Briar Nature Center in East Sandwich.

That Santa is one busy fellow! Check out all the places you'll be able to catch him on Cape Cod!

• Milk and Cookies with Santa 1:00PM Enjoy cookies and milk with Santa before he makes his annual trip. Don't forget to bring your camera to take a picture with Santa! Gift from Santa, train ride and admission to the zoo for the day is included in program price. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance by visiting www.bpzoo.org or by calling (508) 991-4556 x 18. Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

• Annual Eastham Holiday Festival 10:00AM - 1:00PM The. Event is free! Free Trolley between both venues. Food and entertainment! Pony Rides thanks to Eastham Discount Oil. Toys for Tots Collection at the Elks. Gift Barn, 4180A State Highway/Route 6 and Orleans-Eastham Elks Lodge, 10 McKoy Road in Eastham.

• Not Your Average Duck--Discover the Spectacular Ducks of December! 10:00AM - 12:00PM. The odd word "duck" just doesn't convey the variety and the beauty of the birds that visit our ponds and bays in winter. We will scan for eiders, grebes, mergansers, widgeons and other who find our chilly climate quite comfortable. Please dress warmly. Suitable for children ages 5 and up. Adults $6.00m/ $8.00nm, Children $4.00m/ $6.00nm. We will meet at Long Pasture Visitor Center! Meet at Long Pasture Visitor Center in Cummaquid.

• Nauset Model Railroad Club "Magical" Open House 1:00PM - 4:00PM. There is something magical about trains at Christmastime, as visitors will discover at the Nauset Model Railroad Club this holiday season. The club is hosting public Open House events from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, November 26 and December 3, 10, 17 and 31, at its location in the lower level of Hilltop Plaza on Route 6A in Orleans. Admission is free. Nauset Model Railroad Club in Orleans.

• American Girl's Winter Wonderland Tea 1:00PM - 3:00PM. An American Girl's Winter Wonderland Tea will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church, Nelson Hall. Sponsored by the Captain Joshua Gray- Jonathan Hatch DAR Chapter, Cape Cod. 227 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth. For more information or tickets call 508-398-4719 or visit darcc.weebly.com. St. David's Episcopal Church in South Yarmouth.

• Milk and Cookies with Santa 3:00PM. Enjoy cookies and milk with Santa before he makes his annual trip. Don't forget to bring your camera to take a picture with Santa! Gift from Santa, train ride and admission to the zoo for the day is included in program price. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance by visiting www.bpzoo.org or by calling (508) 991-4556 x 18. Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

• Holiday Fun at the Zoo 5:30PM. Party with your favorite holiday characters, Frosty & Rudolph! Pizza dinner, photo with Santa, holiday lights train ride (weather permitting) and a craft with Mrs. Clause included. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance by calling (508) 991-4556 or by visiting www.bpzoo.org. Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

• Provincetown Children's Theater presents "The Snowman in the Dunes" 6:00PM. This family musical has endeared itself to the Outer Cape community over the past two years. Originally a short play, Snowman tells the story of Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, who moves from the Himalayas to Provincetown to find his dream-acceptance and friendship. Yeti moves into a dune shack just before Christmas and meets two kids whose mother, Mrs. Galilee, runs the Sea Glass Inn. Mrs. Galilee has no time for "monsters in the dunes" because the bank is foreclosing on the inn while her wife is deployed overseas in Afghanistan. Will the family be able to save the inn? Will Yeti become the friend he yearns to be? Will the Evil Banker remain... evil? And will the magic and spirit of Christmas prevail and save the day? All these questions will be answered in The Snowman in the Dunes with the help of the audience and some dancing snowflakes.
  Provincetown Theater in Provincetown.

• Barnstable Recreation Holiday Public Skate at the HYCC 7:00PM - 9:00PM . Come and skate to Holiday music with friends and family! Enjoy hot cocoa and the holiday spirit with carolers and figure skating exhibitions by skaters of all levels! Bring an item for our coat drive to benefit local shelters and receive free skate rentals! Sponsored by Cape Cod Skating Club. Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis.

• Public Skate 7:00PM - 9:00PM. Head out to the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis for this awesome family time.

And for Sunday December 4, 2011:

• Story Time with Santa at Cape Cod Mall 9:00AM - 11:00AM. Cape Cod Mall and Santa are hosting Story Time. Kidgits will listen as Santa reads a collection of his favorite Christmas tales and shares his favorite holiday spirit! Kidgits will also have a chance to participate in a variety of other holiday activities including:
  -Holiday Snacks and Treats, Christmas Crafts, Bring A Cozy Blanket to sit on

• Milk and Cookies with Santa 1:00 PM Enjoy cookies and milk with Santa before he makes his annual trip. Don't forget to bring your camera to take a picture with Santa! Gift from Santa, train ride and admission to the zoo for the day is included in program price. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance by visiting www.bpzoo.org or by calling (508) 991-4556 x 18. Please Note: Professional photos will not be provided at these events. We invite you to bring your own camera if you wish to take a photo with Santa. Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

• Brewster for the Holidays Gala Family Party at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History 2:00PM - 4:00PM. Free admission to the Museum all day from 11 am-4 pm. The Gala Family Party will include raffle drawings, music, refreshments and kids' crafts. Santa will arrive at 2:30 pm!Come and join in the fun as we celebrate Brewster for the Holidays at the Museum! Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster.

• HJT presents "Madeline's Christmas" - A Musical 2:00PM. Enjoy the Madeline Christmas story, in musical form! Books and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier. Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Directed with musical direction by Robert Wilder. Choreography by Suzette Hutchinson. Sounds like great fun at Harwich Junior Theatre in W. Harwich.

• Christmas in Harwich: Sunday Events 3:00PM - 7:00PM. Service of Advent and Christmas Lessons and Carols, Christ Church Episcopal, Harwich Port, 3pm to 4pm. Refreshments to follow. Christmas Cantata - One Starry Night, A Concert of Contemporary Songs and Classic Carols Celebrating the Story of Christmas, First Congregational Church, Harwich Center, 7pm. Reception to follow.

• Provincetown Children's Theater presents "The Snowman in the Dunes" 6:00PM. This family musical has endeared itself to the Outer Cape community over the past two years. Originally a short play, Snowman tells the story of Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, who moves from the Himalayas to Provincetown to find his dream-acceptance and friendship. Yeti moves into a dune shack just before Christmas and meets two kids whose mother, Mrs. Galilee, runs the Sea Glass Inn. Mrs. Galilee has no time for "monsters in the dunes" because the bank is foreclosing on the inn while her wife is deployed overseas in Afghanistan. Will the family be able to save the inn? Will Yeti become the friend he yearns to be? Will the Evil Banker remain... evil? And will the magic and spirit of Christmas prevail and save the day? All these questions will be answered in The Snowman in the Dunes with the help of the audience and some dancing snowflakes.
  Provincetown Theater in Provincetown.

There's so much going on here on Cape Cod this coming weekend. Postpone the Christmas shopping! After all, even Santa isn't recession-free! I've told my little girl that what with the cost of feeding the reindeer and the elves, even Santa won't be able to afford as much as he used to in past years. I've come to believe that more important than all the stuff we accumulate for the kids during the holiday season are the moments and experiences we share with them. Get out and do something fun and memorable with your kids this weekend as the holidays approach. Fill them with that spirit of Christmas, and I guarantee they'll be more grateful as they look back on all that you did with them...long after they've forgotten all that you bought them! Have a great weekend!

Christine Chapman is the mother of two children: Celia is 5-years-old and Henry is one. She is a type 2 diabetic determined to become a healthy role model to her children. Christine was born and raised in Montreal, and has resided in Seoul, South Korea, Vancouver, Canada and in Boston, MA. She is an alumna of the Sacred Heart School of Montreal, Skidmore College and is in pursuit of her master's degree at Harvard University.  She runs her own business, Starr and Chapman, from her South Plymouth home.