The Chamber has some exciting events happening this month – please join us!

January Business After Hours at Manchester Athletic Club
Come Mix & Mingle with other area business leaders at one of Cape Ann’s finest athletic facilities.  See this state-of-the-art facility and learn about their programs that will keep  you fit in 2016. REGISTER HERE.

FREE Email Marketing Seminar – The Power of the Inbox
(for Chamber Members)
Please join us for a Brown Bag Lunch (bring your own) Seminar on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.  This excellent FREE seminar, The Power of the Inbox, will teach you the ins and outs of email marketing for your business.  REGISTER HERE.

The 94th Annual Celebration & Cape Ann Divas Concert
This year we are planning something new and different for our Annual Dinner- we are changing up the format!  We will still be celebrating our incoming President- Matt Anzivino- and our outgoing President- Catherine Schlichte, but instead of a sit down dinner, we will be hosting an elegant Cocktail Party upstairs at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, with stunning views of the ocean and the Rockport coastline.  After the reception, we will enter the Music Hall for an evening of entertainment by the Cape Ann Divas. Tickets are available for the full event ($100) and concert only ($50)  PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

Support the Cape Ann communities this holiday season by gifting your loved ones a Cape Ann License Plate!  For only $40, your friends and family can ride in style.

The proceeds from the Cape Ann License Plates will go back into our community in the form of Promotion of our region, Economic Development and Education.  Learn more at lovecapeann.com.

The Chamber is currently in the process of gathering our first batch of applications to submit to the registry for printing.  We are excited to see these wonderful plates on the road!

Holiday Festivities for the Whole Family – on Cape Ann!
Join the seaside family-friendly celebrations that cap off a fun-filled holiday season

This time of year is filled with community traditions and holiday events in Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport. With a wide array of wonderful celebrations, visiting Cape Ann is a must this holiday season.

Starting with Small Business Saturday on November 28th, be sure to shop local and support your favorite businesses in all four communities with holiday shopping. Many of the businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday and will have exciting promotions available.

The whole of Cape Ann will be bustling during the month of December. All four communities have many events that local residents and visitors are invited to enjoy.

Essex – The holiday festivities begin in Essex on Thursday, December 3rd with the Lighting of the Memory Tree in Honor of Lost Loved Ones at Town Hall at 6:00 PM. The following day, Friday, December 4th, Santa arrives at Town Landing by boat at 6:00 PM. Children and families are invited to join for carols, refreshments and the chance to sit on Santa’s Lap. On Saturday, December 5th, Breakfast with Santa will be held at Essex Elementary School from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM. The cost is $10 per person or $40 for the family.

Gloucester – On Sunday, November 29th, the Gloucester Christmas Parade begins at the State Fish Pier at 3:00 PM and marches through the streets of Gloucester, ending at Kent Circle for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:00 PM. Thursday, December 3rd will mark the 42nd Annual Ladies’ Night. Enjoy shopping and refreshments in the downtown shops as well as exciting deals and discounts from 5:00-10:00 PM. On Tuesday, December 8th, Temple Ahavat Achim will hold a ceremony to light the first candle on the Lobster Trap Menorah. Thursday, December 10th will be another opportunity to shop downtown during the 2nd Annual Employee Night from 5:00 -10:00 PM. Don’t miss the Middle Street Walk on Saturday, December 12th. From 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM historic house tours, concerts and special programs will be featured on Middle Street. On Sunday, December 13th shops will be open with refreshments and special discounts for Family and Friends Day from noon-5:00 PM. As we get closer to Christmas, Men’s Night will be held on Thursday, December 17th from 5:00 – 10:00 PM. Finally, make sure to stop by the front of the Police Station at 4:30 PM on Saturday, December 19th for a truly unique Gloucester tradition, the lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree, decorated by the children of Cape Ann Art Haven.

Manchester-by-the-Sea – The events of Christmas by the Sea are also not to be missed. Visit the downtown merchants for Shop Manchester Night on Friday, December 4th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. On Shop Manchester Night, get your passbook stamped at all participating shops. Turn it in to 7 Central by 8:00 PM for the drawing; the winner will receive an Apple Watch! There will be great deals and discounts along with refreshments in the shops. Spend the day in Manchester on Saturday, December 5th, starting with a Pancake Breakfast from 8:00-10:00 AM at 7 Central Restaurant. This day is designated as Give Back Saturday! Drop off an unwrapped gift, in support of Action, Inc.’s Project Uplift, to Essen from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM and receive a Manchester Card which allows for exclusive deals from the Manchester-by-the-Sea Merchants on that day only. In the afternoon, Santa will arrive by boat at 1:00 PM. Enjoy festivities in Masconomo Park and Manchester Community Center until 3:00 PM. The following day, Sunday, December 6th there will be a Christmas Concert at 3:30 PM at First Parish Church. The Lighting of the Friendship Tree & Festival of the Trees will be held at the Town Hall Common at 4:30 PM.

Rockport – Shop Rockport Weekend kicks off the Christmas in Rockport holiday festivities on November 27th and 28th. The weekend is dedicated to supporting local small businesses and will include exciting offers from the downtown shops. Friday, December 4th is Shop Rockport Night. Shops will be open from 4:00-9:00 PM for the occasion and will offer special deals and refreshments for shoppers. On the following day, Saturday, December 5th, Santa will arrive at T-Wharf by boat at 1:00 PM and will make his way to Dock Square for a Christmas celebration and to visit with children. Festivities will continue in the square with Christmas Carols and the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:00 PM, also at Dock Square. Christmas Shopping and Gallery Stroll Weekend is on December 12th and 13th. The shops and galleries of Rockport will be open, each offering different promotions. A unique event that engages the entire community, the 70th Annual Christmas Pageant, starts at 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 19th. The celebrations are capped off with Rockport New Year’s Eve with live music and entertainment from 6:00 PM to midnight, to ring in the new year.

To learn more about the events listed above contact the Call the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at (978) 283-1601. Event information can also be found by visiting the following pages.

http://capeannvacations.com/events-calendar/
https://www.facebook.com/christmasbythesea/
https://www.facebook.com/christmasinrockport/

###

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce invites the community to join in a celebration of the Cape Ann License Plate as well as a 2015 Tourism Mixer at the Rockport Art Association on Thursday, October 22. Also this weekend is the Essex ClamFest on Saturday and the start of Dine Out Cape Ann on Sunday.  See below for more details…

The License Plate Celebration & Fall Tourism Wrap-Up Mixer will be held at the Rockport Art Association on October 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.  Read below for more details…

Essex ClamFest is this Saturday, October 24th. Please join us for a day of festivities including local vendors and a clam chowder competition! Click on the image below for more details.

This weekend, Sunday, October 25 is the start of Dine Out Cape Ann! Enjoy delicious Dine Out menus from restaurants throughout Cape Ann. Click on the image below for more details including a list of all participating restaurants and menus.

Register for the Mayoral Debate
On Tuesday, October 20, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will host a Mayoral Candidates Debate between the two finalists for Gloucester Mayor in the November 3 city elections, City Council President Paul McGeary and interim Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken.

The debate will be held at The Elks at Bass Rocks on 101 Atlantic Road in Gloucester, MA from 7:30 to 9:00 am. This event will be open to Chamber members and the general public and will be moderated by Bob Gillis, Vice President of Cape Ann Savings Bank. The candidates will answer a number of questions on a range of topics and each candidate will have the opportunity pose a question to the other.

Tickets are $25.00 per person and include a light breakfast and attendance for the debate.

Pre-registration is highly recommended as this event is filling up quickly. To make a reservation, visit capeannchamber.com or call 978-283-1601.

The Chamber of Commerce is also holding a a Business After Hours event at Institution for Savings. There is no charge for this event.  All community members are invited.  Please RSVP HERE if you plan to join us.

The Chamber has some exciting events in October that are open to the community!

Online Auction
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is auctioning off a number of fun and unique items for you to bid on to and help support valuable Chamber services and programs. Visit the link below to bid on over 100 items. Check back often as items are being added frequently. biddingforgood.com/CapeAnnChamber

Mayoral Debate
The Debate will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 from 7:30 – 9:00 AM at The Elks at Bass Rocks. Admission is $25 per person and include coffee and a light breakfast. You can REGISTER HERE for the Mayoral Debate!

The 33rd Annual Essex ClamFest
The Essex ClamFest is an event hosted and co-ordinated by the Essex Division of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. This is our 33rd year and has become the largest event held in Essex. We have grown from our beginning in the parking lot of Woodman’s Restaurant here in Essex, as far back as we can remember! We began as a way to showcase the Essex clam and now feature not only the clam but the famous clam chowders from all over Cape Ann and Ipswich. The highlight of the day is the Chowder Competition among area restaurants- theprize? Bragging rights for the year!

Entrants’ chowder is judged by a panel of locals and professional Judges, as well as a Popular vote by the people sampling the chowders.

Supplementing the Chowder event, is a variety of vendors – food, local arts and crafts people , all day entertainment, children’s activities , non-profits fundraising and information and Police and Fire Department Safety activities. The local Board of Health also runs a flu shop clinic on the grounds. From 1500 to 2000 people attend this event, which is being held on October 24, 2015, with a rain date of October 25th.

We hope to see you there!

Dine Out Cape Ann
The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the new Dine Out Cape Ann. Cape Ann is throwing away the tired restaurant week model and taking a fresh approach aimed at highlighting the unique flavor of each participating restaurant. The two week event will take place October 25th – 29th and November 1st – 5th, 2015, in restaurants throughout Cape Ann. More information and a list of participating restaurants at capeannchamber.com/dine-out-cape-ann.