If you’ve passed through Sandwich lately, you may have seen some of the decorated Adirondack Chairs located outside of businesses. The chairs are part of the Sandwich Arts Alliance’s (SAA) Sandwich Adirondack Chair Trail. The event, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, features 22 chairs on display throughout the Sandwich area.
The Sandwich Adirondack Chair Trail is great to follow as a scavenger hunt, and as a way to visit lots of great local businesses and organizations. The chairs are sponsored by local businesses and have been decorated by local artists. They are colorful and fun, depicting a wide range of scenes from flamingos and peacocks to beach scenes, hydrangeas, sea life, and more!
To find a map of the Adirondack Chairs visit the SAA Center & Gallery, the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, or pick up a copy at any of the 22 chair locations. You can download your own Scavanger Hunt for the Sandwich Adirodack Chairs, it’s a great way to involve the kids in their community and encourage participation.
Every year one of the chairs are raffled off to raise additional funds for the Sandwich Arts Alliance. This year’s raffle chair titled “Underwater imposters” was hand painted by the talented local artist Dan Dobbins. To find out how this chair came by its title, stop by the Sandwich Arts Alliance Center at 124 Route 6A, Sandwich.
What is the Sandwich Arts Alliance?
The Sandwich Arts Alliance(SAA), formed by local artists in 2015, focusing on supporting local artists through networking and creating opportunities for art within the community. The alliance is comprised of four groups that meet monthly: Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Friends of the Arts.
Besides sponsoring the Sandwich Adirondack Chair program annually, the SAA hosts other fundraising events to sustain their gallery on Route 6A, and continue to offer classes, events and programing the support the area arts and artists. Their upcoming events in June include a jewelry making workshop and a class of painting lighthouses. They are also home to a Plein Air Painting Group that meets every Tuesday at 9:30 at various locations around Sandwich.
Location of the Sandwich Adirondack Chairs
You’ll find a collection of chairs around Merchants Square, a few out near Town Neck Road, a big concentration on Jarves St., and a few further out on Route 6A.
Sponsoring businesses and organizations include: Titcomb’s Bookshop, Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, Cannings Service Center, Harbor Master’s Office, Lo Adoro Italian Market, Today Real Estate, Cafe Chewy, Great Lengths Salon, Canning’s Service Center, Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Sandwich Public Library, Dan’l Webster Inn, The Weather Store, Sotheby’s Real Estate, Kinlin Grover Real Estate, Sandwich Antiques Center, Decatur House, Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, Cape Cod Five, Driftwood, Fishermen’s View, and Seafood Sam’s.
After the chairs are displayed all summer, they will be sold at a silent auction on Wednesday August 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sagamore Inn on Route 6A. The proceeds from the auction will fund the Sandwich Arts Alliance. The whole event benefits a wide range of groups.
Not only do visitors get to enjoy the unique scavenger hunt, but local businesses are also happy to welcome back visitors for another great season, the arts and artists gain exposure and funding, and the community at large gets to celebrate summer, Sandwich, and community!
If you love the Sandwich Adirondack Chair trail, you’ll also enjoy the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail, Chatham’s Whales in the Park and Oars in Stores, or wait for winter and enjoy the unique lights and sculptures in the Giants of Sandwich!
