COVER STORY
Onwards, Onset! By Sean McCarthy
Situated amidst the oceanside splendor of Buzzards Bay with its quaint Victorian charm, Onset Village is a valued destination for tourists and regional guests alike. In the summer it truly comes to life. August is a particularly festive time for this seaside segment of Wareham, with a wide range of locally-owned restaurants, services, and shopping opportunities. From ice cream and pizza to fresh seafood and waterfront dining, Onset caters to many palates. From beaches and live music to family-friendly outdoor events, it provides uniquely enjoyable experiences. “Onset is simply a magical place,” says Kat Jones, Executive Director of the Onset Bay Association. “It’s a very diverse and welcoming community. We are blessed to have this as a venue where we are able to host events that everyone can enjoy. It’s something very special – it’s a gem.” Live music will be available throughout August at the Onset VFW with the Onset Blues Fest on Sunday, August 8, and every Wednesday evening with the Onset Summer of Love Concert Series. August 4 will feature the Neal McCarthy Band, an electric blues jam band. The following Wednesdays will include the “yacht rock” of Rudderless (August 11), the classic rock of Gunpowder & Lead (August 18), and That Sixties Band (August 25). The Wednesday shows run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Onset VFW is located at 4 Gibbs Ball Park Road in East Wareham, a mile from the Village center.
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The 28th Annual Onset Blues Fest will be headlined by the Gil Correia Blues Band. The trio is fronted by Correia, a guitarist and vocalist who will also be the event’s emcee. The group is responsible for the 2011 album, “Tattoos and Blues” and will soon travel to east Tennessee to record a full-length album for Cool Tone Records.
"Onset is simply a magical place" The Blues Fest show will include three other bands, Bag Full of Blues from the South Shore area, The Born Yesterday Blues Band, and G & Friends from the New Bedford area. It will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will also include vendors, food vendors, raffles and games such as horseshoes. Tables for eight can be reserved for $60 by calling or texting to 508-725-2657 – otherwise bring your own chair and pay a suggested donation of $5. Traditionally, the Wednesday night concerts and the Blues Fest are hosted at the Onset bandshell, but the shows have been moved to the VFW this year due to renovations being made to the bandshell.
August 2021 | The South Coast Insider
Art abound
Onset offers other social activities this summer. On Saturday, August 21, a streetart festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Chalk Full O Fun” will be open to artists of all ages and abilities to create chalk art outside the Wareham Town Hall at 54 Marion Road. For $6, artists will be provided a box of multi-colored pastel chalk and their own personal space on the sidewalk to create a design of their own making. This will be the seventh year for the event, which annually attracts about 200 artists. The rain date for “Chalk Full O Fun” is the following day, Sunday, August, 22. “People are so creative,” Jones says. “It’s amazing what you can do with chalk.” The Onset Beach Kite Festival will take place on Labor Day weekend, September 4. For $5, guests of all ages can build and decorate their own kites with markers, to be flown at Onset Beach at 186 Onset Ave. Now in its sixth year, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and attracts upwards of 100 participants. On Monday evenings, Shell Point Beach in Onset is the site of a Drum Circle. From 6 to 7 p.m., percussionists of all skill levels are invited to participate. For a suggested donation of $10, and weather permitting, the event is hosted by Sam Holmstock, a
