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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PROGRAM IN THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026

~ chasnaz

GLOUCESTER, MA: The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, in collaboration with the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, will present a program to explore the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The goal is to use our history to guide us in light of today’s social, economic, and political challenges.  The featured speaker will be Professor Jamie Wilson, historian from Salem State University and author of a book about Dr. King. The free program will take place on Monday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m. in the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the green at 50 Middle Street.  For more information please visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Professor Wilson is the author of Martin Luther King. Jr.: A Life in American History. New York: Bloomsbury, 2023.  He will discuss the obstacles faced by Dr. King and the struggle for racial equality in both the north and the south after the landmark Supreme Court decisions that banned segregated schools but left many discriminatory practices intact across many industries such as housing and employment.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

All are invited to the UU Church Social Hall (downstairs) where Professor Wilson will speak, followed by a video excerpt from a 1967 interview of MLK, Jr. by Sander Vanocur of NBC News.  Participants will then be divided into discussion groups led by trained facilitators. Each group will tackle issues that are relevant to the struggles for human dignity and security that Reverend King championed.  Parking is available on the green in front of the Meetinghouse.  Please enter the Social Hall via the side door at #10 Church Street or the side door from the Gould Court parking area.  Light refreshments will be served.

Organizers of this event include Jerry Ackerman and Karen N. Bell, co-chairs of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Events Committee, and Michea McCaffrey, Chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team. A special sponsor of the event is the Beverly & Addison Gilbert Hospitals, a member of Beth Israel Lahey Health.  This annual MLK Day program in Gloucester is part of the Meetinghouse Tenth Anniversary series.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s mission is to preserve one of Gloucester’s most admired historic buildings, built in 1806 for the first Universalist church in America, as a civic hub, entertainment venue and community gathering center. The Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit and invites your support.    

From Sea to Shore: Gloucester’s Fishing & Foodways Through Time

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

Please join Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) and Schooner Adventure on Thursday, January 15th at GMGI, for an evening exploring the city’s maritime past, present, and future.

From Sea to Shore: Gloucester’s Fishing & Foodways Through Time will examine the enduring relationship between sea and shore, from historic schooners and traditional fishing practices to leveraging marine genomic research to support sustainable fisheries.

Click the link below for more information and to register for this free event!

Register

Featured Speakers:
Tim O’Donnell, GMGI Research Scientist
Emma Strand, Ph.D., GMGI Staff Scientist
Justin Demitri, Historian and Author on Gloucester Fishing Heritage
Emily Pearce, Executive Director, Schooner Adventure

Only One More Opportunity to Visit the Hammond Castle Museum for FREE This Season!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Tuesday, December 30th is the last of our Gloucester Gratis Days this season, offering the chance for all our Gloucester neighbors to visit the Hammond Castle Museum for FREE, with your proof of residency!

You may have visited the Hammond Castle Museum in the past, but you haven’t seen it like this! Join us as we present our annual, museum-wide holiday installation: Deck the Halls. This season is more festive and lush than before as we partnered with local interior designer, Elaine Quinn.

Learn more about Gloucester Gratis Days here and then reserve your complimentary admission at: https://bit.ly/DTHGratisDays.

Family Bingo at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Family Bingo
Tuesday, December 30 | 3:30–4:30 PM
Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Bring the whole family to the Library for an afternoon of bingo, laughter, and prizes!

Whether you’re a seasoned bingo pro or trying it for the first time, you’re invited to join the Sawyer Free Library for friendly competition, fun bingo calls, and the chance to win some great prizes. It’s a perfect way to spend time together during the holiday break.

  • Families with children of all ages are welcome
  • This program is best enjoyed by children 5 and up
  • All children must be accompanied by a caregiver

Space is limited — please register to save your spot at SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

Questions? Email tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

GPS Alumni Shining Bright, in Support of GEF!

~ gloucestereducationfoundation

Check out this compilation of video messages from GPS alumni, created by Marty Del Vecchio for the Gloucester Education Foundation’s recent 20th Anniversary Gala.

Please consider a donation to GEF’s year-end appeal before 12/31 to help support thousands of more kids like Rebecca, Trinity, Olivia, AJ, Thea and Nate. The programs that sparked their love for music, engineering, science, dance, theater and community – and led them to labs at Harvard and Northeastern; stages at Emerson, Suffolk, and Berklee; and tall ships sailing to St.Croix! – were make possible by the generosity of the Gloucester community. Over 20 years, YOU have helped raise over $11M for GEF! Thank you!

Silent Movie Classic ‘Peter Pan’ narrated by Lindsay Crouse, organ accompaniment by Peter Krasinski, Sunday, December 21st at 3:30pm

~ chasnaz

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is proud to present the original silent movie ‘Peter Pan,’ a 1925 American fantasy-adventure film as part of its Tenth Anniversary Series. It will be narrated by acclaimed actress Lindsay Crouse and accompanied on the pipe organ by maestro Peter Krasinski. This is great entertainment for the whole family during the holidays!
Tickets are available at the door and online (strongly recommended) with more information at: http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org. General admission is $30, students $10, under age 12 free.
The historic 1806 Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, is located on the green at the corner of Middle and Church Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). Parking is available on the green and around the historic district. The side entrance at 10 Church Street has an elevator to the main level, if needed.


For decades the silent movie ‘Peter Pan’ was thought to be lost but in the 1950’s a well preserved copy was discovered in a vault in Rochester, New York. The film is based on a play written by Sir James Barrie and was directed by Herbert Brenon in 1924 and was filmed on Santa Cruz island. The plot explores fantasy, adventure and is a playful film armed with technical ingenuity and classic source material.


The presentation will be narrated by Lindsay Crouse, American actress who made her debut in the 1972 revival of Much Ado About Nothing. She has played many roles in numerous films and received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. Lindsay is a resident of Annisquam and a well-known celebrity on Cape Ann.


The film will also be accompanied by Peter Krasinski, a master of improvised silent movie accompaniment, whose exciting performances delight kids and adults alike. Krasinski will display the diverse power of the 1893 Hutchings/Fisk organ, creating music that adds mystery, intrigue and excitement to this memorable and nostalgic film.


‘Peter Pan’ is presented in collaboration with the Cape Ann Community Cinema.

Middle Street Walk: Events at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Middle Street Walk
Saturday, December 13 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sawyer Free Library · 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA

Celebrate the 27th annual Middle Street Walk, a beloved Gloucester holiday tradition where “the past is present!” Enjoy a festive day filled with music, art, community events, and FREE horse-drawn wagon rides along historic Middle Street. The Sawyer Free Library is excited to be part of the celebration with special programs for all ages.

Festivities at the Sawyer Free Library

10:30–11:30 AM — Holiday Music & Card Making for Kids
Drop in for cheerful music and hands-on card-making fun — perfect for children and families.

12:00–2:00 PM — Walker Creek Saxophone Quartet Performance
Enjoy a live performance from this talented saxophone quartet, filling the Library with seasonal favorites and jazzy flair.

1:00–4:00 PM — Tours of the Saunders House Historic WPA Murals
Professional conservator Lisa Mehlin will lead 15-minute guided tours of the newly restored WPA murals in the historic Saunders House. Learn about their remarkable history and the intricate conservation process. Registration required at SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

1:00–1:30 PM — Gingerbread Creation Contest Winner Announcement
Join members of the Middle Street Walk Committee — including Barbara Catalini of Cakes by Barbara — in the Children’s Room as they announce the winners of the 2025 Gingerbread Creation Contest. All gingerbread entries will be on display!

More details on Middle Street Walk festivities city-wide will be shared soon. We hope you’ll join us for this magical Gloucester tradition!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Gloucester residents are welcomed for FREE EVERY TUESDAY at the Hammond Castle Museum. Nearly a dozen Christmas trees, dozens of wreaths, garlands and hand-made bows, two Menorahs, and playful 3D printed touches including gumdrop garland and a replica of the castle styled as a whimsical gingerbread house fill the space. Thousands of twinkling lights and flickering candles set the scene while nutcrackers, gingerbread men, and hidden gnomes and elves add a bit of fun for little ones exploring with their families.

Over the last several seasons, we have grown this program, and that tradition of care has long been guided by our Director of Collections, Beth Welin, whose thoughtful eye has shaped its beauty from the start. This year we were also fortunate to have the generous support of Elaine Quinn, of Elaine Quinn Interiors whose time, encouragement, and friendship helped us elevate the experience for the 2025 season.

We invite you to join us and experience the beauty and joy of the season. Proof of Gloucester residency is required at check-in for all those with Gratis Day admission reservations.

– Gloucester Gratis Days Self-Guided Tours are available every Tuesday throughout the entire 2025 tour season from May 6th through January 4th.
– Advance registration is recommended but not required. You may also register upon arrival in the Museum Shop.

Watch a teaser about Deck the Halls here!

Then, reserve your FREE admission here!