Christmas In Harwich Has A Sack Of Special Events

 HARWICH – Christmas in Harwich, celebrated Dec. 6 to 8, has truly become a weekend of special events with the Harwich Port Stroll, fireworks at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, a day-long Holiday Market at the cultural center and several opportunities to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

 Those may be the highlights, but Harwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cyndi Williams said there are many other holiday spirited events taking place over the weekend.

The weekend opens with the Harwich Port Stroll and tree lighting and caroling in Doane Park on Friday, Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. This year there will be some additional activities in the park, Williams said. It is the 20th anniversary of the first tree lighting at the location, and the chamber will be honoring Tree Lighting Ambassadors Jeannie and John Wheeler, who started the tradition. The Harwich Elementary School chorus will lead the celebration with caroling.

Santa will arrive by fire truck at 6:15 p.m. at the chamber headquarters porch in downtown Harwich Port, where he will be available to meet with youngsters and families for photos until 8 p.m. The chamber office will be open and distributing goodies. People will be able to buy raffle tickets for the “Festival Of Trees” with the proceeds split between The Family Pantry and The Peoples’ Fridge of Harwich.

 The Harwich Town Band will be in concert in the TD Bank lobby from 6 to 8 p.m., and across the street nativity scenes will be on display on the lawn of the Pilgrim Congregation Church. Live piano music will be an attraction in the sanctuary. The cafe Inside Monbleau Hall will serve burgers, hot dogs, French fries and drinks. There will also be a cookie and handmade crafts sale. Visit the Children’s Christmas Shoppe where kids can shop and wrap small gifts for 50 cents each.

 From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., public safety personnel will be at the chamber collecting food, toys, cash and gift cards for “Homeless for The Holidays,” a fundraiser for The Family Pantry (see story on page 24). 

The shops and restaurants in the village will be open well into the evening, said Williams.

On Saturday in Harwich Center the Garden Club of Harwich will present “Holiday Boutique” at the community center, where homemade fresh evergreen wreaths, holiday sweets, holiday centerpieces and decorations and hand-crafted gifts will be available to purchase. The event will run from 9 to 11 a.m.

Doors to the Holiday Market at 204 Sisson, the cultural center, will open at 10 a.m. There will be 60 vendors including 40 arts, makers and creators, along with food and coffee trucks, the Toe Jam Puppet Band, Bubbles with Mr. Vinny, balloon twisting, face painting and a “Frozen” character meet and greet. All of the studios in the cultural center will be open with artists and crafters marketing their works. 

“Swag bags will be available for the first 100 kids attending,“ said Director of Cultural Affairs Kara Mewhinney. 

From 3  to 4 p.m., the annual Christmas Concert will take place at the First Congregational Church. The concert will include the First Church Choir with Harwich Women’s Chorus members and instrumentalists, the Harwich Brass Quintet and Clarinet Quartet.  

In East Harwich, Mrs. Claus will direct cookie decorating from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harwich Paint and Decorating. From noon to 2 p.m. Danny Drake and Friend — jugglers and stilt walkers — will be at Harwich Paint and Decorating and Terry’s TV and Appliances. They may also hop over to Meservey’s Shell station. Santa and his elf will be at Hinckley Home Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

 There is a big day planned at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, with a Merry Market running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Later, the Wequassett Resort and Eastward Ho! Country Club will welcome the community to the second annual Fireworks over Pleasant Bay event. From 5 to 7 p.m. there will be caroling by the Monomoy Middle School Performance Chorus, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa. The fireworks are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

 “We highly recommend the use of shuttles provided from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School parking lot on Route 137 to the resort,” said Williams.

In West Harwich, the opportunity to share some cookies with Santa will happen between 2 and 5 p.m. at The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn. Take a photo with Santa and enjoy delicious homemade cookies.

On Sunday, there will be a pajamas and breakfast gathering with Mrs. Claus at the Wequassett Resort. 

For more details and up-to-date information, visit harwichcc.com.