The Week on the Lower Cape

Mother's Day lands Sunday, and the Cape is ready for it. The Cherry Blossom Market fills the Orleans Village Green all day Saturday. Twilight on Ice brings Lower Cape Figure Skating to Charles Moore Arena — two performances, Saturday and Sunday. Ken Cowan plays the St. Cecilia Organ in Orleans on Sunday afternoon, and there are brunches with views of Pleasant Bay if that's your speed.

Elsewhere: The Importance of Being Earnest opens at two venues this week — Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich and the Chatham Orpheum — and both productions run through the month. The 204 in Harwich has a full Saturday with Open Studios, Shimmy Mob, the EYEWITNESS photography opening, and a behind-the-lens seminar, all on the same day. Sarah Burrill plays Parish Park on Saturday. The Cape Community Orchestra plays Monomoy on Saturday evening for free.

Three town meetings happen this week. Orleans and Chatham are both on Monday the 11th. Go if you can.

✦ Don't Sleep On This

Three events this week that are easy to miss and hard to forget.

✦ Cherry Blossom Market in the Park — Spring Market · May 9, 2026 · 11:00 AM–4:00 PM · Village Green, Orleans · Free

The Village Green on a Saturday in May, with local makers, artists, food vendors, and live music. This is the Mother's Day weekend version of what the Green does best — it fills up because it earns it. Bring the family, buy something from a local artist, stay longer than you planned.

✦ EYEWITNESS Opening Reception at The 204 — Photography Exhibit · May 9, 2026 · 4:30 PM–6:30 PM · The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building, Harwich · Free

Henry D. Moore, Chris Szwedo, and Heather MacKenzie are working photojournalists. EYEWITNESS opens Saturday with their work and a behind-the-lens seminar earlier in the afternoon at 2:30 PM. If you want to see what it looks like when someone photographs the world for a living, this is the week to get to The 204.

✦ Ken Cowan in Concert on the St. Cecilia Organ — Organ Recital · May 10, 2026 · 3:30 PM–5:00 PM · Church of the Transfiguration, Orleans · $40

Ken Cowan is one of the most respected concert organists in North America. He's playing Elgar, Wagner, Guilmant, and Karg-Elert on the St. Cecilia Organ — a surround-sound instrument that the Church of the Transfiguration was literally built around. Mother's Day Sunday afternoon. If you've never heard what a great organist does with a great instrument, this is not the kind of thing that comes through Orleans regularly.

Arts & Culture — A room worth being in

🎭 9-Ball at Cape Rep Theatre — Art Devine's 25th-anniversary production; swapped identities, prison, war, and one game of pool that decides everything May 7 · 7:30 PM / May 8 · 7:30 PM (Pay What You Wish) / May 9 · 7:30 PM / May 10 · 2:00 PM · Cape Rep Indoor Theatre, Brewster · From $30 (May 8: Donation)

🖼️ LIGHT/LINE/MEMORY — photography and paintings that make ordinary scenes into studies of memory and light · Running through May · Brewster Ladies' Library, Brewster · Free

🎭 The Importance of Being Earnest — Oscar Wilde's comedy of mistaken identities opens at Cape Cod Theatre Company May 8 · 7:00 PM / May 9 · 4:00 PM / May 10 · 4:00 PM · Cape Cod Theatre Company – Harwich Junior Theatre, Harwich · From $21

🎭 The Importance of Being Earnest — the same Wilde comedy, a different stage May 8 · 7:00 PM / May 9 · 8:00 PM / May 10 · 2:00 PM · Chatham Orpheum Theater, Chatham · $32

📷 EYEWITNESS: Behind the Lens Seminar ✦ See above — Don't Sleep On This · photojournalists Moore, Szwedo, and MacKenzie in conversation May 9 · 2:30 PM–4:30 PM · The 204, Harwich · Free

📷 EYEWITNESS Photography Exhibit Opening ✦ See above — Don't Sleep On This May 9 · 4:30 PM–6:30 PM · The 204, Harwich · Free

🌿 Open Studios & Spring Market at The 204 — artist studios open to visitors with a special vendor market added May 9 · 11:00 AM–3:00 PM · The 204, Harwich · Free

📸 By the Water: A Cape Cod Portfolio — John Kudukey's black-and-white photography of Cape Cod's waterside landscapes; quiet and unhurried May 7–13 (Wed–Sun) · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster · Free w/ Admission

🎨 Spring Invitational Opening Reception — Creative Arts Center opens its Spring Invitational to everyone May 8 · 4:30 PM–6:00 PM · Cape Cod Creative Arts Center, Chatham · Free

🎨 Phone Photography Workshop with Paul Muratore — composition, editing, collage, and free tools for the camera already in your pocket May 7 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham · Check listing

🏺 Beginner Pottery with Amy Bourbon — centering, shaping, handles, and hands-on wheel time May 7 · 12:15 PM–3:15 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham · Check listing

🎨 Intro to Pastel: Painting Waves — a full-day workshop with Wendi Smith: mark-making, layering, and a wave demo from start to finish May 8 · 9:15 AM–3:00 PM · Creative Arts Center, Chatham · Check listing

🎪 Shimmy Mob at The 204 — high-energy dance performances and mini workshops raising awareness around abuse prevention May 9 · 1:00 PM–4:00 PM · The 204, Harwich · Donation

🎨 Portrait Group with Taylor Fox — morning studio time for portrait practice May 7 · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM · The 204 – Studio 212, Harwich · Free

Classes & Workshops — An hour that teaches you something you'll actually use

🌿 Forest Bathing Walk — a guided meditation walk through Cape Cod trees, inspired by Shinrin-yoku; ages 15+ May 8 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster · $12 (plus museum admission)

🎸 Adult Beginner Ukulele — chords, theory, simple songs, and strumming with Tim Sweeney May 12 · 7:00 PM–8:00 PM · Nauset Regional Middle School, Orleans · $105

🌱 Seed Starting Class at the Chatham Bars Inn Farm — hands-on garden-from-seed; open to guests, members, and the public May 9 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM · Chatham Bars Inn Farm, Brewster · $50

💻 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence — approachable and jargon-light; a good first look at what AI actually is May 7 · 10:30 AM–12:00 PM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

💻 Cybercrime: Minimizing Your Risk of Being Scammed — practical ways to protect yourself online May 7 · 2:00 PM–3:00 PM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

💻 Tech Drop-In at the Brewster Ladies' Library — one-on-one help with phones, tablets, eReaders, apps, and email May 12 · 4:00 PM–5:00 PM · Brewster Ladies' Library, Brewster · Free

💻 Tech Help Power Hours — drop-in support for devices and digital library tools at the reference desk May 13 · 1:00 PM–3:00 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🎭 Adult Craft Club: Paper Roses — a drop-in craft session at Eldredge May 11 · 11:00 AM–1:00 PM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

Community & Social — The rooms where the Cape overlaps

📚 Unerased Screening & Panel — documentary and talkback centering Asian voices and lived experiences on Cape Cod May 7 · 5:30 PM–7:00 PM · Brewster Ladies' Library, Brewster · Free

🎀 Ribbon Cutting: Cape Cod Nail — Orleans Chamber welcomes a new business to Route 6A May 7 · 10:00 AM–10:30 AM · Cape Cod Nail, Orleans · Free

🗳️ Meet the Candidates — Orleans ✦ Before you vote — candidates for Select Board and School Committee at the Orleans Citizens Forum May 7 · 5:00 PM–7:00 PM · Orleans Citizens Forum · Free

🗳️ Orleans Town Meeting Open House — ask town staff questions about warrant articles before the May 11 meeting May 8 · 8:30 AM–10:00 AM · Orleans Senior Center, Orleans · Free

🗳️ Chatham Annual Town Meeting ✦ Once a year — May 11 · 6:00 PM · Monomoy Regional Middle School, Chatham · Free

🗳️ Orleans Annual Town Meeting ✦ Once a year — May 11 · 6:00 PM · Orleans · Free

🧺 Buried in Treasures Workshop/Discussion Group — practical tools for working through clutter, with company; workbooks provided free May 11 · 2:00 PM–4:00 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

📚 Homeschool Activity Club — hands-on STEM and art activities for homeschoolers of all ages May 8 · 10:30 AM–11:15 AM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🧱 Kids' Chess Club — all skill levels welcome; strategy and pieces in an after-school setting May 7 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

📚 Story Time and Craft — books, songs, and a simple craft for young children May 7 · 10:30 AM–11:30 AM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

📚 Thursday Story Time! — songs, scarves, and stories for babies through preschoolers May 7 · 10:30 AM–11:00 AM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

📚 Tiny Tots Story Time — books, songs, and movement for the youngest library visitors May 7 · 10:00 AM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

🎪 Twilight on Ice ✦ Two performances — Lower Cape Figure Skating on the ice May 9 · 6:30 PM / May 10 · 1:30 PM · Charles Moore Arena, Orleans · Check listing

🧶 Knit Lit — yarn and conversation in a Wednesday afternoon drop-in May 13 · 12:30 PM–2:30 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

📚 Early Release Food and Fun! — snacks and activities for kids on early release day May 13 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

Food & Drink — Tables worth sitting at

🍷 Mother's Day Brunch at Ocean Edge ✦ Mother's Day — buffet with coastal favorites, carving stations, and desserts; two seatings May 10 · 10:30 AM + 1:00 PM · Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster · $125

🍷 Mother's Day Brunch at Wychmere Harbor Club ✦ Mother's Day — Pleasant Bay views, flower market, live music; reservations required May 10 · 10:00 AM · Wychmere Harbor Club, Harwich · Reservations required

🍷 Mother's Day Brunch at twenty-eight Atlantic, Wequassett ✦ Mother's Day — brunch overlooking Pleasant Bay; spring blooms and live music May 10 · 10:00 AM–2:00 PM · Wequassett Resort, Harwich · From $164

🍺 Tapas Tuesdays — small plates and a slower evening by the harbor Tuesdays · 4:30 PM–8:00 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans · Free admission

Games, Hobbies & Clubs — Familiar rituals. Low pressure. No explaining.

🎤 Karaoke — Thursday night at The Squire, reliable as ever May 7 · 8:00 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🃏 Cape Cod Trivia — dinner, drinks, and gift cards for first and second place on a Monday night May 11 · 7:00 PM–8:00 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans · Free

🎱 Pool Tournament — cue sticks and Monday-night competition at The Squire May 11 · 7:00 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🧠 Trivia at The Squire — Tuesday night teams testing what they know May 12 · 7:30 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🎵 Musical Bingo at The Squire — a midweek mix of songs and casual competition May 13 · 7:00 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🃏 Magic: The Gathering Club — experienced players and curious beginners both welcome May 12 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🏒 Public Skating at Charles Moore Arena — drop-in skating with rentals available May 12 · 11:30 AM–1:30 PM · Charles Moore Arena, Orleans · $10

Health & Wellness — Small resets that keep you functional

☯️ Connecting in Nature Through QiGong — slow movement, breath, and mindfulness with Andrea Belford on Harwich conservation land May 9 · 10:00 AM–11:00 AM · Harwich · $20

🧘 Held in Love: A Mother's Day Practice — two hours of yin and restorative yoga created for Mother's Day; quiet and spacious May 9 · 2:00 PM–4:00 PM · Orleans Yoga, Orleans · $40

🌊 Mother's Day Mindful Nature Walk — spring blooms and quiet outdoor connection through Sylvan Gardens with Andrea Higgins May 10 · 9:00 AM–11:00 AM · Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens Conservation Area, Chatham · $20

🏋️ Neuro Go! — a six-week exercise class for people with neuromuscular diseases, led by a VNA exercise physiologist May 12 · 2:30 PM–3:30 PM · Brewster Council on Aging, Brewster · Check listing

🔔 Sound Meditation with Ashley Woodworth — a quarterly sound meditation session with a local yoga teacher May 14 · 5:00 PM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

💃 Egyptian Belly Dancing — posture, isolations, shimmies, and choreography; beginner-friendly May 7 · 6:00 PM–7:30 PM · 44 Main Street Community Building, Orleans · $80

🕊️ Screen Free Week: Harwich Hike — a family hike through Sand Pond Woodlands with naturalist Andrea Higgins; mindfulness included May 8 · 4:00 PM–5:00 PM · Harwich Conservation Trust, Harwich · Free

Music & Live Entertainment — Early sets, late nights, and places that stay open

🎵 Pop-Up Practices: Sarah Burrill — originals and covers in an outdoor Saturday afternoon setting; one hour, no cover May 9 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM · Parish Park, Orleans · Free

🎸 Pitchfork at The Barley Neck — Jen Falk and Colin Stevenson on an eclectic set spanning the 1950s through today May 9 · 8:30 PM–10:30 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans · Free

🎸 The Dirty Water Dance Band — Saturday night live music at Hog Island May 9 · 6:00 PM · Orleans Hog Island Brewery, Orleans · Free

🎸 Coastal Wreck Trio — rock, reggae, and Americana covers with a beach-side Cape Cod sound May 8 · 7:00 PM–10:00 PM · Orleans Hog Island Brewery, Orleans · Free

🎸 Rose Martin — Cape Cod singer-songwriter with acoustic originals and soulful bluesy vocals May 8 · 8:30 PM–10:30 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans · Free

🎹 Local Artist Donny: Piano in The Mansion — live piano through The Grand Hall; easygoing and elevated at once May 8 · 6:00 PM–9:00 PM / May 9 · 6:00 PM–9:00 PM · Ocean Edge Resort – The Grand Hall, Brewster · Free

🎤 Monica Rizzio at Bayzo's Pub — a Friday night live set at the resort bar May 8 · 8:00 PM–10:00 PM · Ocean Edge Resort – Bayzo's Pub, Brewster · Free

🎸 Grab Brothers Band — a Friday evening set at The Squire May 8 · 6:00 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🎸 The Wiley Brothers Band at Jake Rooney's — Saturday night live music in Harwich Port May 9 · 8:00 PM–11:00 PM · Jake Rooney's, Harwich · Free

🎻 Nautilus Band — Saturday night at The Squire May 9 · 9:30 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🎵 Rose Clancy Irish Sessions — a Sunday evening of Irish music at The Squire May 10 · 5:00 PM · The Chatham Squire, Chatham · Free

🎹 Ken Cowan: St. Cecilia Organ ✦ See above — Don't Sleep On This May 10 · 3:30 PM–5:00 PM · Church of the Transfiguration, Orleans · $40

🎵 Live Music at The Barley Neck — Thursday night live music by the harbor May 8 · 8:30 PM · The Barley Neck, Orleans · Free

Nature & History — Old ground. Shifting edges

🌿 Eco-Restoration Tour ✦ Guided — Tom Evans on restored wetlands, accessible trails, and Harwich's land-and-water recovery work May 9 · 9:00 AM–10:30 AM · Hinckleys Pond–Herring River Headwaters Preserve, Harwich · Free

🐦 May Guided Bird Walk — Morris Island walk with Frank Kahr; co-sponsored by Chatham Conservation Foundation and Friends of Monomoy May 9 · 7:30 AM–9:30 AM · Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Chatham · Check listing

🐦 Guided Walk – Namskaket Marsh — Orleans Conservation Trust on local ecology, birds, and wildlife May 9 · 9:00 AM · Namskaket Marsh, Orleans · Free

🌿 Guided Hike: Mill Pond Valley — 1.5 miles through old agricultural land, restoration areas, and pond views with Jamie Demas May 9 · 9:30 AM–10:30 AM · Mill Pond Valley Conservation Area, Orleans · Free

🐦 Bird Walk at Paw Wah Pond — early morning bird walk with OCT naturalists; binoculars recommended May 10 · 7:30 AM · Paw Wah Pond Conservation Area, Orleans · Free

🌿 Walk in the Park with Brewster Ponds Coalition — a free guided 1.5-mile pond-trail walk through Nickerson State Park May 9 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Nickerson State Park, Brewster · Free

🔬 Science Rocks! — hands-on STEAM activities for kids included with museum admission; runs daily May 7–9 + May 13 · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster · Free w/ Admission

🦀 Preschool Explorers — outdoor spring nature adventure for ages 2–5 with Andrea Higgins; multiple sessions May 12 · 9:30 AM + 2:00 PM / May 13 · 9:30 AM + 3:00 PM · Harwich · Free

🌿 Orleans Conservation Trust Volunteer Workday — help care for local conservation lands and trails May 7 · 9:30 AM–11:30 AM · Orleans · Check listing

🌱 Screen Free Week: Long Pasture — an afternoon at Long Pasture Wildlife Refuge, away from the screen May 7 · 4:00 PM–5:00 PM · Long Pasture Wildlife Refuge, Orleans · Free

🌿 Cape Cod Bird Club Monthly Meeting — the second Monday of each month at CCMNH; doors at 6:30 PM, program at 7:00 PM May 11 · 6:30 PM–8:30 PM · Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster · Free

🌿 Preschool Exploration with Andrea Higgins — spring outdoor exploration for ages 2–5 in an Orleans conservation setting May 11 · 9:30 AM–11:00 AM · Orleans · Check listing

Talks, Books & Big Ideas — Conversations that earn their hour

🐦 Birding by Ear with Phil Kyle — former Cape Cod Bird Club president on identifying birds by song, call, and sound; interactive and free May 12 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🏛️ In Support of the Army: Cape Cod Women, Foodways & the Continental Army — Stacy Booth on how Cape Cod housewives provisioned the Continental Army and used food as political protest May 9 · 1:00 PM–3:00 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🎶 Prometheus: Beethoven's Eroica Symphony — musicologist Jan Swafford on the ideas behind the Eroica; free Arts Speak lecture May 9 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM · Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center, Brewster · Free

📖 Marjan Kamali Author Talk (Virtual) — The Lion Women of Tehran; friendship, upheaval, and love on Zoom May 7 · 7:00 PM–8:00 PM · Zoom, Brewster · Free

📖 Tuesday Talks: Four Women of the Revolution — Nancy Rubin Stuart on overlooked women of the American Revolution; book signing follows May 12 · 5:00 PM–6:00 PM · Atwood Museum, Chatham · $10

🐦 Birds Up Close with Author Lorna Gibson — up-close photography and Cape Cod bird life with Lorna Gibson May 9 · 4:00 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

🌐 Lifetime Learning: Freshwater on Cape Cod — Stew Goodwin on freshwater as a resource and the case for wastewater recycling May 7 · 10:30 AM–12:00 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

🌿 Town Meeting Open House at Snow Library — ask town staff questions about warrant articles informally May 7 · 12:00 PM–1:30 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

💻 Robot-Proof Your Kids with Dr. Vivienne Ming — AI, education, and the skills machines can't replace; virtual May 12 · 2:00 PM–3:00 PM · Zoom, Brewster · Free

📖 Chatham Writers @ 02633 — different genres, short pieces, and feedback at all levels May 11 · 10:30 AM–12:30 PM · Eldredge Public Library, Chatham · Free

📖 Morning Book Group — monthly midday gathering for book lovers at Brooks Free Library May 12 · 11:30 AM–12:30 PM · Brooks Free Library, Harwich · Free

🌿 Tick Talk: Learn How to Lessen Your Risk — practical tick-awareness for the Cape's active season May 13 · 6:30 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

🎭 The Southern Pine Beetle with Russell Norton — how to identify the damage, and what its spread could mean for local pitch pine forests May 13 · 6:30 PM · CHO Meetinghouse, Orleans · Free

🎵 Gellhorn v. Hemingway: In Love and War — a staged reading on Hemingway and Gellhorn: love, war, and competing ambitions May 12 · 6:00 PM–7:00 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Check listing

Theater & Classical — Give the night somewhere to land

🎼 Cape Community Orchestra: Twilight to Triumph ✦ One night — Copland, Mahler, Dvořák, and Holst; free admission, donations welcome May 9 · 3:00 PM–5:00 PM · Monomoy Regional High School, Harwich · Free

🎵 CapePOPS! Elvis and the Symphony ✦ Two nights — Elvis hits with full orchestral accompaniment; Saturday and Sunday May 9 · 7:30 PM / May 10 · 7:30 PM · Cape Cod Performing Arts Center, Harwich · Ticketed

🎹 Ken Cowan on the St. Cecilia Organ ✦ See above — Don't Sleep On This May 10 · 3:30 PM–5:00 PM · Church of the Transfiguration, Orleans · $40

🎭 9-Ball at Cape Rep — Art Devine's 1960s drama, now in its second week; Wednesday is Pay What You Wish night May 7 · 7:30 PM / May 8 · 7:30 PM (Donation) / May 9 · 7:30 PM / May 10 · 2:00 PM · Cape Rep Theatre, Brewster · From $30 (May 8: Donation)

🎭 The Importance of Being Earnest — Oscar Wilde at Harwich Junior Theatre May 8 + 9 + 10 · Cape Cod Theatre Company, Harwich · From $21

Community Openings & Civic Moments — The Cape's ongoing business

🏠 Orleans Town Meeting Open House — ask questions before you show up to vote May 8 · 8:30 AM–10:00 AM · Orleans Senior Center, Orleans · Free

⚡ Energy Navigators Drop-In — practical guidance on energy costs, conservation, and reducing monthly bills at the library May 7 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Snow Library, Orleans · Free

🌸 Mother's Day at Wequassett: Court Couture Tennis Mixer — coffee, pastries, shopping, and a gift for Mom May 9 · 9:00 AM–11:00 AM · Wequassett Resort, Harwich · Check listing

Last week on the Lower Cape

The Cape Rep opening of 9-Ball drew a strong crowd for its first weekend. The Boston Naturals packed Hog Island for reopening night. Syd Straw played Parish Park for free on a Saturday afternoon. Both the Harwich and Brewster Town Meetings went off Monday night, with Brewster's new electronic clickers getting their first workout.

Your event belongs here

This list exists because people in Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans are doing things worth knowing about. If you're running one of them — a class, a concert, a walk, a workshop, a dinner, an opening, a town meeting, a kids' program, a community gathering — send it to us.

We read every submission. We don't charge for listings. We don't favor big venues over small ones. If it's happening on the Lower Cape and it's worth a neighbor's time, it has a real shot at being in the next issue.

What to send: event name, date, time, location, price (or free), and a link or a few sentences about what it actually is. That's it.

Deadline: Monday at noon for that Thursday's issue.

Send to: [email protected]

The people who read this newsletter are locals. They show up. Getting in front of them costs you nothing but two minutes and an email.