Get your tickets now for the 2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest on Saturday, September 21 at Stage Fort Park. Advance tickets are $50 per person (at-the-door purchase price is $60). Designated Driver tickets are also available at $10. Brews, hard ciders, food trucks, music, and games, all in beautiful Stage Fort Park overlooking Gloucester Harbor.
Learn more and buy your tickets at blackburnbrewfest.com!
CHAMBER ANNOUNCES MANCHESTER’S FESTIVAL-BY-THE-SEA ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD
The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is excited to be presenting Manchester’s Festival-by-the-Sea, a Cape Ann Classic, in partnership with the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 AM to 4 PM in three Manchester-by-the-Sea town parks: Town Hall, Reed and Masconomo. Over 100 artisans, food vendors, and non-profits will be on hand, offering original artwork, handmade goods, tasty treats, and more. This family friendly event includes live outdoor entertainment, shopping and sidewalk sales by local retailers, restaurants, food trucks, a beer garden, and fun activities for kids, including Face Painting by Miss Wendy and “reptile fun” from the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team!
We are also very pleased to announce that there will be live music in three locations: the Masco Bandstand, Town Hall Park, and the lot at 7 Summer Street. The music in Masco Park is sponsored by Kelly Auto and a schedule and listing of performers (11 AM to 4 PM) will be posted on the day of the event. The music Stage at Town Hall is sponsored by The Cut (11 AM to 3 PM) with performers to be announced and the 7 Summer St. lot will feature John Jerome with other outdoor retail vendors from 12 – 2 PM.
A free shuttle service, sponsored by Beauport Ambulance, will run between the High School upper parking lot and downtown Manchester from 10 AM to 4 PM. Shuttle stops will be made at Masco Park, Town Hall Park, Reed Park, the Manchester Public Library and 7 Summer Street. The last pick-up of the day will be at 4 PM at Masco Park.
The Chamber wishes to acknowledge and thank the Manchester Board of Selectmen, the Manchester Fire & Police Departments and Manchester Parks & Recreation for their support and assistance in bringing this festival to life!
We also thank the many business sponsors and downtown merchants for their support in helping to make this year’s Festival-by-the-Sea possible. A listing of the sponsors is provided below:
Presenting Co-Sponsors: M&T Bank and Harbor’s Point Condo Association
Gold Sponsor: Applied Materials
Music Stage Sponsors: Kelly Auto (Masco Bandstand) & The Cut (Town Hall Park)
Shuttle Sponsor: Beauport Ambulance Service
Supporting Sponsors: Cape Ann Savings Bank, Manchester-Essex Rotary Club & Sullco, Inc.
Additional information may be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FestivalbytheSea.
DOWNLOAD MAP BROCHURE | SEE FULL LIST OF ARTISANS, NON-PROFITS, FOOD VENDORS
Contact Details: Michelle Pepin, Director of Events, 978-283-1601, michelle@capeannchamber.com
Gloucester’s Summer Block Parties have become a Cape Ann Classic, and the Greater Cape Ann Chamber is excited to be presenting three Block Parties this summer in partnership with the City of Gloucester. The first one will be Saturday, July 13th from 6 PM to 10 PM on Main Street. Party-goers will enjoy fun dining options, live outdoor entertainment and street performers for a family-friendly night on the town. The Block Parties offer local shopping, restaurants, food trucks and non-stop fun!
The following is the schedule of Music & Performers for the July 13th Block Party:
MUSIC:
STREET PERFORMERS: Intersection of Hancock & Main
*Also on the street will be: Face Painting by Miss Wendy, ‘The Balloonitik’ with her fun balloon art for the kids, and a bucket drummer.
FOOD VENDORS
BUSINESSES
NON-PROFITS
The Chamber wishes to acknowledge and thank the City of Gloucester, Supporting Partner, many business sponsors, and main street merchants for their support in helping to make this year’s Block Parties possible. A listing of the sponsors is provided below:
The Second Block Party will be on Saturday, August 10th. The Third Block Party will be on Friday, August 30th.
Additional information may be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gloucesterblockparty.
The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at the Chamber’s 44th Annual Small Business Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 13 from 5 to 8 PM at the Castle Manor Inn, Gloucester, to honor the 2024 Greater Cape Ann Small Business Persons of the Year. This year’s honorees include Erika Brown, Publisher/Editor of The Manchester Cricket (Manchester-by-the-Sea); Jack & Cathy Porter, Sandy Bay Service Center, Inc (Rockport); The Ellis Family (Heath & Tom Ellis), The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon (Gloucester); Ramie Reader, Reader Electrical (Essex); and John P. Muldoon, Publisher/Editor of The Local News (Ipswich).
Every year since 1981 the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce has celebrated Small Businesses to honor the achievements of our region’s small business entrepreneurs and their employees and to thank them for their contributions to the economic vitality and community life of the greater Cape Ann region.
Friends, family members, and colleagues of all small business honorees are invited and encouraged to attend the awards dinner. Tickets for the dinner are available for $75. Please visit the chamber website (www.capeannchamber.com) to register for the dinner and for more information on the 2024 Small Business Persons of the Year.
Sponsored by:
Proceeds from Sale of 11 Remaining Low-Number Plates Will be Used to Support Local Charitable and Community Initiatives
The 11 remaining low-number Cape Ann license plates will be made available to the highest bidders through an online auction beginning Monday, April 8, with all proceeds going to the Cape Ann Community Foundation (CACF), which supports local charitable initiatives and organizations.
The auction will conclude on Patriot’s Day, Monday, April 15. Any Massachusetts resident who wants to display their love and support for Cape Ann will have a chance to secure the 11 remaining Cape Ann license plates between 1-100. The remaining plates are numbers 4, 8, 55, 66, 78, 79, 87, 88, 90, 91 and 92.
In addition, this year CACF will for the first time allow those who make a donation to the foundation to choose available 3-digit and 4-digit license plates.
For more information on the auction and to register to bid, visit www.lovecapeann.com. The site also has information on how to request a specific plate through the foundation and the easy steps to order a random Cape Ann license plate through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Visit bit.ly/CALP24 to bid today!
The Rockport Division of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will hold the 32nd annual Rockport Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 at 2 PM. The event is for the children of the town – preschoolers through grade one – and will take place at Millbrook Meadow, Beach Street, Rockport.
Pre-schoolers will be grouped in one section and kindergarteners and first graders in another. In addition to assorted candies, chocolates, and small prizes, the hunt will feature four golden eggs to be redeemed for larger prizes. The Easter Bunny is also expected to make an appearance. Children should bring a basket and arrive early – the hunt will begin promptly at 2.
This year’s event is being organized by the Chamber’s Rockport Division with key support from Institution for Savings and donations from Rockport Inn & Suites and The Seafarer Inn.
As part of a 2024 nationwide promotion, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce has joined the ranks of over 200 communities representing Chambers in 43 of 50 states to use the “extra” day of Leap Year to do something kind for someone else.
Originally conceived by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, the first Leap of Kindness Day saw hundreds of local organizations helping thousands of local people on February 29, 2016. Four years later in 2020, Leap of Kindness Day was even bigger and better as chambers throughout the US, Canada, and Ireland joined in for the spread of a lot of kindness.
For our part of #LeapofKindnessDay this year, the Chamber is promoting non-monetary donation requests from our non-profit members. As of this posting, 19 non-profit members have sent in their requests, which are posted on the Chamber website at https://bit.ly/LeapofKindnessDay. Requests were also sent out individually on our Facebook and Instagram feeds over the past few weeks.
If you have a minute, please check out the list of requests, which are summarized below. They range from small item donations to volunteer time to more substantial needs (but it never hurts to ask!). Full request details and contact information for each non-profit participating are available at https://bit.ly/LeapofKindnessDay. If you are able to help fulfill one request, remember to let us know
Leap of Kindness Day Donation Requests from Member Non-Profits
Share Your Plans for Leap of Kindness Day 2024
Please help us keep track of all the wonderful acts of kindness happening in communities across the region on Leap of Kindness Day – February 29, 2024. Is your organization, company, or family doing something to help? Please fill out this form and let us know so we can share it on our website!
Please contact Cindy Rodzen, Director of Marketing & Communications, at cindy@capeannchamber.com if you have any questions.
All are invited to join the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s 102nd Annual Celebration at Shalin Liu Performance Center on Friday, January 26 from 5 to 9 PM as we welcome incoming 2024 Board President Karen Ristuben and thank 2023 Board President Loran Caputo. Tickets may be purchased online at bit.ly/AnnualCelebration2024 or by calling the Chamber at 978-283-1601. Ticket options include Program and Cocktail Reception plus Live Performances for $100; or Live Performances Only at $45 for adults and $20 for youth under 18. See below for a list of the talented performers (there will also be a surprise guest performer!)
With the 2024 theme of Creativity, Culture & Commerce: Stronger Together, our goal this year is to inspire new synergies between greater Cape Ann’s arts, culture, and business communities. This unique Annual Celebration represents the visual and performing arts – music, painting, drama, poetry, and dance – from all five of our communities.
The Program and Cocktail Reception will be held from 5 to 7 PM (heavy appetizers). The Live Performances begin at 7:30 PM.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
ADDITIONAL ARTISTS
* Finished artwork to be sold via Silent Auction. Silent Auction bidding sheets are available in the Lobby.
Additional art pieces by Loren Doucette will be on display and available for retail purchase.
Thank you to our sponsors:
PRODUCER LEVEL
DESIGNER LEVEL
Tickets may be purchased online at bit.ly/AnnualCelebration2024 or by calling the Chamber at 978-283-1601.
All are welcome to join the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at Shalin Liu Performance Center on Friday, January 26 from 5 to 9 PM as we welcome incoming 2024 Board President Karen Ristuben and thank 2023 Board President Loran Caputo.
We will also be welcoming new additions to the 2024 Board of Directors:
Outgoing Board members will also be recognized:
With the 2024 theme of Creativity, Culture & Commerce: Stronger Together, our goal this year is to inspire new synergies between greater Cape Ann’s arts, culture, and business communities.
This unique Annual Celebration represents the visual and performing arts – music, painting, drama, poetry, and dance – from all five of our communities.
The Program and Cocktail Reception will be held from 5 to 7 PM (heavy appetizers). The Live Performances begin at 7:30 PM. Ticketing options include:
LIVE PERFORMANCES
ADDITIONAL ARTISTS
* Finished artwork to be sold via Silent Auction. Silent Auction bidding sheets available in the Lobby.
Additional art pieces by Loren Doucette will be on display and available for retail purchase.
Cape Ann Big Band Musicians
| Carlos Menezes Jr | Rick Geraghty | Matt Naeger |
| Art Adamson | Alexandra Grace | Scott Parisi |
| Ed Biggs | Emily Grace | Amy Rich |
| Chris Bodek | John Hicks | John Rockwell |
| Nick Capello | Rhiannon Hurst | Nathan Seavey |
| Dana Cohen | Shawn Lowe | Steve Silva |
| Henley Douglas Jr | Tom Madore | Ben Tuck |
| Dan Fleury | Trevor McCoy | Gary Wolsieffer |
BrassFed Nation Youth Swing Band Musicians
| David Ber | Wil DeFort | John Merchant |
| Scarlett Berge | Thomas Dort | Nate Morin |
| Rowan Berlin | Alexis Geary | Alessandro Schoc |
| Soli Boraks | Robert Geary | Amos Telep |
| Sean Buckley* | Nathan Gorman-Melo | Rosie Telep |
| Anita Burns | Henry Goulart | Jackson Weber |
| Jessica Cote | Nick Kilroy | Jude Worthleye |
Tickets may be purchased online at bit.ly/AnnualCelebration2024 or by calling the Chamber at 978-283-1601.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Please join the Greater Cape Ann Innovators Collaborative for a free expert panel discussion on Current Workforce Challenges and solutions for the existing labor market. Our panel of experts will be presenting innovative strategies to recruit, retain and develop the workforce. Each presentation will be approximately 15 minutes. There will be a question-and-answer period and open discussion following the presentations.
Panelists
Light appetizers and cash bar will be offered. Registration is required for this FREE event.
To register, please visit https://bit.ly/CAIC-Workforce or email info@capeannchamber.com.
What is the Cape Ann Innovators Collaborative?
An initiative of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, CAIC is a collaborative of innovators, entrepreneurs, makers, artists, designers, developers and producers dedicated to supporting people from all walks of life in their endeavors to create lasting, innovative change, with the ultimate objective of growing the economy and creating new jobs. The CAIC Forums are designed to Inform and Inspire.
Cape Ann Community 