With Labor Day behind us and the start of school upon us, Cape Codders are now looking forward to fall.

It’s the season of pumpkin spice, apple cider, leaf peeping, and Halloween. On the Cape, there are far fewer tourists and the pace of life tends to slow down for us all.

In many ways, autumn is the perfect time of year to explore all this region has to offer – a September dune tour in Provincetown with Art’s, Wellfleet Oysterfest in October, and a festive stroll down Barnstable Village on Halloween.

Celebrating the Cape Community

These are all activities, our friends, family and colleagues enjoy during the fall season. While the Cape’s population may shrink over the next few months, we think it’s important to remember we are all part of this special year-round community we are fortunate to call home.

As we prepare for the fall season, we hope you all take a few moments to relax, unwind, and savor these last few days of summer. And be sure to check out our top picks for getting the most of fall on Cape Cod:

  • The Gasp – Technically, it’s still in the summer, but this September 15th bike and boat race, epitomizes the best of our community. Each team and participant is raising funds for a worthy cause, from CHAMP Homes to the Cotuit Center for the Arts, in our region. Look for our own CEO Jitka Borowick riding on behalf of WE CAN. Visit thegasp.org/ to learn more.
  • Barnstable Village Haunted Tour – Autumn is the witching season and nothing will get you in the Halloween spirit more than a haunted tour of the village where Cleangreen’s office is located. Visit caiprs.com for more details.
  • Yarmouth Seaside Festival – Now in its 41st year, this festival features a craft fair with more than 125 artisans, live music, a pie-eating contest, a kayak and canoe race, fireworks, and more. Go to yarmouthseasidefestival.com for the scoop on this event held annually during Columbus Day weekend.
  • Wellfleet OysterFest – Cape Cod is synonymous with shellfish and this two-day event, held in the middle of October, is a celebration of our region’s connection with the diminutive oyster. It may be fall, but the atmosphere at OysterFest feels a lot like summer. Check it out at wellfleetspat.org.
  • Vinegrass Music Fest – At the end of September make the trek to Truro Vineyards for this one-day music festival to support Vinegrass, a nonprofit, that provides scholarships, workshops, and instruments to preserve and foster the American Roots genre. The lineup for this year’s festival (vinegrass.org) features a mixture of national and local acts, including Cape Cod’s Monica Rizzio, the Boston-based Ali McGuirk Band, and the Nashville duo Smooth Hound Smith.