Cape Cod Day Trips
Cape Cod Nightlife
20 Fun Things to Do at Night on Cape Cod
With its white sandy beaches and day trips, Cape Cod is magical during the day. What is Cape Cod like when the sun goes down, though? The fun doesn’t stop when nightfall arrives. You might find Cape Cod even more fun at night than during the day. Here are some of the things to do at night on Cape Cod whether you are alone or in the company of friends and family.
Please visit the websites of the businesses mentioned for updated operating hours, prices and special events
Enjoy Seafood at the Beachcomber of Wellfleet
1120 Old Cahoon Hollow Rd., Wellfleet, MA 02667
You haven’t really experienced Cape Cod until you have sampled the full range of seafood available on the Cape. Beachcomber offers one of the best experiences on Cape Cod. Their offering is very simple: seafood dining with a view.
Yankee Magazine considers the spot one of the best seaside dining venues in New England. They have an indoor bar and an outdoor bar. The outdoor bar has excellent unhindered views of the ocean. This is a family-friendly establishment and you can bring the kids along for an authentic Cape Cod outdoor dining experience. Please note that sometime between 9 and 10 pm during the week and 8 and 9 pm on weekends, the party starts and the Beachcomber is over 21 and over only.
Sundancers in West Dennis
Sundancer's Restaurant in West Dennis is the place for great food and lots of entertainment. The restaurant offers outside dining on their deck that overlooks the Bass River. Come and enjoy the food and magnificent sunsets!
Experience O'Shea's Olde Inne in West Dennis
O'Shea's Olde Inne is an Irish pub that offers live music every night. Their menu offers everything from soups and salads to burgers, steaks and fish and chips. If you're looking for traditional fare they offer stews, Irish Bouillabaisse, Lamb dishes, Shepherd Pie and Bangers and Mash.
Enjoy an Evening of Baseball
Over the summer, the best amateur baseball players from all over the country descend on Cape Cod to compete in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). The games attract scouts from some of the country’s best pro teams. Every year, about a dozen players from the CCBL make it to the MLB. You may just get an opportunity to watch an elite MLB-bound player on a calm Cape Cod evening with a cool breeze from the Atlantic sweeping the field; a stark contrast to the commercialized fanfare that characterizes the majors.
The season runs from mid-June to mid-August. No matter where you are on the Cape during the summer, it is always possible to catch a CCBL game. 264 games are played during the season in the towns of Bourne, Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Hyannis, Falmouth, Wareham, and Yarmouth-Dennis. A typical week during the season will have games on at least 5 nights of the week.
Catch a Movie at Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre
51 US-6, Wellfleet, MA 02667
There are very few cinema experiences that can rival watching a movie under the stars on Cape Cod. The Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre is the only theatre of its kind on the Cape with the complex also offering restaurants, a miniature golf course, a flea market, and an indoor cinema to complement the drive-in theatre.
The theatre has been in operation since 1957. As such, it is a significant part of Cape Cod’s heritage and a recommended stop for anyone who wants to relive Cape Cod’s nostalgic past. Prices per person are as follows: children (4 – 11) - $10; general admission (12 – 61) - $15; and senior citizens - $12.
Cape Cod Melody Tent: One of the Oldest Tent Theatres in the US
21 W Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601
If you are not anywhere near Wellfleet to experience a piece of history at the drive-in theatre, don’t worry. Hyannis offers an awesome alternative experience with its Cape Cod Melody Tent which is one of the oldest tent theatres in the United States. It has been in operation since 1950. Actually, there are only two continuously-operated tent theatres in the US and this is one of them.
Cape Cod Melody Tent hosts several music events and performances over the summer. The 2300-capacity theatre begins its season in mid-June and runs for the rest of the summer. It has an elaborate setup for the best concert experience with a relatively new sound system that was installed in 2019.
Catch Musicals and Plays at the Cape Playhouse
820 Main Street, Route 6A, Dennis, MA 02638
The Cape Cod Playhouse is at the Cape Cod Center for the Arts in Dennis. The 2020 summer lineup promises world-class musicals and plays under the direction of Michael Radar who has credits in big productions such as Varekai.
The 2023 season looks great!
- June 21- July 1: Sense and Sensibility
- July 5-22: Jersey Boys
- July 26- Aug 12: An American in Paris
- August 16-26: Camelot
- August 30- Sept 9: Bakersville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
The Crown and Anchor: Gay Bars Like No Other
247 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657
No, this Crown and Anchor has nothing to do with gambling or dice games. The Crown and Anchor in Provincetown has 6 gay bars hosting some of the best events in the Provincetown area most nights of the summer. They also have a restaurant, The Crown and Anchor Restaurant, which is open year-round and has a great menu for both lunch and dinner patrons.
One of the notable nightclubs in the complex is the Paramount. The Paramount is Provincetown’s biggest waterfront nightclub and boasts of one of the best DJ roasters in Massachusetts. 2023 will feature an impressive list of international DJs. Make sure you check scheduled events at Crown and Anchor when you are on the Cape.
Catch a Movie at the Chatham Orpheum Theatre
637 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633
The Chatham Orpheum Theatre is a non-profit theatre that has become a notable gathering place for the Chatham community on Main Street. Because they are a non-profit, they have unique showings that theatres driven purely for profit won’t run.
If you are on the Cape over the summer, you can go to the Orpheum Theatre to catch the big movies that are attracting crowds all over the nation. Outside of summer, the theatre has more room to run a variety of films that attract specialty audiences. Check out their current schedule on the official website. Ticket prices are reasonable and they offer discounts for seniors and children.
Catch a Movie and Performances at Cape Cinema in Dennis
35 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638
The Cape Cinema in Dennis has a rich history on the Cape spanning nine decades. It is part of the Cape Cod Center for the Arts that also houses the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Cape Playhouse. The opening hours of the theatre vary depending on the films and performances scheduled for the day. You can find current schedules on the official website.
Enjoy Late Night Dining and Live Entertainment at Post Office Café & Cabaret
303 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657
The Post Office Café & Cabaret is one of the best-reviewed late-night dining and live entertainment spots on Cape Cod. The establishment is open from 8:30 am to 11 pm every day of the week. It has a three-star restaurant on the ground floor and an upstairs cabaret that has featured several notable live performers.
Catch Top Broadway Talent at the Art House, Provincetown
214 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657
Whenever you are in Provincetown, you should consider stopping at The Art House to watch their regular or one-off shows. The Art House attracts top Broadway stars and notable Cabaret artists who are on tour. It has hosted impressive talents such as Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, and Christine Chenoweth. The entertainment venue has a bar and restaurant with a great menu.
Enjoy Live Orchestra Music at the Cape Symphony in Hyannis
1060 Falmouth Rd A, Hyannis, MA 02601
The Cape Symphony is led by Artistic Director and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak. The Cape Symphony has talented resident musicians who are sometimes joined by equally talented guest artists. Most of the events organized by the Cape Symphony are held at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center which has a sitting capacity of 1,400.
There are several great performances scheduled for the calendar year. Over the summer, there will be outdoor events including the Annual Symphony at the Seashore which will be at the Cape Cod National Seashore. Make sure you attend one of the outdoor events or the indoor events in Hyannis to enjoy the creations of the maestro Jung-Ho Pak.
Catch Live Shows at the Payomet Performing Arts Center
29 Old Dewline Rd, North Truro, MA 02652
The Payomet Performing Arts Center is a non-profit that produces professional live music, circus arts, theatre, and humanities events at their venue in North Truro. Their programming accommodates a variety of tastes and appeals to several audiences whether they are fulltime Cape Coders or summertime vacationing tourists.
The shows are organized in a tented venue located at the Highlands Center near the ocean. The tent has hosted some of the biggest names in the country including Graham Nash, Rickie Lee, Peter Wolf, Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, and Lucinda Williams. You can find more information about scheduled events on the official website.
Hit the Cape Cod Ice Cream Trail
Ice cream is part and parcel of the Cape experience. There are several excellent ice cream shops spread across the Cape. If you can’t sample the ice cream when the sun is up, you can hit the trail in the evening. Luckily, there are great ice cream shops that stay open up to 10.30 pm. You should definitely sample the ice cream offered by the following shops during the summer season:
- The Brewster Scoop (hours: 2 pm to 10:30 pm)
- Cobies Restaurant in Brewster (hours: 11 am to 7:30, open till 8:30 pm for Ice Cream)
- Somerset Creamery (hours: 12 pm to 10 pm)
- Four Seas Home Made Ice Cream, Centerville (hours: 9 am to 10.30 pm)
- Ice Cream Smuggler, East Dennis (hours: 1-9:00 Sun-Thurs, 1-9:30pm Fri/Sat )
- Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, Sandwich (hours: 12 pm to 9:30 pm)
There are several other smaller ice cream shops that are open during the summer season. You can always ask for a local recommendation from the hotel staff if you are not familiar with the local scene.
Explore the Outdoors and Camp at the Local Parks
Cape Cod has an abundance of parks that are camping-friendly. If you want to spend more time outdoors in the evening, camping is the way to go. You can easily access most of the camping grounds on foot or by bike. Public parks run by the state provide campers with basic amenities such as showers, toilets, fireplaces, and picnic tables.
The following public parks provide very good camping spots:
- The Nickerson State Park (3488 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631)
- Shawne-Crowell State park (42 Main St, Sandwich, MA 02563)
- Scusset Beach State Reservation (20 Scusset Beach Rd, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562)
Besides the public campgrounds, there are also many affordable privately-owned campgrounds charging anywhere from $30 to $60 per night. Some of the notable private campgrounds are Coastal Acres Campground in Provincetown, Atlantic Oaks Campground in Eastham, Shady Knoll Campground in Brewster, Sandy Pond Campground in Plymouth, and Maurice’s Campground Inc. in Wellfleet.
Go on a Ghost Tour in the Dead of Night in Plymouth
70 Water Street Plymouth, MA
Cape Cod is famous for its haunted properties and ghost tours. Some of the Cape’s haunted properties have made it to the country’s most-watched spooky shows. For instance, in Ghost Hunter’s Inn of the Dead (S06E08), the Orleans Inn was personally investigated by Jason and Grant of Ghost Hunters. Apparently, they heard an unknown woman scream in the building during their investigation.
If you want to have a spooky experience on the Cape at night, the award-winning Dead of Night Ghost Tours in Plymouth has you covered. There are four tour options available. The first tour option, the Combo Tour, is a 2-hour tour that will take you through two haunted houses that were built in 1725 and 1849.
The second tour option is called the Twilight Lantern Ghost Tour. It is a 90-minute tour guided by a professional paranormal investigator that will take you to various haunted properties including the Burial Hill Cemetery. The third tour option is the Sunset Cemetery Tour which is a 90-minute tour going through Plymouth’s historic districts as well as the Burial Hill Cemetery. If you really want to take things to the next level, there is a fourth tour option called the Paranormal Overnight Investigations. In this tour, you will have to spend an entire night in a haunted building.
Go on Barnstable Village’s Ghost Hunters Tour
If you are near Barnstable, the Ghost Hunters Tour can take you on one of the best paranormal experiences you can have on the Cape. This tour is run by the Cape and Islands Paranormal Research Society. The tour starts at 6.30 pm and runs till around 10 pm. You will go to a haunted cemetery and then tour some haunted houses in Barnstable.
This is an interesting and educational experience that is definitely worth taking. It is a great opportunity to learn about the history of some of Cape Cod’s most storied properties from very experienced guides. Make sure everyone in your group can comfortably stay on their feet for two hours or so as this is primarily a walking tour.
Take an Art Walk on the Museum Trail
Cape Cod is a very artsy town. The towns of Cape Cod have several museums, street artists, and antique shops. If you want to sample some of the Cape’s art offerings, going on a walk in the after-hours when the crowds have vanished can make for a perfect evening.
You can go on a walk alone or take a guided tour. The guided tours end in the early evening, though. The Heritage Museums and Gardens, for instance, sometimes offers tours that start at 5.30 pm and end at 7.30 pm. During the tour, Heritage staff members lead the visitors on a walking tour of the grounds and galleries. They offer participants a glass of wine and snacks. Such a guided tour will set you back about $30. You don’t have to spend money, though. There are lots of art galleries and antique shops you can visit in the evening to browse or window shop.
Stop at CERALDI for a Fancy Meal
15 Kendrick Ave, Wellfleet, MA 02667
Some people swear that this is the best restaurant on all of Cape Cod. The restaurant has an awesome interior, its setting is beautiful, the staff is amazing, and the food is out of this world. You, therefore, cannot go wrong when you choose Ceraldi as your Italian restaurant of choice for an evening out in Wellfleet.
While all dining is inside the restaurant, they have chairs outside for those who come early and want to enjoy the awesome views the restaurant has. The restaurant would definitely make for a great romantic dinner. The room is dimly lit and feels cozy with relaxing music playing in the background. The first seating is at 5.30 pm with the doors opening at 5.15 pm. The second seating is at 8.30 pm.
The menu of the restaurant is the product of Chef Michael Ceraldi who is the proprietor of the restaurant. The menu changes often because Mr. Ceraldi and his team use local ingredients to showcase local Cape Cod flavors and some of the ingredients are seasonal. . For a real treat, they offer a Seven-Course Dinner and Reserve Wine pairing.
Have Fun with the Family at Ryan Family Amusements
Cape Cod Mall, 769 Iyannough Road, Hyannis MA 02601-5027
The Ryan Family Amusements at Cape Cod Mall remains open till 10 pm and you can take the whole family in the evening for some quality family entertainment. The business has been in operation on the Cape for several decades and it has earned a great reputation for being able to offer fun to the entire family in clean and family-friendly environments. The first location of the business was in Falmouth in the 1960s.
If getting to the Cape Cod Mall is inconvenient for you, the business also has other outlets in Falmouth, Buzzards Bay, Milis, Newport, Oak Bluffs, Plymouth, Raynham, and Yarmouth. All of the nine locations offer game rooms while six locations offer both game rooms and bowling lanes. The Cape Cod Mall location has both bowling lanes and game rooms.
Enjoy Authentic Cape Cod Seafood at Brewster Fish House
2208 Main Street (Route 6A) Brewster, MA 02631
The Brewster Fish House opens in late March and stays open for the entire summer. It serves some of the best seafood on the Cape and it was voted the “Best Seafood Restaurant” on the Cape by the Cape Cod Life Magazine in 2018. It is basically a former fish market that has evolved into an upscale casual seafood restaurant.
When you start going to the restaurant, you will quickly notice how popular it has become with locals. It has an active Cape Cod following which speaks to the quality of food they offer and how consistent they have been over the years. You should definitely consider having dinner here on the nights you are in Brewster. Dinner is served from 5 pm onwards and no reservations are required.
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