You won’t want to miss the Eastham Public Library’s A Taste of Turnip Day. Who knew turnips could be so tasty? You’ll discover a wide array of turnip 
recipe choices!
Every year, Eastham, MA comes alive with the Eastham Turnip Festival. The big event brings in local Cape Codders and tourists who want to learn about the amazing root vegetable loved by locals. The event features cooking (all focused on turnips), music, contests, and games.
Eastham takes immense pride in their turnips which are known to be large and white with a lovely purple crown upon maturity. The turnips have a sweet flavor that clearly denotes the vegetable Eastham breeding and heritage.
The heirloom vegetable has been cultivated for over 100 years in the area. In the early days, local Art Nickerson made the turnip famous by shipping them all the way north to Alaska and south to Florida. He was once the only supplier of Eastham turnip seeds.
Mark Your Calendars – Eastham Turnip Festival Nov. 18th
Join turnip lovers on Saturday, November 18th to celebrate the turnip. Due to major renovations at Nauset High School this year, the venue is unavailable for the Festival. The Taste of Turnip Day this year will be held in the participating local food establishments that will all serve turnip-based delicacies such as turnip ice cream, soups, entrees, and sides.
Restaurants scheduled to participate include:
The Alley BBQ | 191 MA-6A | Orleans, Ma
Barley Neck Inn | 5 Beach Road | Orleans, Ma
Basco Grill | 4205 US-6 | Eastham, Ma
The Block & Tackle | 545 US-6 | Wellfleet, Ma
Brickhouse | 4940 Mid-Cape Highway | Eastham, Ma
Brine | 100 State Highway | Eastham, Ma
C Shore Kitchen & Bar |554 State Highway, Route 6 | Wellfleet, Ma
Cape Sea Grille |31 Sea Street |Harwich Port, Ma
Cibo |15 Cove Road | Orleans, Ma
Cottage Street Bakery| 5 Cottage Street|Orleans, Ma
Dancing Spoons Foodtruck| 116 Route 6A| Orleans, Ma
Fairway Restaurant & Pizzeria | 4295 US-6 | Eastham, Ma
Friends’ Marketplace | 57 Main St | Orleans, Ma
Hole in One Bakery | 4295 US-6 | Eastham, Ma
Hole in One Restaurant| 98 Cranberry Highway, MA-6A | Orleans, Ma
La Bella Vita |4550 State Highway|Eastham, Ma
Local Break | 4550 State Highway | Eastham, Ma
The Local Scoop | 34 MA-6A | Orleans, Ma
Mac’s Market & Kitchen | 4680 State Highway | Eastham, Ma
Mahoney’s Atlantic Bar & Grill | 26 Main Street | Orleans, Ma
The Optimal Kitchen |Orleans Farmers Market |19 Old Colony Way | Orleans, Ma
Orleans Whole Food Stores| 46 Main St | Orleans, Ma
The Rail | 222 Main St | Orleans, Ma
Rock Harbor Grill | 18 Ole Colony Way | Orleans, Ma
Sam’s Deli | 100 Brackett Road | Eastham, Ma
Sunbird | 85 MA-6A | Orleans, Ma
Whisk | 210 Main Street |Orleans, Ma
Each one of the above establishments will create a turnip-focused dish. It might be a soup, entree, side dish, or dessert. The goal is to highlight the versatility of the root vegetable.
Check out their website for the Taste of Turnip Menu for 2023 to be posted soon and prepare to eat your way across town in search of the finest turnip flavors.
Things to Do at the Taste of Turnip Festival
The Eastham Turnip Festival will hold numerous live festivities that are fun for young and old alike. This year, the Higher Ground String Band will share bluegrass tunes as well as some whimsical turnips tunes to dance and sing along with.
Don’t miss the Blessing of the Turnips which is set to be conducted by WGBH radio host Bob Seay.
Other live performances at the event include:
- A classic juggling act by Trevor the Juggler.
- Jo Ann Whittemore offers temporary turnip tattoos and henna body art.
- A magic show and balloons by Jungle Jim’s Balloon & Magic Show.
- Nicole Pierce will artistically conduct face painting.
- Guess the weight of the turnip contest
- Mr. and Ms. Turnip will be posing for photos.
- Turnip crafts
- Turnip games
- Enjoy the StoryWalk® with Jan Brett’s the Turnip.
You can even shop for turnip merchandise such as tee shirts, cookbooks, hats, magnets, notecards, crafts, and more.
New to the event this year will be caricature art with Susan Festa and altered book art demonstration by local artist Sian Robertson. Also if you get inspired to try your own hand at turnip farming, a local farmer will give tips about growing Eastham Turnips
Mark your calendars to attend the Eastham Turnip Festival – November 18th.
