By Guidebook Staff

Cape Cod has a long tradition of attracting artists from around the world. The natural beauty found year-round on the Cape is an endless source of artistic inspiration. Generations of artists have found worthy subjects in the breathtaking landscapes around every corner. This is a great boon for lovers of art who arrive on Cape Cod to find a unique spread of museums, galleries, and cultural activities. You don’t need a large budget to get the most out of the Cape’s art scene. We teamed up with the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod to round up some of the best FREE ways to experience arts and culture on Cape Cod this summer.

Town Band Concerts, Cape-Wide

Most towns on the Cape offer a free band concert every week until Labor Day. These community events are a wonderful way to experience live music performed by local and regional artists. Bring along comfy chairs, a blanket, and a picnic. There’s nothing like the experience of enjoying a warm summer evening of live music.

Concerts of note include Chatham’s Friday Night Bandstand Concert at the Kate Gould Park, live music at the Nauset Beach Bandstand on Monday nights, Aselton Park’s Tuesday night concert series in Hyannis, and the Harwich Town Band concerts on Tuesday nights at Brooks Park. Also, check out the TD Bank Free Summer Concert Series with free performances all over the Cape this summer.

Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail, Yarmouth

The Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail is back for the 11th year! This fun, family-friendly attraction features 32 creative sand sculptures spread around the town of Yarmouth. Find the sculptures through September at various businesses and town offices in Yarmouth.

Download the trail map and visit all 32 sculptures. You can also participate in the Sand Sculpture Trail Photo Contest for a chance to win gift certificates to local businesses. Click here to see how to enter!

Taylor-Bray Farm, Yarmouth

This historic farm and homestead is a hidden gem in Yarmouth. Even many locals have never heard of this cool spot. Taylor-Bray Farm has been operating since the days of the Plymouth Colony. It is now run entirely by volunteers who maintain the property to exceptional standards.

Check out the large vegetable garden, then visit the animals! You’ll find a few very friendly goats, a large chicken coop, a couple of donkeys, and Chloe: the gorgeous Scottish Highland Cow. Visitors in the spring may get the chance to see baby lambs.

Be sure to walk out on the boardwalk that stretches into Black Flats Marsh. Like all marshes on the Cape, this spot looks drastically different with every season but is always stunningly beautiful.

The Samual Taylor Farmhouse on site was built in 1782. The house has been recently renovated and furnished with period pieces and a rotating display of farm artifacts in the summer. Be sure to mark your calendar for their Sheep Festival in June and the Fall Festival in October.

Art in the Park, Chatham

This summer, Chatham’s Art in the Park features large whale cutouts decorated by artists around the Cape. This fun public art event is on display at the Kate Gould Park until August 19. This year’s whales are absolutely stunning and incredibly versatile. Highlights include stained glass designs, gorgeous coastal landscape paintings, and ornately crafted shells. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Chatham Merchants Association, and you can even bid on your favorite whale.

While you’re in Chatham, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the Oars in the Stores. These large decorated oars are embellished by local artists. Visit the Visitor Info booth on Main Street to find the Oars in the Stores scavenger hunt booklet. The decorated oars are featured in businesses around Chatham and you can win a prize by tracking them down!

Artists Cottages and Shanties, Hyannis, Orleans, Provincetown, and Harwich

Meet and support local artists at the art cottages in Hyannis, Orleans, Provincetown, and Harwich. Start with the Bismore Park Artist Shanties on the harbor in Hyannis. This program, run by the town of Hyannis, provides affordable rental space and visibility for local artists. Artists change weekly throughout the season. The park features picnic tables and plenty of grass to spread a blanket and hang out for a while. It is so fun to chat with the local artists. Since they rotate weekly, it’s great to stop by a few times this summer.

The Art Cottages in downtown Orleans are also of note. Created with the intention of enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors, the Orleans Art Cottages celebrate the talent of local artists and creators. This small colony of cottages is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. There are also art cottages in Harwich and Provincetown.

Tour the Three Sisters Lighthouses, Eastham

These three small lighthouses once sat on the edge of the Atlantic at Nauset Light Station. Relocated and restored, you can visit them in their original orientation in the pine forests of Cable Road in Eastham. Before they were acquired by the National Park Service, they sold at auction for $3.50! One also spent a period of time as a dance studio. These little lighthouses have had quite a life. Explore their history & importance every Monday at 11 am (through August 29). Parking is limited.

Craft Fairs and Festivals, Cape-Wide

Cape Cod is home to many craft fairs and festivals during the summer. Spend a morning or afternoon exploring the work of local crafters, creators, artists, musicians, and artisan food makers. Craft fairs are a great way to support artists and creators. It’s so fun to find unique pieces and sample delicious handcrafted delicacies.

Check out the Sandwich Arts and Crafts Festival this weekend (July 30-31), the Chatham Summer Crafts Festival (August 6-7), CraftFest Cotuit (August 20-21), and the Kill Tide Arts and Craft Festival at the Brewster Drummer Boy Park (August 27-28).

Family Friendly Movie at the Orpheum Theater, Chatham

Every day this summer, the Orpheum Theatre offers a free family-friendly movie at 9:30 am. Pick up your free ticket at the box office. Doors open at 9. Check their Facebook page for details on the line-up. Enjoy coffee and muffins while revisiting old family-friendly favorites as well as newer tales. Don’t miss the gorgeous mural as you enter the theater.

Spohr Gardens, Falmouth

Enjoy a relaxing walk through a 6-acre woodland garden in Falmouth. This hidden gem features trails that wind along Oyster Pond and Nantucket Sound. The gardens are open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and are free to the public. Spohr Gardens has a butterfly garden created to raise and release butterflies, as well as attract many species of moths and butterflies. There are also greenhouses where volunteers raise butterflies from eggs to pupae.

Don’t miss Butterfly Celebration Day on August 6 from 10 am to 2 pm. This free, family-friendly event features a release of butterflies as well as activities for children.

This post is sponsored by The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod does wonderful work supporting, promoting, and strengthening arts and culture on the Cape year-round. Check out Arts Cape Cod to find everything you need to know about experiencing art on the Cape. Be sure to check out their vibrant events calendar and arts and culture itineraries covering all sections of the Cape.