Harwick MA

Harwich, once known as Setucket, began as part of the town of Brewster. Made up of seven villages, each of which grew up around a central church, the villages grouped together and named the town after the Harwich seaport in England.

Cape Cod is the cranberry capital of the United States, and Harwich is where the industry started with a grower named Alvin Cahoon. Cranberry bogs can still be seen all over Harwich, and the berry is celebrated each year with the Cranberry Festival during the week after Labor Day.

Harwich and Harwich Port are the main economic centers of the villages with Harwich Port being the busier of the two. There are many shops, restaurants and hotels and no shortage of entertainment.

Take the kids to Bud's Go-Karts and leave the driving to them or let them work off steam at Grand Slam Entertainment with batting cages, pitching machines and whiffle ball for the younger children. Harwich is a little more laid back, and the Harwich Historical Society’s very active here.

Housed in an 1844 Greek Revival building that once served as a private school teaching navigation, The Brooks Academy Museum contains a large collection of photographs and exhibits on artist Charles Cahoon, information on cranberry growing in the area and a section on tracing the family trees of colonial ancestors.

The First Congregational Church, open to the public Monday through Saturday, closes on Sundays for worship services, but holds Candlelight Concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings July through September.

Town band concerts are held on Tuesday evenings in Brooks Park. The Harwich Junior Theater conducts classes for kids year-round, and then present’s four plays each year that are enjoyable for the whole family.

Harwich has more beaches than any other town in Cape Cod with 22 oceanic and freshwater beaches to offer. The beaches at Nantucket Sound have warm, calm water and fantastic sailing. There are a number of businesses that rent everything from sailboats and canoes to powerboats and Hobie Cats. In late August, a regatta called Sails Around Cape Cod is held and covers the entire length of the Cape Cod Canal.