Holiday Lights, Festivals And Celebrations Fill The Barnstable Calendar

BARNSTABLE, MA — With Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events on Cape Cod to attend.

Outside these religious and cultural celebrations, there are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs and festivals to attend around Barnstable. Here are some to consider:

Barnstable Village Winter Stroll

Scheduled for Dec. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., take a walk through Barnstable Village and catch the annual tree lighting, held at the Barnstable Village Courthouse at 6 p.m.

Falmouth Holidays By The Sea Weekend

From caroling to Santa sightings to fun runs and more, the annual Holidays by the Sea weekend is a favorite on Cape Cod.

This year, the village green lighting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 6 with the 62nd annual Christmas Parade starting at noon on Dec. 7. This year's parade theme is "Holiday Movie Night."

The festivities get underway on Dec. 5.

Village Strolls

Other local events include the Osterville Village Christmas Open House and Stroll, Hyannis Holiday weekend and Christmas in Cotuit.

Provincetown Events

From The Canteen Holiday Market to the Lobster Pot tree lighting, Provincetown is always a favorite spot to celebrate the holiday season. The latter is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.

• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.

• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.