Doors: 10 am Stories begin about 10:20 am. Join us every Wednesday morning in July & August for Bubbles and Books on our seaside lawn. Fairytales do come true at castles by the sea!
Start the morning with a bubble party featuring music, crafts, and a light snack. Around 10:20 am, we’ll gather on the ocean-facing lawn for storytime—bring a cozy blanket for your little one to cuddle up on while we enjoy tales by the sea.
This season, our Storybook Authors theme brings special guest readers whenever possible! Some of the wonderful guest readers this season include Rick Doucette on July 23rd. After storytime, we’ll enjoy more bubbles and end the morning with a scavenger hunt around the grounds. We encourage little ones to come dressed in their favorite crown, cape, or whatever makes them feel magical!
Friday, June 13th. Two shows: 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Doors at 5:30 pm. 8:30 -10:00 pm | Doors at 8:00 pm.
Strictly 21 & Over only. IDs will be checked upon admission.
Get ready for a night of glitz, glam, and fierce performances in a setting like no other! Join us for Queens at the Castle, a high-energy, laugh-out-loud evening hosted by one of Boston’s most iconic queens and featuring three of the region’s top drag performers.
Meet Your Host:
Kris Knievil: A beloved fixture of Boston’s drag scene since the late ’90s, Kris Knievil is known for her buxom blonde allure and commanding stage presence. As the program director at Boston’s storied drag bar, Jacques Cabaret, Kris brings years of experience and charisma to the stage, ensuring an evening of laughter and entertainment. bostonspiritmagazine.com
Featuring Performances By:
Alana Thicc: Get ready for a performance that’s as bold and dynamic as her name suggests. Alana Thicc brings energy, sass, and a whole lot of talent to the stage, promising to captivate the audience with every move.
Chanel the Angel: A glamorous queen with a heart of gold, Chanel the Angel combines vintage Hollywood elegance with modern flair. Her performances are a blend of powerhouse vocals and cheeky humor, making her a standout in the cabaret scene.
Stef Anya: Known for her role in “Life’s A Drag,” Stef Anya brings a unique blend of theatricality and authenticity to her performances. Her captivating presence and emotive storytelling through drag make her a must-see act.
Program: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Networking & Refreshments 6:15 PM – 6:40 PM | Presentation by Curatorial Director John Leysath 6:40 PM – 7:30 PM | Exhibit Tours
Light refreshments will be served.
Join us for our opening reception & presentation celebrating the opening of ‘Spinning Platters with Hammond: Inside the World of Vinyl Records.’ Join us for an evening of history, innovation, and discovery as we unveil never-before-seen and heard archival materials highlighting John Hays Hammond Jr.’s contributions to sound recording.
Exhibition Highlights: -A selection of rare and unique records from John Hays Hammond Jr.’s personal collection, including aluminum, vinyl, and shellac discs in a variety of unusual formats. -Fun and interactive displays that explain how records are made and how they work—perfect for all ages to enjoy and understand. -Rare recordings from the collection, including newly digitized recordings shared with the public for the first time.
See a behind-the-scenes look at our NEW temporary exhibition with our new Assistant Curator Here!
Join us as we explore some of the most legendary organists of the 20th century who have played this remarkable instrument, including Virgil Fox, E. Power Biggs, Joseph Bonnet, and Marcel Dupré.
Gather in the Great Hall, surrounded by the organ’s pipes, which are ingeniously built into the very walls of the room, as we share the story of this one-of-a-kind instrument. We’ll also discuss how the organ now sits silent, and unveil our vision to breathe life back into it and bring organ concerts back to the Museum.
This presentation will be led by Peter Kennett, Vice President of the Board of Directors at Hammond Castle Museum and Organ Restoration Team Lead, alongside John Roper, Deputy Team Lead from the Plenum Organ Company.
Looking for something fun and educational to do with the kids? Bring them to Hammond Castle Museum for free self-guided tours on Thursday and Friday! All children enjoy FREE ADMISSION, and that includes access to our featured fine art exhibit: Eric Pape: The Fair God.
Explore the Museum’s incredible architecture, marvel at centuries-old stone and wooden artifacts, and get inspired by the stunning works of one of America’s great illustrators and painters.
Free admission for all kids ages 12 & under.
Self-guided exploration of the Museum
Access to ‘Eric Pape: The Fair God’ exhibit
Free-on-site parking
Reserve your tickets ahead of your visit at: bit.ly/HCMTickets or register upon your arrival in the Museum Shop.
Join us for our third annual Eric Pape fine art exhibit, featuring works previously unseen since the artist’s death in 1938.
Including Newly Restored Chapter Initials for Lew Wallace’s’The Fair God’ from Pape’s Locked Studio in Annisquam!
Join us as we kick off our 2025 season with this extraordinary exhibit of works rarely seen by one of Boston and Cape Ann’s golden age illustrators and painters.
At the time of the exhibit, it is expected to be the largest collection of Pape’s artworks on public display anywhere in the world, many of which haven’t been publicly seen in nearly a century. The artwork is primarily on loan from the private collection of avid Pape collector and biographer Dr. Gregory Conn, the world’s leading expert on the 20th-century artist.
This year’s exhibition came together serendipitously when Thomas Meeks, curator of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Indiana, engaged Dr. Conn for verification of several original illustrations from Wallace’s 1873 publication “The Fair God.” These artworks were in Pape’s famed Annisquam “Locked Studio” and had remained in the condition in which they were when the studio was reopened in the late 1980s. This past winter, Dr. Conn sponsored their subsequent restoration, conservation, and re-framing. This exhibit marks their public debut since the restorations, which coincides with Dr. Conn’s newest book, a hardcover, bound catalog of this exhibition, which is, named after Pape’s most renowned illustrated deluxe edition of Wallace’s novels.
In addition, an important early fine art painting from Pape’s 1890 trip to Egypt will be on loan from a private collector, “The Last Soldier,” a painting of the Sphinx by moonlight The remaining works chosen for this exhibition include, but are not limited to oil copies of several famous large-scale pastel portraits by Pape, which are displayed in Dr. Conn’s private collection. Since the works of art remain in their original, unfixed state, they are unsuitable for international transit and exhibition. Alberto Romero, a popular sculptor in Spain who created the exhibition’s central portrait of Eric Pape contributes five modern portraits, also on loan from Dr. Conn’s private collection. Romero´s work has received widespread attention both in Spain and in Central America and can be found in many noted collections.
Additionally, attendees can view the three Pape paintings on permanent display in their respective galleries within the Museum, including Pape’s sole surviving mural, “The Wireless Naval Battle of Gloucester Bay.”
Join us this Saturday night for an extraordinary evening of exquisite cuisine by Missy Sallah of Glouester’s Sugar Magnolias, an open bar with beer, wine, prosecco & a signature cocktail. We’ll have dazzling live entertainment, including a fire spinner, a ballerina on pointe, a contortionist & more by Cape Ann’s Seaside Circus! We’ll also feature a string quartet by the Firebird Pops Orchestra and a DJ for dancing!
Only masks are required – costumes are optional. No mask? No problem; we’ll have some available for purchase in the Museum Shop.
Tickets are almost sold out. Don’t miss your chance to attend this enchanting Masquerade!
Join us for a captivating afternoon as we celebrate the artistry and innovation of John Hays Hammond Jr.’s extraordinary pipe organ. As the third-largest pipe organ in a private residence in the U.S., this 8,000+ pipe marvel is a masterpiece of engineering and music. This special presentation will be led by Peter Kennett, Vice President, Board of Directors at Hammond Castle Museum and Organ Restoration Team Lead, and John Roper, Deputy Team Lead and the Plenum Organ Company. Together, they will guide you through the rich history of this iconic instrument.
Discover the fascinating origins and history of the pipe organ, tracing its journey through John Hays Hammond Jr.’s two Gloucester residences. Learn about the innovative contributions of Hammond and other renowned organ designers and tonal experts, each bringing their unique vision to the instrument’s evolution. Peter Kennett and John Roper will explore the intricate details of the organ’s older components, sourced by Hammond from various locations, and share the story of the significant additions and changes made over the years.
Admission: $15. Hammond Castle Museum Member savings apply. Proceeds from this program will support the ongoing restoration efforts at the Museum.
Event Highlights: Fire Spinner, Contortionist, Juggler, Stiltwalker, Roving Harpist, String Quartet, DJ & Dancing Catering by: Gloucester’s Missy Sallah of Sugar Magnolias Open Bar: Serving Beer, Wine, Prosecco & Signature Cocktail.
Masked in mystery and draped in decadence, this unforgettable masquerade ball promises an evening of magic, intrigue, and timeless elegance. Step back in time to 15th-century Venice, where the Renaissance ignited a flourishing of art, beauty, and imagination. Originally an exclusive affair for the elite, masquerade balls grew in popularity across Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, defying societal norms by uniting rich and poor in shared celebration.
Join us at Hammond Castle Museum for an extraordinary evening of colorful costumes, captivating music, exquisite cuisine, and dazzling live entertainment. From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, immerse yourself in the grandeur and enchantment of The Masquerade Ball of Dreams. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the thrilling spectacle of a fire spinner, lighting your way across the drawbridge and into the Castle. Inside the Great Hall, a string quartet by the Firebird Pops Orchestra will fill the air with the timeless sounds of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Mozart, and Beethoven, setting the perfect ambiance.
Throughout the evening, a roving harpist will serenade you with Italian classics as you explore the Castle’s galleries and secret passageways. Indulge in elegant hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts, featuring both passed and stationary selections designed by Missy Sallah of Gloucester’s Sugar Magnolias. An open bar will offer beer, wine, Prosecco, and a signature cocktail crafted especially for the night. As you mingle and dance to the DJ, captivating performers, including a juggler, contortionist, and stiltwalker, will enchant and dazzle, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder and excitement.
What to Wear? The centerpiece of your outfit will undoubtedly be a stunning mask! Masks have long been a vital part of the Venetian Carnival. Whether you wish to embody the spirit of a jester, a wizard, or a sophisticated noble, your mask offers endless possibilities for self-expression. For nearly a thousand years, the Venetian Carnival has granted individuals the rare chance to conceal their identity, gender, and social class. The mask becomes a powerful tool for liberation, allowing freedom to be yourself and engage as you please. Immerse yourself in a lavish world where masks grant you the ultimate freedom to express creativity and even challenge the status quo without fear. Beyond disguise, the mask and costume embody personal artistry and unique expression.
Join us and embrace the mesmerizing costumes & opulent atmosphere that will transport you back in time.
Free admission for all kids ages 12 & under.
Cape Ann Community 