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 26, 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.

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

Essex – The holiday festivities begin in Essex on Thursday, December 1 with the Lighting of the Memory Tree, in Honor of Lost Loved Ones, at Town Hall at 6:30 PM. The following day, Friday, December 2, 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 3, Breakfast with Santa will be held at Essex Elementary School from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM. The cost is $5 per person or $25 for the family.

Gloucester – On Sunday, November 27, 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 1^st will mark the 43^rd Annual Ladies’ Night.  Enjoy shopping and refreshments in the downtown shops as well as exciting deals and discounts from 5:00-10:00 PM.  Thursday, December 8^th will be another opportunity to shop downtown during the Family & Friends Night from 5:00 -10:00 PM. Don’t miss the Middle Street Walk on Saturday, December 10. From 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM historic house tours, concerts and special programs will be featured on Middle Street.  Also on the 10^th, make sure to stop by the front of the Police Station at 4:30 PM for a truly unique Gloucester tradition, the lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree, decorated by the children of Cape Ann Art Haven.  As we get closer to Christmas, Men’s Night will be held on Thursday, December 15^th from 5:00 – 10:00 PM.

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 2  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 to enter a drawing where the winner will receive a Fitbit Blaze!  Spend the day in Manchester on Saturday, December 3, starting with a PJ Pancake Breakfast from 8:00-10:00 AM at 7 Central Restaurant.  In the afternoon, Santa will arrive by boat at 1:00 PM.  Walk with Santa to the  Manchester Community Center and enjoy festivities until 3:00 PM.  On Sunday, December 4, join us for a Christmas Concert at 3:30 PM at First Parish Church.  The Lighting of the Friendship Tree will be held at the Town Hall Common at 4:30 PM.
Rockport – Shop Rockport – Black Friday and Small Business Saturday kick off the Christmas in Rockport holiday festivities on November 25 and 26.  The weekend is dedicated to supporting local small businesses and will include exciting offers from the downtown shops. Also starting on November 25 is the Rockport Holiday Selfie Contest. Upload a selfie at any Rockport business to Instagram, tag @rockportusa, tag the business and use #rockportselfiestroll to enter to win weekly prizes and one grand prize through December 22.  Friday, December 2 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 3, 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 10 and 11. The shops and galleries of Rockport will be open, each offering different promotions.  New this year is the Twilight Holiday Inn & Cookie Tour on December 10^th. Stroll through 6 of Rockport’s finest Inns all decked out for the season. As you visit the inns from  3-6 PM you will enjoy refreshments and collect an assortment of holiday cookies baked by the innkeepers. Tickets for the tour are $25. A unique event that engages the entire community, the 71^st Annual Christmas Pageant, starts at 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 17. The holiday 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 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/
http://www.rockportusa.com/events-festivals/
https://www.facebook.com/christmasbythesea/
https://www.facebook.com/christmasinrockport/

Saturday, December 3

1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Mother and son acapella duo Rose Sheehan and Colin de la Barre of Gloucester, MA will sing songs and tell stories from folk traditions in celebration of the Fall and Harvest Time on Saturday, November 19, 2016 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at the corner of Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester, MA. The main entrance is through the front doors of the church. An accessible entrance is at 10 Church Street. Admission is free. 

Rose Sheehan, a life-long native of Massachusetts, grew up enjoying music of all genres, singing in church and school choirs.  In the late 1970’s, she became enthralled with traditional music.  Soon after settling in Boston, she starting performing throughout the Northeast region at coffeehouses and small taverns including the Nameless Coffeehouse, Cambridge, the Pressroom, NH, the Thirsty Whale, ME and Fiddler’s Green, Toronto. She studied vocal technique with Anabel Graetz and Frankie Armstrong and performed as a solo vocalist with the Revels in the early 1980’s.

Colin de la Barre was raised in a musical household.  He demonstrated his talent for music and rhythm as a very young child, dancing before he could speak.  He played fiddle during his middle childhood years, easily picking up tunes by ear.  When asked, Colin says he began singing with his mom in his late teens.  Rose asserts that they’ve been “singing together since before he was born!”

As a duo, Rose and Colin are well known for their inspired harmonies and rich blend of familial voices.

They have appeared together at venues including the Mystic Sea Music Festival, the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival, the Indian Neck Folk Festival, the New England Folk Festival, coffeehouses and house concerts.

In 2014 they were selected as juried showcase performers for the North East Regional Folk Alliance Conference in Kerhonkson, NY.

Rose and Colin are online at https://www.facebook.com/roseandcolin/

The  mid-point between the equinox and the solstice is the cross quarter day, traditionally observed as a fire festival. A lantern walk marks the end of autumn and the start of winter. We carry light into the darkening days with hope for the renewed light to come.

Come make a lantern on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
Come join in community to carry the light in a Lantern Walk on Saturday afternoon.
“Each of us is one small light, but together we shine bright!”

Friday, November 18 will be the final Unplugged Play Session for the season.

Playtime has been great fun!

We hope to resume in January.

Thank you friends and neighbors for participating.

Sea Shells and Jingle Bells is coming up on December 4, 2016

This annual Holiday Inn and Home Kitchen Tour is planned and managed by Rockport High School DECA as one of their major fundraisers. 

Tour is self guided and starts at Rockport Inn and Suites —12-4 PM on Sunday, December 4, 2016

Tickets will be on sale at Rockport Inn and Suites starting on November 27 and also are available on our website-