Top 10 Things to Do on Cape Cod in March

March on Cape Cod brings Irish music sessions, the Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade in Yarmouth, the start of the herring run at Stony Brook, and the opening of whale watch season out of Provincetown.

The Cape stirs awake in March, and Orleans is a front-row seat. Here is the list.

1. Irish seisiuns at O'Shea's Olde Inne, West Dennis. Traditional Irish music sessions on Sundays, the real thing.
2. Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade, Yarmouth. One of the biggest off-season events on the Cape, with bands, floats, and tens of thousands of spectators along Route 28 in early March.
3. Gloriae Dei spring concert, Orleans. Sacred and classical music in a glorious acoustic space.
4. The herring run begins at Stony Brook, Brewster. One of nature's great small shows: river herring fighting their way upstream at the old grist mill.
5. Whale watch season opens, Provincetown. The whales come back before the crowds do.
6. Pottery and painting at Castle Hill, Truro. Winter and spring workshops at the Cape's beloved arts center. Get crafty.
7. Big breakfasts at Hole in One and The Rail, Orleans. Fuel up like a local.
8. La Bella Vita Italian dinners, Orleans. Our favorite plate of pasta in town. Mangia.
9. Ryan Family Amusements airpark and arcade, South Yarmouth. The rainy day pressure valve for families.
10. Public golf reopens: The Captains and Cranberry Valley. Both town-owned, both public, both excellent. Tee up.

And when you're ready to plan a Cape getaway, spring and summer weeks book early. The house sleeps 10, and the whole spring calendar is minutes away. Check your dates whenever you're ready.