ROCKPORT FARMER’S MARKET
Harvey Park at the corner of Broadway & Mt Pleasant, ROCKPORT, MA
June 17– October 15, 2024 (Every Saturday) 10:00 - 1:00 PM
The Rockport Farmers Market features the very best of local farm and juried homegrown items from all over Cape Ann. Music is always on the menu as are events and children activities for the young and old.
ROCKPORT'S MOTIF # 1 DAY
May 18, 2024
Motif No.1 Day Arts Fest celebrates Rockport across the arts. The Festival centers around Rockport's iconic Motif No.1, the fishing shack artist’s studio tourist attraction. A fantastic lineup of free outdoor art events take place throughout the Day: a short film festival, poetry slams, live music, aerial and dance performances, interactive art, and fine art. Proceeds from the Motif No.1 Day 5k & Fun Run support wellness initiatives at Rockport Public Schools
ESSEX RIVER DAY
DOWNTOWN ESSEX
June 15, 2024
Essex River Day – is an idea that has been evolving for many years. Often when boaters are out on the River you hear the same question over and over again, “Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in Essex could experience the beauty of the River?” The concept for the event is simple. Those who have a boat offer a neighborly boat ride to those in town who may not have a boat and don’t have ready access to appreciating the wonders of the Essex River. This simple thought has grown into a full day of events culminating that evening with a pickup softball game for all ages, a cook out with vendors, live music by Innuendo and a bonfire at Memorial Park.
CAPE ANN ARTISANS SPRING TOUR
Taking a year off for reflection, 2024
Cape Ann Artisans are part of a vibrant arts community, located along the scenic North Shore of Massachusetts. The Tour is self-guided of artists’ studios in Gloucester and Rockport. The Annual Studio Tour is one of our best ideas, and remains a favorite of our friends, community, and visitors to Cape Ann. We welcome you to our studios and our works!
ST. PETER’S FIESTA
GLOUCESTER HARBOR – PAVILION BEACH
June 26- 30, 2024
The St. Peter’s Fiesta has long attracted visitors from all over the country. It is an annual celebration in Gloucester, MA taking place on the weekend closest to the Feast Day of St. Peter. The event is sponsored by the Italian-American fishing community of Gloucester. Fiesta is a five-day festival honoring the patron saint of the fisherman, St. Peter. The festival is put on by the Italian American community of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The festival involves a carnival, seine boat races and the Greasy Pole contest, and attracts people from all over.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
GLOUCESTER, ROCKPORT & MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
July 4, 2024
Spend your Fourth of July holiday on Cape Ann! Experience our Independence Day celebrations and festivities in three of our four communities! Oh, and by the way, the parade in Rockport goes right by the Beach & King. Sit on the porch and enjoy!
Rockport - Starting on July 4th at 6PM, Rockport holds a Firemen's Parade downtown, chock full of vintage and antique fire trucks - it’s been described as something out of a Norman Rockwell painting - quaint and old fashioned. After the parade ends, a concert on Back Beach by the Rockport Legion Band follows at 8 in the evening.
When the band finishes up around 9PM, the 4th of July Bonfire starts. Each year, the Rockport Firemen's Association, whose members are the organizers of both the Firemen’s Parade as well as the bonfire as well as the parade, work to construct a tower made mostly of shipping pallets on Back Beach. Sometimes the piles can end up being over 20 feet tall! Each year, an outhouse, shed, or shack is donated by someone in the community, decorated, then lifted to the top of the bonfire pile. You can guess what happens next!
Gloucester - Gloucester’s ‘Fishtown Horribles Gloucester’s July 4th holiday starts off in full swing the evening before - with the annual Fishtown Horribles parade. One of the city’s most cherished and well-attended events, the parade winds through downtown, starting and ending at Gloucester High School. The parade starts at 6PM, and usually does not end until past 8, when night falls. The route goes down Centennial, up Stacy Boulevard, goes right at Tally’s Corner down Rogers Street, turns back down Main Street, up Pleasant, to Prospect, Railroad, Washington, and then back to Centennial.
Manchester by the Sea - Manchester by the Sea holds a celebration parade starting at 10:00 AM on July 4th. The Independence Day Parade features antique cars, homemade floats, and the following marching bands: Volume II Steel Drum Band, Tony Barrie Marching & Entertainment Band, The Cadets, The Portland & District Pipers, Veronica Robles Mexican Mariachi Band, The King's Rangers, 2nd Massachusetts Regiment , and the 10th Massachusetts Regiment.
BLOCK PARTY
DOWNTOWN GLOUCESTER
July 13, August 10 and August 30, 2024 6PM to 10PM
Celebrate The Downtown Gloucester Block Party at a gala kick-off on center stage July 16th, August 13th and September 2nd. Audience members are invited to the Bank Gloucester Stage, corner of Porter and Main for a brief opening celebration at 6 pm. The other stages throughout Main Street will open with many presentations
FESTIVAL BY THE SEA
DOWNTOWN MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA
August 3, 2024 10AM to 4PM
This all-day extravaganza taps into the long-line of local talent with musical and artistic performers alike. Visitors can take in the sights of Masconomo Park while surveying the art and handcrafted items from some of the finest talent assembled.
GLOUCESTER SIDEWALK BAZAAR
DOWNTOWN, GLOUCESTER
Not updated for 2024
The annual Sidewalk Bazaar takes place on Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Vendors, street food, live music, and children’s activities. Artists, Crafters, Food Vendors, Non-Profits, Kids Activities & Entertainers from near and far join Gloucester merchants and restaurants on the street for a fun and festive three days. The Sidewalk Bazaar is a Gloucester tradition that shouldn’t be missed.
ROCKPORT ILLUMINATIONS WEEKEND
August 10,2024
Come to Rockport Massachusetts for a day of family fun! A fireworks display will light up the sky over Rockport Massachusetts! The Show begins at 9pm, and will be lit off from Granite Pier. The show will last for 20-25 Minutes, and may just include a couple of surprises according to the fireworks committee.
GLOUCESTER BLUES FESTIVAL
STAGE FORT PARK, GLOUCESTER
August 10, 2024 11AM to 7PM
World-class blues reverberates through Stage Fort Park with some of the nation’s finest performers playing on the Gloucester Blues stage. Located
right on the waterfront on beautiful Cressey’s beach, the event features a beer garden and outstanding food and craft vendors
GLOUCESTER WATERFRONT FESTIVAL
STAGE FORT PARK, GLOUCESTER
August 17 & 18, 2024
More than 175 juried artists and craftsmen from throughout the United States will be coming to Gloucester for this festival. Live music, unique creations and delicious food will highlight the two-day event.
GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL
GLOUCESTER HARBOR
August 29 - September 3, 2024
The Gloucester Schooner Festival is an event put on by Maritime Gloucester and has become a community wide celebration of the age of sail in Gloucester Harbor. Every year schooners from all over travel to Gloucester to race and to show off their beauty and grace both under sail and as a dock-side attraction.
TRAILS & SAILS:
TWO WEEKENDS OF WALKS & WATER IN CAPE ANN
September 14 - 29, 2024
Discover special places in your backyard during Trails & Sails! Be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in cultural experiences of all kinds. Find what makes Essex County like nowhere else during Trails & Sails!
GRAN PRIX OF GLOUCESTER
STAGE FORT PARK, GLOUCESTER
September, 2024 (dates TBD)
Take a dramatic harbor front park at the height of fall foliage season. Set up a twisting grass, dirt and asphalt racecourse with challenging obstacles. Unleash a crowd of world class cyclists to charge through the sharp curves and jump the barriers. Add screaming, cowbell ringing fans incited by a dynamic announcers. What do you have? One of the premier bicycle races in the country, right here in Gloucester.
ROCKPORT HARVESTFEST
DOWNTOWN ROCKPORT
October 19, 2024 11AM to 5PM rain date October 20th
An annual tradition in Downtown Rockport, the HarvestFest celebrates the autumn season as local food producers bring you seasonal favorites including clam chowder to cheese to a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up. Cooking demonstrations, art exhibits and live music bring families from all over to enjoy.
ESSEX CLAMFEST
SHEPARD MEMORIAL PARK, ESSEX
October 26, 2024
Annual Essex Clamfest has everything the small town is known for including pony rides, arts and crafts, K-9 demonstrations and, of course, the ever-popular clam chowder competition.
CAPE ANN ARTISANS FALL TOUR
Taking a year off for reflection, 2024
Cape Ann Artisans are part of a vibrant arts community, located along the scenic North Shore of Massachusetts. The Tour is self-guided of artists’ studios in Gloucester and Rockport. The Annual Studio Tour is one of our best ideas, and remains a favorite of our friends, community, and visitors to Cape Ann. We welcome you to our studios and our works!
CAPE ANN PLEIN AIR EVENT
October 5-13, 2024
The annual Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA) outdoor painting competition and festival, which takes place in the Cape Ann communities of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport. CAPA provides local, national and internationally recognized artists the opportunity to compete in the premier New England Plein Air festival and winner of the BONS Editor’s Choice for Best Arts Festival, located in the birthplace of American Plein Air Painting, Cape Ann. During the week there are artist demos in all four communities, dinners with the artists, a nocturne painting event and more. Please check the capeannpleinair.com website for the full calendar of events, times and locations.
SANTAS ARRIVAL BY LOBSTER BOAT
December, 2024 (dates TBD)
In December you can catch up with the big man himself and make one less plea for the “nice” list. Santa will arrive in Rockport in style aboard a lobster boat, of course. How else would Saint Nick arrive in Rockport?
ROCKPORT MAKERS FESTIVAL
December, 2024 (dates TBD)
A Town wide celebration of creativity and holiday spirit. Enjoy maker themed events and shops.
CHRISTMAS IN ROCKPORT, 2024 (dates TBD)
Every weekend in December, Rockport offers events and gatherings to celebrate the holiday. From tree lightings, to Santa’s arrival by boat and local artists and artisans demonstrating their crafts, it’s a refreshing month-long celebration. Stay tuned for events list!