August in Onset

by Sean McCarthy

Few South Coast experiences are as enjoyable as a summer day in Onset Village.

Whether you’re in search of entertainment, relaxation, or unique shopping and dining, this seaside town provides for guests of many interests.

A day of shopping or beachgoing can be capped with an enjoyable meal and great live music that can only be found in this charming and picturesque region of Wareham, the gateway to Cape Cod. Throughout the month of August, Onset offers an array of events and opportunities to enhance your summertime experience.

Seafood and other specialties are available at multiple area restaurants, and live music is offered at certain times and locations. Onset Beach is inviting for a laid-back morning or afternoon, and shopping opportunities abound within walking distance. Onset Village is a perennial destination for a South Coast getaway.

“Onset is a vibrant and diverse community that visitors will find attractive,” says Kat Jones, Executive Director of the Onset Bay Association.

“We have a fabulous beach that is easily accessible and can be enjoyed by anyone, and you don’t have to walk far to find great food and shopping.”

Onset has a calendar full of activities for August, many of which are geared towards family fun. Each Wednesday evening, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Lillian Gregerman Band Shell will offer live music. Located at 1 Union Avenue, the event is open to people of all ages and well-behaved dogs.

If you love blues music, August 7 will be the annual Onset Blues Fest. From noon to 5 p.m., the Onset VFW will be the site of performances by Rebooted, the Gil David Correia Band, Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band, and Dwight & Nicole. The emcee for the event is Bill Narkewicz, a disc jockey with WMVY radio. The day will also include food trucks and vendors, rain or shine. Located at 4 Gibbs Ballpark Road in East Wareham, admission is $5 per person, or $50 for a table for eight. You are invited to bring your own chair. There will be food and a cash bar.

On Saturday, August 20, Onset Village will be the site of Chalk-Full-O-Fun, a unique event for people of all ages. For $5 you can purchase a box of colorful, soft pastel chalk, and you will be given your own sidewalk square to create a piece of art of your own creation. Beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing until 4 p.m., the day grows into a massive mosaic of art that will stay on the sidewalks of Onset until the next rainfall. The 2019 event attracted more than 200 participants. Rain date would be the next day.

“This is an event for people of all ages and abilities. We’ve had toddlers and seniors,” says Milly Burrows, Volunteer Organizer for the Onset Bay Association. “It’s also fun to be a spectator, because you can walk from around the Buzzards Bay Center to the perimeter of the Onset Pier and get to enjoy all the original artwork.”

This year’s chalk event is at Onset Pier and Buzzards Bay Coalition Center, located at 184 and 186 Onset Ave. It is funded in part by the Wareham and Rochester Cultural Councils, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. There will be a People’s Choice Award for the best design of the day. The day’s Featured Artist will be Amanda Sellars, and music will be provided from noon to 3 p.m. by Dave Richardson & Jan Schmidt.

Another opportunity for visitors that day will be an artisan crafts fair with vendors located on the top of Bayview Park. Browsers will be able to enjoy as many as 20 vendors from throughout the region selling handcrafted goods.

August 20 will also include children’s activities, hosted by Dianne Enzian, inside the Buzzards Bay Coalition Center. The theme for the day is “Our Planet Earth,” and the first 25 children will receive a free copy of “Our Planet Earth,” a book by Jane Cabrera. There will also be information tables presented by regional environmental organizations. Each artist will receive a reusable water bottle and refills will be available courtesy of donations from Home Depot.

For more informations visit onsetbay. org.