1.) Shop Locally on Small Business Saturday Instead! See our article on shopping locally here.
2.) Visit a State Park! If you're lucky enough to have sunny skies and moderate temperatures, spend the day outside and work off that pie! Try the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, Nickerson State Park, or of course the Cape Cod National Seashore!
3.) Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree! Create a new holiday tradition when you cut down your own live Christmas tree. Try Bunker Tree Farm in West Falmouth, Coonamessett Bog Christmas Tree Farm in East Falmouth,
4.) Enjoy the First Lights of the Season! Check our calendar to find out what displays are already lit or will have their lighting ceremonies over Thanksgiving weekend as well as throughout the next few weeks!
5.) Decorate Your House! Now that Thanksgiving has passed, crank up the Christmas music and begin the process of decorating your house. Starting the process now will make the holiday season feel longer, and you can take the whole day to enjoy it and get everything just so. Not ready to decorate at home just yet or in need of inspiration? Visit Heritage Museums & Gardens for their Gardens Aglow!
6.) Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange! Invite 10-20 of your friends and family members over for a fun party. Each person should bring 3-6 dozen cookies (depending on the size of the guest list) along with enough copies of the recipe for all the guests. Everyone will leave with enough baked goods to last the rest of the season.
7.) Purge Outgrown Toys and Books! Between Santa, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and friends, many kids get a LOT of new things coming in. Sort through the toys and books in your kids' bedrooms and playroom to clear out whatever is broken, outgrown, or just isn't played with anymore. Donate what you can and throw away the rest ... no regrets!
8.) Donate to a Charity! Give your children the gift of compassion in a very tangible way and make another family's holiday wishes come true too. You can volunteer or donate food and a new unwrapped toy.
9.) Visit a Farm! Try Crow Farm in Sandwich, Cape Cod Organic Farm in Barnstable, Coonamessett Farm in Falmouth, Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Harwich, or Cape Abilities Farm in Hyannis, just to name a few!
10.) Visit a Museum! Cape Cod Children's Museum, and too many others to list! Here's a great list of Museums on Cape Cod!
Bonus!
11.) Hug 10 people! Hold your little ones close, and remember to appreciate all life has to offer! Breathe, be present, enjoy!
Macaroni Kid Cape Cod is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information for all the towns on Cape Cod & the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve families in Falmouth, Bourne, Mashpee, Sandwich, Osterville, Barnstable, Cotuit, Centerville, Hyannis, Yarmouth, Harwich, Brewster, Dennis, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown!
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