dennis – HappyCapeCod

Iconic Events in Each Cape Cod Town Part 3: Iconic: Bourne, Dennis, Mashpee, Orleans, Sandwich, Wareham

by Jeff Shaw

A cornhole tournament ($100 first place prize), 5K road race (9:15am), arts and crafts festival and food truck vendors is the line-up for Canal Day in Bourne on September 21, 2024.

Enjoy a leisurely day along the Cape Cod Canal!

Antique Car Parade, Dennis

The 66^th Annual Antique Car Parade will happen on August 25, 2024 in West Dennis.

“Show off your prized wheels and join us for a cruise from Dennis Port to Dennis Village. The parade leaves West Dennis Beach at 11 am and winds through the villages of Dennis, ending at the Cape Playhouse where you can enjoy refreshments and visiting the car owners. There are many viewing areas along the way.”

Christmas Parade, Masphee

Mashpee Chamber of Commerce will once again support the 2024 Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14. Celebrate the magic of the holiday season from 5:30-6:30pm with this holiday tradition in Mashpee Commons thanks to sponsorship from local businesses.

Celebrate Our Waters, Orleans

The Orleans Pond Coalition and the Town of Orleans will once again host the 14th annual Celebrate Our Waters Festival. The event occurs during the weekend of September 13-15.

Last year, the event featured over thirty free events highlighting the natural wonder, scenic beauty, and recreational pleasure of Orleans’ priceless waterways and the unique character of the community.

Over this fun-filled weekend, people can paddle beautiful Arey’s Pond at sunset, take a morning yoga class at Nauset Beach, tour Town Cove by kayak, bike around town, walk scenic pond trails and even tour our sparkling new Wastewater Treatment Facility.

SandwichFest, Sandwich

The oldest Cape Cod town embraces its ‘tasty’ name with its 15^th Annual Street Fair. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 5, 2024!

Last year, the festival featured over 90 street vendors, local artists, craftsmen and retailers, children’s activities, food and more. Event hours are 10am-4pm along historic and picturesque Water Street/Downtown.

Sponsorship levels vary from Premier ($2,500) to Contributing ($50)

And don’t forget about the Gateway to Cape Cod, Wareham! Check out events in Wareham at Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce and Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce.

May 1, 2024

Red Cottage Restaurant South Dennis

Even on a cold off-season morning, the wait was about an hour for a table of five! Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

by Mike Shaw

Several years ago, a family friend visiting the Cape stumbled upon The Red Cottage Restaurant, located in the South Dennis Historic District less than two miles off Route 6. The restaurant is set up like an old-style diner in a former two and half room cottage that serves breakfast and lunch.

The Red Cottage Restaurant has a dozen notable features – literally – which necessitated a “first timers” informational webpage featuring – twelve crowd favorites. The restaurant also offers muffins, pies, and quiches as delicious takeaway options.

Award-winning indeed. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

Originally established in 1951 by Kenneth Pareseau as a seasonal restaurant serving fresh seafood, it was sold in 1953 to the Mathieu family, who expanded it to a variety/grocery store. It was also owned by the Powers, Madeiros, Gordon and Peabody families. For the last 37 years, the Rosenbach Family has owned and operated the restaurant.

Patrons may also notice two unique offerings that prove the Red Cottage Restaurant is anything but a typical diner. First, two types of coffee are offered: regular, “diner-like” and a premium, special blend. The staff also decorates tables with placemats featuring a vintage 1950s “noontime nostalgia” menu, which was still offered on certain days of the week (well, pre-COVID). I mean, how can you pass up a Cream Cheese & Olive Sandwich or Creamed Chipped Beef? For $6.99, what a deal!

Even though I’d likely skip the nostalgia menu, somehow these offerings just make one smile. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

I’ve visited several times and usually have their homemade corned beef hash with sides of toast and sausage links. The homemade hash is excellent and the portions are quite generous. You should also splurge and “upgrade” to the (famous) Red Cottage Home Fries, prepared with ham, onions, peppers, and layered in hollandaise sauce.

The staff are extremely friendly and treat you like family. On two separate occasions, when the staff learned about a customer’s birthday, they dimmed the lights, sang Happy Birthday, and offered a complimentary dessert item complete with candle. Not your typical diner experience!

Even blog writers have to get their giant pancake fix. Photo credit: A wonderful waitress.

In short, The Red Cottage Restaurant is a gem and worthy of a special trip when visiting the Cape. One note of caution: perhaps unsurprisingly, the restaurant gets extremely busy during the peak season, with limited parking options and wait times easily passing one hour. Plan accordingly and try to arrive early – you won’t regret it!

Tower Tour: Scargo Tower

The Scargo Tower stands tall overlooking Cape Cod Bay and an East Dennis neighborhood. Photo credit: Mike Shaw.

by Mike Shaw

Earlier this year, I continued my odyssey seeking out historic sites around the Cape and ventured down the road from Chatham to Dennis in search of the iconic Scargo Tower. Located right off Route 6A/Old King’s Highway – along the aptly named Scargo Hill Road – the stone tower sits on a quiet hilltop offering panoramic views of Scargo Lake and Cape Cod Bay.

The view from the Scargo Tower parking area in the Spring. Cape Cod Bay can be seen in the distance, above the vegetation. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.

The Tower is also just a few minutes drive from one of my favorite breakfast and lunch spots in Dennis: Grumpy’s Restaurant. For those who haven’t been, please treat yourself before or after your Scargo Tower visit!

The view from Scargo Tower parking area in the Fall. Cape Cod Bay can be seen in the distance; and a salt marsh is revealed in the foreground. Photo credit: Mike Shaw.

According to the Dennis Historical Society: “Scargo Tower began as a tourist observatory in 1874. Made of wood, it was destroyed in a gale two years later. Rebuilt again of wood, it burned in 1900. The present cobblestone tower opened in 1901. The 30 foot high tower is located atop the highest hill in the mid-Cape. Indian legends tell of the making of both Scargo Hill and Scargo Lake. Views may be seen of the entire Lower Cape to Provincetown, and as far west as Plymouth. The Tower is owned and operated by the Town of Dennis.”

The memorial plaque. Photo credit: Mike Shaw.

A plaque adorns the Tower, reading: “This tower and hilltop were given to the town in 1929 as a memorial to Charles Tobey (1831-1888) and Francis Bassett Tobey (1833-1913), loyal sons of the village of Dennis where their Tobey ancestors settled in 1678.”

The entrance is still closed to the public. Photo credit: Mike Shaw.

The Cape Cod Times reported last July that, beginning in November 2018, the Tower was closed for 18 months due to necessary maintenance. While repairs have been completed, the Tower’s interior remains closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The charming hilltop and tower. Photo credit: Mike Shaw.

As we eagerly await the reopening of our favorite places, both residents and visitors of Dennis will undoubtedly look forward to once again ascending Scargo Tower and enjoying the spectacular views across the horizon.