Comic convention, slithery snakes and Taylor Swift parties: April school vacation on Cape

With April school vacation on the horizon, it’s time to start planning out how to occupy the kids during this next week of no school and supposed fun.

Across the Cape, several organizations have programming laid out throughout the week to entertain the youngest and biggest of kids and for the Hyannis and Yarmouth town libraries, their contribution to school vacation week comes in the form of comics.

CODCon, the first comic convention hosted by the libraries, takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 15 at the Hyannis Public Library. The convention is free to attend and features panels led by local artists, a cosplay costume competition, video and tabletop gaming stations, an artists' alley and a vendor market.

“It's going to be a lot of nerdy, geeky fun,” Antonia Stephens, director of the Hyannis Public Library said.

For local artists Craig Florence and Gabe Ribeiro, who will be at the convention leading panels and showing off their works at their tables in the alley, the convention not only highlights the large population of comic aficionados on the Cape but allows them to share their talents with their community.

“The Cape has an expansive community of different artists and creators that are a little bit different than when you think about Cape Cod art … we think of sailboats, lighthouses and things like that, which are wonderful, but that's not all that's here,” Florence said. “We have this amazing little subculture of geeks and artists.”

As a kid growing up on the Cape, Ribiero said he became infatuated with comics when he was around eight or nine. He didn’t see too many people creating the kind of art he aspired to in his community and learned a lot of what he knows about comics from his favorite books and on the internet. He hopes the convention inspires the next generation of Cape Cod comic makers, knowing there’s a community out there for them.

“To see people in your community doing it, making art and showing that this is something that's possible, makes the dream seem a little bit more possible, especially knowing that they're around and if you want to reach out to them,” he said. “I think that (it’s) going to help kids see that, these dreams of being artists are achievable and it's not just something that you see on TV.”

Cod Con is free to attend and open to the public. For more information and to register for the event, visit www.hyannislibrary.org/event/comicon/.

What else to do for April school vacation on Cape Cod

Harwich Jr. Theatre

The Harwich Jr Theater is hosting two events for kids over April school vacation.

At their West Harwich campus, the theater is hosting a “Beauty and the Beast” themed class. The class, which is open to kids in grades 1 to 6 and takes place April 15-19, guides kids through the motions of learning the play “Beauty and the Beast” ending with a performance of the production for families at 3 p.m. April 19. Students will also attend a matinee production of “Reynard the Fox” on April 17 as part of the classes. Tuition is $315 for the week and parents can register children online at www.capecodtheatrecompany.org/.

The theater is also hosting a three-day camp at the South Yarmouth Library for kids ages 8 to 12. At “Twisted Fairy Tale Camp,” campers will rework traditional fairy tales, creating their own versions through performance-based activities built around fostering empathy and creativity. The camp runs from April 16 to 18 and is free to attend. Parents must register their kids with the library to participate. To register, visit www.yarmouthlibraries.org/.

The Harwich Jr Theater is located at 105 Division St. in West Harwich. The South Yarmouth Library is located at 312 Old Main St. in South Yarmouth.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is hosting events throughout school vacation to keep kids and families entertained.

On April 13, meet some of the world’s cold-blooded creatures as a rainforest reptile herpetologist brings some scaly friends, like a 9 to 10-foot boa or python, to teach children about these fascinating creatures. The presentation begins at 9:30 a.m.

On April 15, the animal fun continues with Joys of Nature — Animals in Spring, a presentation by Joy Marzolf on the springtime lives of snakes, turtles and lizards. Live animals will be included in the presentation, which begins at 9:30 a.m.

Tickets for both these events are $20 and can be purchased online at ww.ccmnh.org/.

Then on April 16 and 18, become a mad scientist during mixology, a class allowing kids to get messy with hands-on science activities and experiments. Admission is included with museum admission but registration is required. To register, call 508-896-3867 x 133.

The museum will also host guided family field walks. Walks begin at 12:30 p.m. on April 15 and at 11 a.m. on April 16 to 19. Admission is included with museum price and registration is not required.

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is located at 869 Main St. in Brewster. For more information about school vacation programming, visit www.ccmnh.org/.

Cape Cod Museum of Art

Throughout April vacation, local artist and youth art instructor Jennifer Stratton is teaching sculptural art classes for kids ages six through 10 at the Cape Cod Museum of Art.

The class, titled “Shape, Mold and Build,” runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 16 to 19. During each session, students will create 3D art from paper mache, clay and other materials and visit the museum’s current exhibition the Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational 2024.

Tickets are $110 for non-members, $90 for members. Students must be checked in and out by an adult, have a snack and drink packed for class and have an emergency contact form completed in advance. To purchase tickets and fill out an emergency contact form, visit www.ccmoa.org/. The Cape Cod Museum of Art is at 60 Hope Lane in Dennis.

Local Library Events

Mashpee Public Library

Swifties, this one’s for you. At 1 p.m. on April 20, the Mashpee Public Library is hosting a Swiftie Meet Up for children ages 8 and up. While jamming out to Swift’s music, kids will make the iconic friendship bracelets, made popular by Swifties everywhere, and enjoy snacks while they craft.

The library is also hosting a mini-golf tournament, the Selander Open, to celebrate its birthday starting at noon on April 18. Cupcakes, other sweet treats and refreshments will be served as well.

Both events are free to attend and open to the public. For more information visit www.mashpeepubliclibrary.org/. The Mashpee Public Library is located at 64 Steeple Street in Mashpee.

South Yarmouth Library

The South Yarmouth Library is hosting a Swiftie event of its own in anticipation of the “Tortured Poets Department,” Taylor Swift’s new album, release on April 19 with a Tortured Poets-themed Coffeehouse and Open Mic Night on April 17.

The event is open to kids ages 12 and up, free to attend and begins at 5 p.m. Swifites will make friendship bracelets, share their poems and enjoy coffee during the festivities. For more information, visit www.yarmouthlibraries.org/. The South Yarmouth Library is located at 312 Old Main St. in South Yarmouth.

Jonathan Bourne Public Library

Kids are always jumping from fixation to fixation so if you find yourself trying to appease a child whose musical interests are peaking, the Jonathan Bourne Public Library is hosting a ukulele class with Julie Stepanek at 3 p.m. on April 19.

During the class, Stepanek will go over the basics of playing the ukelele and no experience is required to attend. Ukuleles will be provided and children of all ages can sign up though they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register and for more information, visit www.bournelibrary.org/. The Jonathan Bourne Public Library is located at 19 Sandwich Road in Bourne.

Dennis Public Library

The Dennis Public Library is hosting a “Coding Playground” teaching kids how to code through games such as “Scratch” and “LEGO Prime.” The event is free, open to kids of all ages and runs from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 16. No library card is required to attend. For more information visit www.dplkids.blogspot.com/. The Dennis Public Library is located at 5 Hall St. in Dennis Port.

Cotuit Library

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Cotuit Library and the Barnstable Land Trust are getting the kids outside for a literary hunt. The “Hunt of Poetry" sets off at 1 p.m. on April 16 at Ropes Field as teams work to find different stanzas and lines from their color-coded poem scattered throughout the field. Once each part of the poem is found, teams must create their own “poetry walk” and the first to finish wins a prize.

The event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Parents and caregivers are required to attend with their child. To register, visit www.cotuitlibrary.org/. The Cotuit Library is located at 871 Main St. in Cotuit.

Snow Library

Stop in at the Snow Library for some book bouquet-making at 3:30 p.m. on April 16. Materials will be provided by the library and the event is free and open to the public. To register, call the library at 508-240-3760. The Snow Library is located at 67 Main St. in Orleans.

Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and things to do. Contact her at frowley@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Comic Con, Taylor Swift, art classes: April vacation on Cape Cod