Four Decades Of Brewster In Bloom Kicks Off May 1

BREWSTER – Every year, Brewster in Bloom marks the town’s transition from gray winter to the vibrant colors of spring. As the event celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the Brewster Chamber of Commerce is looking to carry that tradition forward, while reminiscing about its start.

 Kyle Hinkle, the executive director of the chamber, detailed the origin of the event, which was normally scheduled at the end of April back in the day. 

 “When this event first started, it was because it was gray, cloudy and awful throughout the winter,” she said. “Business people in the community wanted to see some brightness in town, so they sold daffodil bulbs to businesses and houses along Route 6A, asking them to plant them so that in the spring they would come up.”

 Hinkle said the first Brewster in Bloom parade saw judges in mackinaws, hats and gloves as they sat in the snow to appraise the procession. Since then, Hinkle said they have made the decision to push it back to early May in hopes of better weather. 

 The three-day event will start on Friday, May 1 and go through Sunday, May 3. Merchants around town will be hosting special sales, open houses and all-day meet and greets, leading up to the main events. 

 On Friday, the Brewster Band will perform its annual spring concert at the Brewster Baptist Church starting at 7 p.m. Hinkle said the show is different from what has been previously done. 

 “It’s more modern,” she said. “They’ve got stuff from Jurassic Park, the Lion King, Billy Joel, so it’s a slightly different concert program than what they’ve done in the past.” 

 The two-day Juried Fine Arts and Crafts show will kick off on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sea Camps Bay Property, then open again on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show features 86 local makers and artists to shop from. There will also be a food vendor present for both days. 

 “It’s a juried show, so you’ve got the best of the best,” said Hinkle. 

 Saturday morning, runners will take their place at the starting line for the Brewster in Bloom 5K, which begins at Uncle Pete’s Chowder House. Registration is available online or opens at 8:30 a.m. before the race. The race will begin at 10 a.m. 

 The annual Brewster in Bloom parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Eddy Elementary School on Sunday. The route will take floats west on Main Street to Swamp Road. Spectators are welcome to line the streets to take in the sights. 

 Bob Dwyer, former president of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History for 20 years, was named the chamber’s Person of the Year. Dwyer will be headlining the parade. The parade will also feature 46 homemade floats, said Hinkle. 

Throughout the weekend, Allard Farm will be hosting a three-day giveaway and raffle, Vintage Traders will be offering a free gift upon arrival at the store and Handcraft House will offer 10 percent off storewide. Lotus Primary Care will also be open for meet and greets every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Friday, Underground Art Gallery will be hosting an open house for visitors from noon to 4 p.m. An ice cream social at the council on aging will go from 2 to 4 p.m. After ice cream, the Brewster Book Store has organized a local author meet and greet starting at 3 p.m. and the Brewster Conservation Trust is offering a free half-mile nature walk through the Eddy Sister Trail.

Saturday’s festivities begin with the “Meet the Agents” event at the Leighton Team Keller Williams Realty office starting at 10 a.m. Crocker Nurseries is hosting a container gardening talk at 10 a.m. as well. The Brewster Animal Rescue League is hosting a rabies and microchip clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free rabies vaccines for all residents and $10 for non-residents. The Brewster Veterinary Hospital will be offering tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Blue Jacket Studios will host an open studio event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with refreshments. Heart Pottery will once again put on its annual pottery seconds sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lemon Tree Village shops will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Brewster Historical Society will be offering free Cobb House Museum tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Chowder tasting at JT’s Seafood Restaurant will begin at 1:30 p.m. The night will come to a close with the Kentucky Derby viewing party at Bayzo’s Pub at Ocean Edge from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Sunday will follow a similar format with many of the same merchant events. The First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church is hosting an ice cream social at 1 p.m. The Performing Arts Center is hosting a spring hymn sing from 3:30 to 4:40 p.m. Lisa Troseth will be speaking at the Brewster-Orleans Christian Science Church about fear, starting at 4 p.m. 

For a complete list of what to expect throughout the weekend, visit brewster-capecod.com/brewster-events/brewster-in-bloom/.