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Team Spinal Tap, a group of cyclists most of whom are from Plymouth, will host a fundraiser at the Spire called Music Fights MS, on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 5 to 11 p.m. The event aims to raise money for the charity ride Bike MS Cape Code Getaway – a two-day ride from Boston to Provincetown. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Becky Hamel and her dad, Bill Sykes, who owned the well-known and influential Corner Cycle shop in town, are the team’s co-captains. The team has participated in the event since 2013, when Hamel was diagnosed with MS.
The fundraiser will feature three local bands, each doing full sets over the course of the evening – Cheap Voova, The Shady Roosters, and The Fey Band. There will be plenty of free appetizers a cash bar, raffle bags with gift cards, and a silent auction featuring a getaway weekend to a cabin in Maine, and trips to warmer climes.
After Hamel was diagnosed at age 30 and dealing with symptoms such as vertigo and fatigue, she went through a multitude of physical struggles and tests before finding a doctor and treatment that helped. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, and symptoms can be unpredictable. It’s incurable but can be treated to improve quality of life and slow the disease’s progression.
Hamel’s sister-in-law, Bree Sykes, who’s also on the team, said you wouldn’t know Hamel had MS. Sykes said one of the challenges of the disease is the “silence” around it.
“You don’t see a physical issue, but they may be feeling really weak, having fatigue or cognitive challenges,” he said.
“Some days it’s like my ‘MS hug’ area is killing,” Hamel said. She described that as feeling like a corset being tightened around her ribs and chest. But she tries to keep a positive attitude and stays active, especially by trying to walk as much as possible. Lying on the couch is tempting but can ultimately worsen her symptoms, Hamel said.
When Hamel was nervously awaiting a spinal tap – the final test that would confirm her diagnosis – her husband, Brendan suggested “Spinal Tap” as the name of the bike team. Bree Sykes then wrote to Rob Reiner’s attorney requesting (and receiving) permission to use the logo from Reiner’s first movie, the now classic “This Is Spinal Tap.”
Tickets for the event are $49.87 (with the fee) and you can get them here.
Monday, December 29
Teens ages 13 to 18 are invited to a “DIY Hot Cocoa Bar” with games from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. They can spend part of their winter break enjoying hot cocoa while engaging in games, including Jenga, Apples to Apples, and chess.
If there are enough players, there might even be a round or two of Mafia. Registration is required, and you can do that here.
“Song Sung Blue,” starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, is screening at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film is a biographical musical drama, based on a 2008 documentary about a real-life couple, Mike and Claire Sardina, who found joy through difficult times in the 1980s when they formed a Neil Diamond tribute band called “Lightning & Thunder.” “Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier and starring Renate Rensve, Stellan Skarsgard, and Elle Fanning, is also screening. It’s a drama about a famous film director, and father of two estranged daughters, who wants to make a movie about their family history after the death of their mother. Both films are showing at 2, 4:30, and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
Tuesday, December 30
Molly Hojnoski, a certified children’s yoga teacher, will offer a yoga class for children age 3 to 5 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. Registration is required and you can do that here.
Wednesday, December 31
Families are invited to celebrate at a “Noon Year’s Eve” event welcoming 2026, at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be music, crafts, dancing, and a countdown to noon. The event is geared for families with children age 3 and older. No registration is necessary.
Once again, Independent Fermentations Brewery will present a New Year’s Eve Funday with the Shady Roosters from 2 to 5 p.m. to kick off your new year celebration. The music will be rootsy rockabilly, blues, and country. The event will feature IndieFerm’s craft beers on tap, kombucha by the bottle, and a selection of wine and other beverages. The cost of entry is $5 cash at the door.
“Christine Hurley and Friends – A New Year’s Eve Celebration” will bring smiles and laughter with a comedy show at the Spire at 7 p.m. Known as the “Queen of Boston Comedy,” Hurley has performed all over New England, as well as at Boston Garden for Denis Leary’s “Comics Come Home” show, which supports the Cam Neely Cancer Foundation. She’s also performed on TV shows and at the Montreal Comedy Festival. Along with Hurley, comics Dave Russo, Jerry Thornton, and Pete Costello will be performing their standup for the New Year’s Eve show. Tickets are $35.65 and $39.15, and you can buy them here.
This is the last day to enjoy the free, family-friendly Light the Night in Brewster Gardens, from sundown to sunrise, presented by the Downtown Waterfront District. The display includes some familiar cartoon characters and a 20-foot light tunnel.
Cork & Table, 23 Court St., is offering New Year’s specials, and will keep its kitchen open until 11 p.m., serving desserts and cocktails up until midnight. Check out the website, or call 774-454-3683 for reservations.
Anejo, at 51 Main St., will host a New Year’s Eve party in the upstairs lounge with a DJ from 10 p.m. to closing. Get more information on the popular Mexican restaurant’s website, or call 508-927-4794.
G Pub Plymouth, West Plymouth Square, will host a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party in its arcade from 5 to 7 p.m. Each child will receive a free $5 arcade game card, and there will be family-friendly music, giveaways, and prizes. The pub’s regular food and drink offerings will be available, but you’ll need a reservation for table service. Later in the evening, adults are invited to the “Ultimate Party in the Pub” from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The band Wut It Iz will provide the beats. There will be dancing, food, drink, party favors, and a countdown to midnight. Tickets for the grown-up party are $12.51, and you can get them here. For more information, call 508-591-0964, or email info@plymouthgpub.com.
CabbyShack, 30 Town Wharf, will begin the evening with a Trivia Night led by the New England Trivia Company, from 7 to 10 p.m. The restaurant and pub will host a New Year’s celebration with Mike Machaby & The Movers from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. The band draws on music from different parts of the world, aiming to inspire hope and positivity in the audience – just what is needed for the new year. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website, or call 508-746-5354.
This is the last day to get 15 percent off any gift card for Turmeric House, 41 Court St. Use the promo code, GC15Holiday to order gift cards here.
Thursday, January 1
Today is the deadline to sign up for art classes at Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. New classes will begin on Monday, Jan. 5. Find out more and register here.
Setting the Space, 2 Main St., is holding its 20th Annual New Year’s Day Appreciation Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring its largest ever floor sample “saleabration,” its “world famous candy bar,” live music, food and cocktails, and giveaways. Notably, the giveaways include the “much sought-after disco balls,” according to the store, which has become a mainstay of the downtown shopping district.
Wednesday, January 7
Hone your writing skills with encouragement from the Wednesday Writing Group from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. Bring your favorite writing implements – pens, paper, laptops. There will be prompts to get you started, and you will have the opportunity to share the experience with others. This group meets every other Wednesday in the Board Room. For more information, contact Maureen Coleman at mcoleman@ocln.org, or call 508-830-4250, ext. 230.
Thursday, January 8
Untold Brewing, 2 Loring Ave., will host a Chunky Knit Blanket Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Using just your hands, you can learn the art of hand knitting with chunky yarn to create a cozy blanket. Tickets include the yarn, a lesson, and your first beverage. Tickets are $75 for one skein of yarn, $94 for four skeins, $105 for five skeins, $115 for six skeins, $125 for seven skeins, $135 for eight skeins, $145 for nine skeins, and $155 for 10 skeins. Get tickets for the knitting party here.
Enjoy a quiet early evening making large paper bag snowflakes from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Plymouth Public Library’s Manomet Branch, 12 Strand Ave. The snowflakes make wintry window decorations. Supplies are limited, and registration is required – you can do so here.
Saturday, January 10
Bike Team Spinal Tap will present the fundraiser “Music Fights MS” at the Spire from 5 to 11 p.m. See the lead item in this column for more information.
Sunday, January 11
Three Creative Collectives will take place at Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. The collectives are cooperative enterprises where people learn and share creative ideas and experiences. Writers can sign up for the collective “Play on Words” from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., supporting all genres of writing and providing optional prompts and feedback. “The Art of Folding” will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and experienced or new folders can delve into the ancient origami artform. The collective “Drawing Circle” takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. and welcomes people with all levels of drawing skill. The registration fee is $20 for each collective. Find out more and register for a collective here.
Wednesday, January 14
The Plymouth Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Irwin Ehrenreich will present the program, All About Roses, offering useful tips for growing (what else) roses. A retired surgeon, Ehrenreich has been called “The Rose Man.” Along with his wife, Cindy, he has designed, planted, and maintained many gardens throughout Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts, including the Heritage Museums. A traditional English Tea will be served at the meeting. Guest are welcome to attend for a $5 fee.