Only a handful of tickets remain!
Museum Member savings apply! Learn more & reserve your seats at: https://bit.ly/FilmNightHCM
Join us tomorrow night as the Firebird Pops Chamber Orchestra Returns to the Great Hall!
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GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE 2025-26 SERIES OPENS OCT. 10 WITH NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY’S ‘TRIO GAIA’
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is honored to be presenting Trio Gaia, the graduate piano trio-in-residence at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, in concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 10, at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church in Gloucester, MA.
This is the trio’s debut in the Foundation’s 10 years of programming in the 1806 Meetinghouse, a historic landmark on the Gloucester skyline and cited in the National Register of Historic Places.
The award-winning trio’s program, titled “Convergence,” will include works by Nico Muhly, Leoš Janáček and Béla Bartok, concluding with Franz Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E Flat Major. It explores a theme of our times—conflict, both internal and external—and its resolution through music. Grant Houston, Trio Gaia’s violinist and spokesman, said, “This program offers a reflective parallel to today’s world, where divisions and struggles for resolution continue to shape our collective experience, and the search for unity persists despite discord.”
Cellist Yi-Mei Templeton and guest-artist pianist Alexa Stier will be joining Houston. The trio is the Conservatory’s most recent graduate piano trio-in-residence, performing nationally and abroad since 2018, including in Panama and Japan. Trio Gaia won first prize at the WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition in North Carolina and honors at other competitions.
Tickets are available at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. The Meetinghouse is at Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester, The location is most easily found via GPS using the address, 50 Middle Street. Limited parking is available on the Green in front of the church, entered from Middle Street. Access for persons with disabilities is at 10 Church Street.
The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church traces its history to the 1779 founding of the first Universalist church in America, a rebellious congregation that played a timely role in development of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to the building’s preservation and use for and by the community.
6th ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th!
Please join us for the sixth annual Cape Ann Classic Cars on the Green on Saturday September 20th, from 10am to 2pm in front of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, GPS 50 Middle Street, Gloucester. The rain date for the event is on Sunday, September 21st from 1-5pm.
This is a delightful free event for the whole family with beautiful classic vintage and special interest cars on display. The audience votes in nine categories for the trophy winners, including the coveted “Best in Show.” A 50/50 raffle will be included to add to the excitement of the event as well as tours of the historic Meetinghouse! If you are interested in showing your classic car, register ($20) at the entrance or in advance (recommended as space is limited) by emailing: c.nazarian@gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
Admission to the public is free but donations to the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation for the ongoing building restoration are greatly appreciated! We hope to see you at this fun filled fall event!
Help The Open Door Raise Hunger Awareness this September
September is Hunger Action Month™, an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.
The Open Door has partnered with several groups to raise awareness about hunger, and share information on how to help support its mission.
The Open Door distributed 2.35 million pounds of food to 11,893 people through its Food Pantries in 2024, meeting a 30% increase in requests for food assistance in 2024 (on top of a 30% increase in 2023), through 100,774 visits.
Since August 2024, in addition to clients already receiving services, The Open Door has registered 820 new households for services at its Gloucester and Ipswich food pantry locations: An average of 68 new families per month.
HUNGER ACTION MONTH EVENTS:
The Open Door has partnered with several local organizations to raise hunger-awareness this September:
- Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month in the city on Friday, September 12
- Thrift the Runway, a fashion show organized by The Open Door Thrift Store, Second Glance, will raise funds for local food assistance programs of the nonprofit on Sunday, September 14 at The Cut in Gloucester. Tickets are available at FOODPANTRY.org
- View Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up orange all month long (orange is the color used to promote hunger awareness)
- Watch out for Hunger Action Month themed coasters at 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar and the Seaport Grille
- Several local businesses are offering special promotions and products this month to raise awareness, including:
- Brothers Brew in Rockport will offer an orange themed donut
- Cake Ann will offer chocolate orange and creamsicle flavored cupcakes
- Turtle Alley will offer chocolate bars embossed with the word “LOVE”
- A portion of proceeds will support local hunger-relief programs of The Open Door!
- The Gloucester City Council will also wear orange to help raise awareness at their Tuesday, Sept. 9 meeting.
- SHOP and DONATE at Second Glance year-round. Revenue at the store raises funds for hunger-relief programs of The Open Door. Free referrals are also given to the community for those who need a little extra help.
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
- Donations are the most needed form of support as The Open Door doubles down on core programs and strategizes how to best meet increased need with fewer federal resources available. Donations big and small help move the needle, and can be made as one-time gifts, monthly donations, or annual contributions. Make a donation at FOODPANTRY.org. There are a variety of ways to make a donation, including:
- Company matches: many companies will also match donations made by their employees—doubling the impact of your gift. Ask your employer today if such a program exists at your workplace.
- Donate through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), Individual Retirement Rollover Gifts, and stocks and securities.
- Legacy giving
- Sponsor a meal
- Donations to Second Glance Thrift Store (make an appointment at FOODPANTRY.org/booknow). Items sold at the store create revenue for The Open Door
- In kind goods and services also support The Open Door mission
- Volunteers are another critical pillar of help at The Open Door, and provided 26,260 hours of support in 2024. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities, from packing groceries, to sorting food, to supporting the kitchen, and tagging products for sale at Second Glance. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer
Members of the community are also invited to wear orange to raise awareness about local food insecurity this September.
GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT: CAPE ANN BIG BAND on SEPTEMBER 5th at 6pm
Please join us Friday, September 5, from 6 to 8 pm, for the 2025 season’s final Music on Meetinghouse Green concert at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, at the corner of Middle and Church Streets, Gloucester, as we go out with a bang with the Cape Ann Big Band. This diverse 17-piece big band entertains and delights audiences with danceable music infused with jazz, swing, New Orleans street bands, soul, and rock n’ roll that will take you back in time.
Food service for this event will be Meat & Sweet serving savory meat dishes and baked goods.
Our free summer concerts support partner local nonprofit organizations. This week, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation itself will benefit from the free-will donations that support these partners, helping support preservation of this architectural and historic landmark. The evening also will include a 50/50 raffle as the Foundation celebrates the 10th anniversary of Music on Meetinghouse Green. Along with the nine-concert summer outdoor music series, The Meetinghouse year-around hosts public symposiums on contemporary concerns and offers a variety of concerts and other public programs. Information is on GMF’s website at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
Please note that all events are rain or shine, with concerts being moved into the social hall if there is inclement weather!
Curious about what happens inside 417 Main Street? Come visit on 9/16!
As part of Gloucester’s Stand Up for Art & Science Initiative, GMGI is excited to host an Open House & Art Unveiling at our research institute on the harbor!
Join us on Tuesday, September 16th, from 5p – 7p to explore our waterfront campus, chat with GMGI scientists about their research, and learn more about their groundbreaking work at the intersection of science and the sea.
This special evening will also feature the unveiling of a temporary sea urchin sculpture by local artist Rebecca Nagle and assisted by Sinikka Nogelo, who will speak about their artistic vision and process.
Guests are invited to join us for light refreshments and experience how art and science come together at GMGI.
Click here to register for this free event!
Two Music Legends. One String Quartet. A One-of-a-Kind Venue.
Ever imagined hearing the music of global legends performed by an award-winning string quartet inside our Great Hall with soaring ceilings, stone walls, and immersively epic acoustics? Join Boston’s beloved Rasa String Quartet as they reimagine the biggest hits of Taylor Swift & Queen!
Two unforgettable, 60-minute performances, ticketed separately.
Join us this Sunday, August 24th:
Doors: 5:30 pm | 6:00 pm – RASA PLAYS TAYLOR SWIFT
Swifties:
Get swept away by virtuosic, genre-defying string renditions of her biggest hits—from nostalgic anthems like Love Story and You Belong With Me to chart-toppers like Cruel Summer and I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.
Doors: 7:30 pm | 8:00 pm – RASA PLAYS QUEEN
Queen Diehards: Feel the thrill of lush, heart-pounding arrangements of Queen’s greatest hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Don’t Stop Me Now, and more!
Sawyer Free Library Grand Reopening Celebrations 🎉
🎉 Please join us in celebrating the grand reopening of the newly renovated and expanded Sawyer Free Library — an inspiring, inclusive space created for our whole community. 🎉
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Friday, September 5 | 3:00 PM
Celebrate the official opening of your newly transformed Sawyer Free Library!
Remarks | Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting | Refreshments Performance by Cape Ann Youth Chorus
Open to All | Rain or Shine
Community Celebration & Open House
“A Library for Everyone”
Saturday, September 6 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Free and Open to All
Come tour the new library spaces at 2 Dale Avenue and enjoy music, activities for all ages, and more!
| Saturday Event Highlights: Library Card World Record Attempt Help us break the record for most sign-ups in a single day! All new and renewing cardholders receive a limited-edition commemorative library card. Library Passport Adventure Explore the new Library and collect stamps and win prizes. Special Guests & Giveaways • Wally the Green Monster from the Red Sox (12–1 PM) • Enter to win a signed 2025 Boston Bruins jersey Art, History & Design Events • Artist Talk: Leslie Bartlett on the Library’s Cape Ann Quarries mural (10:30 AM) • Expert Talk: GreenScapes in Focus with landscape architect Lisa Giersbach (1:00 PM) • Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library by Kory Curcuru of 1623 Studios documentary screening (12 & 2:30 PM) • Inaugural Art Exhibition in Matz Gallery • Zine-making and collaborative art projects Explore & Discover • Tech demos in the Digital Learning Lab (podcast studio & more) • Local History Treasures exhibit and Gloucester Timeline Demos • “The Librarian Is In” booth (10 AM–12 PM) • Photo Booth for keepsake snapshots (11 AM–2 PM) Live Music in the Reading Lounge • Highland Avenue Trio (10 AM–12 PM) • Steve Lacey String Duo (12–2 PM) Family-Friendly Fun • Face painting, LEGO play, and STEM activities • Strega Mama Story Hour (11 AM) • Playful Engineers Program (2:00 PM) • “Teen Zone” Ribbon Cutting (10:30 AM) • T-shirt Dyeing (11 AM–1 PM) • Mario Kart Tournament (2–4 PM, signup required) Food Trucks On-Site (in Library Parking Lot) • Pizza by Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana • Ice cream from SuperStar Ice Cream |
Whether you’re a longtime patron or discovering the Sawyer Free Library for the first time, this celebration is for you!
Come experience YOUR new library—reimagined, renewed, and ready to inspire.
For full event details and updates, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Support Backyard Growers’ work at the 10th annual GrowDown
Let’s celebrate another successful season growing food in our community! Join us at Oak to Ember in downtown Gloucester for a farm-fresh dinner, libations, and fun. We’ll be sharing stories of impact to highlight all we’ve achieved together, with a live fund-a-need auction where you can help power our work into 2026 and beyond.
Proceeds from this fun (and delicious!) evening support Backyard Growers’ school and community programs. Backyard Growers has been connecting people and communities with the resources, knowledge, and space they need to grow their own food for 15 years, most recently with the launch of the Backyard Growcery, a new farmers market in downtown Gloucester.
THANK YOU for making an impact. Our work is your work and we couldn’t do it without you.
Gloucester Rotary Pancake Breakfast
The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, 2025, 7:30 am to 11:00 am in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 16-17.
A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Tickets will be available on the morning of the breakfast.
Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary.
Cape Ann Community 