Day 154 2012 Eastham Windmill Weekend Festival
The 35th annual Eastham Windmill Weekend will be held Friday September 7 to September 9th! This year theme is Eastham celebrates Eastham! Eastham’s Windmill Weekend is an annual community festival, a fair, and a family party all rolled into one
There’s something for everyone at Windmill Weekend! Start off the weekend on Friday night at the Elks Lodge. A tasty fish and chicken fry is served by an army of fast moving, hard working volunteers. The food is delicious, and it’s a good chance to see old friends and meet new ones. Weather permitting, Sentimental Journey will be playing big band music from 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. at the outside stage. If you feel like a burger, the cookout in the Pavilion starts at 5:30 p.m. Don’t linger too long over the fries, though, or you may miss the start of the Talent Show, at the outside stage. The show starts off with the recognition of this year’s Windmill Weekend honoree Richard Ryder. Settle into your chairs afterwards for a talent show showcasing some of the best local talent around! Cheer for your friends and neighbors as you enjoy singing, dancing, and instrumental performances.
Sand Art moves back to the morning at First Encounter Beach on Saturday. Registration starts at 8:30 am, and building will take place from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. Come to build, or just watch the activity as builders of all ages compete. Everyone gets to vote for the People’s Choice award, and prizes are handed out in 3 different categories at noon.
If you are a lover of the arts, be sure not to miss the Craft Show at Nauset High School, running all day Saturday rain or shine from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Crafters from all over the Cape arrive to display and sell their wares. For paintings and watercolors, don’t miss the Eastham Painters Guild Sale, which is set up on the Eastham Town Hall Lawn both Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Browse a wide selection of paintings from local artists.
Head back to the Elks Lodge on Saturday morning for the Vehicle Show. Again this year it is being held at the earlier time of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. View beautifully restored and maintained cars and other vehicles, and talk with their owners as you stroll the grounds of the Elks Lodge. Head back to the lodge Sunday morning for a hearty pancake breakfast.
The Windmill Green is full of activities both Saturday and Sunday. Browse the booths set up by local organizations, sign up for the raffle, participate in children’s games, and bring some chairs and blankets for the full day of entertainment taking place at the main stage. For dinner, bring your own meat, and have it cooked to perfection for you by the Fire department. Use that energy from dinner to kick up your heels with some square dancing. There will be a caller leading the dancing on the green from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday brings more entertainment, plus a pipe band muster in front the of the windmill.
For history buffs, most of the town’s museums and historical buildings are having open houses and tours throughout the day on Saturday. On Sunday, you can tour the Three Sisters Lighthouses and Nauset Light. A spinning demonstration by the Cape Cod Spinners will be held on Saturday, at the Swift-Daley Museum.
Don’t miss the parade on Sunday afternoon! It starts at 1pm at Old Orchard Road, and marches down Route 6 until it reaches the Windmill Green. There are bands, groups, fire trucks, and antique cars leading the way through town. Once the parade reaches the Green, stay for more live entertainment, including the Highland Light Pipe Band Muster. The winners of the raffle are also announced all Sunday afternoon starting at noon. The major prizes are announced at 4:45 p.m. You don’t have to be present to win, but imagine the excitement of seeing your name show up on the winners’ board!
