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CHAMBER ANNOUNCES MANCHESTER’S ‘FESTIVAL BY THE SEA’ and ‘SALE BY THE SEA’ ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

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Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is excited to present Manchester’s annual ‘Festival by the Sea’, a Cape Ann Classic, in partnership with the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea and downtown businesses. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, from 10 AM to 4 PM in three Manchester-by-the-Sea town parks: Town Hall, Reed, and Masconomo.

Over 90 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, restaurants, food trucks, and fun activities for kids, including Face Painting by Miss Wendy and “reptile fun” from the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team!

DISCOVER DOWNTOWN DEALS AT THE ‘SALE BY THE SEA’

While exploring the festival, don’t miss the ‘Sale by the Sea’ sidewalk sales featuring Manchester’s charming downtown retailers. Local boutiques and specialty shops will showcase unique treasures, coastal-inspired goods, and festival-exclusive discounts right on the sidewalks. The walkable downtown setting makes it easy to hop between festival activities and shopping, while the free shuttle service connects all locations for a full day of entertainment and discovery. It’s the perfect opportunity to support local businesses and take home a special piece of Manchester-by-the-Sea’s distinctive charm.

LIVE MUSIC AT THREE LOCATIONS

We are pleased to announce live music performances at 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.

Masco Bandstand Schedule:

  • 10 AM: Livin’ on Luck
  • 12 PM: Joe Wilkins and Friends
  • 2 PM: Rob Banks and the Money Makers

Town Hall Park Schedule:

  • 11 AM: Liam Anastasia-Murphy
  • 12:15 PM: Pete Lindberg
  • 1 PM: Matt Rich
  • 2:15 PM: Brother Toaster

7 Summer Street:

  • 11 AM to 2 PM: Acoustic guitarist Chris J. Carter

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

A free shuttle service, sponsored by Beauport Ambulance, will run between the High School lower 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.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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:

  • Gold Sponsors: Applied Materials & Rite Window
  • Music Stage Sponsor: Kelly Automotive Group (Masco Bandstand)
  • Shuttle Sponsor: Beauport Ambulance Service
  • Supporting Sponsors: Cape Ann Savings Bank, Manchester-Essex Rotary Club, & Sullco, Inc.
  • In-Kind Sponsor: The Event Company

A PERFECT SUMMER EVENING WITH RHIANNON HURST & FRIENDS

~ chasnaz

Rhiannon Hurst & Friends Music on Meetinghouse Green, July 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Cape Ann couldn’t be more proud of these rising stars who will share their exceptional talent as a quartet in an evening of unforgettable Jazz in front of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church 50 Middle Street.

Rhiannon Hurst earned some serious respect in the Jazz world even before she graduated high school. She was one of four graduating seniors to receive the Excellence in Music Award from the Massachusetts Music Educators Association. She was also the recipient of a prestigious 2021 National Young Arts Foundation award in Jazz voice for her caliber of artistic achievement. Her professional engagements have ranged from Boston’s Symphony Hall and the State Room to the North Shore’s favorite restaurants. Join us for this incredible performance by Rhiannon Hurst and friends!

Your free-will donations tonight will benefit Pathways for Children, who nurtures children and supports families impacted by economic and social inequity through programs that educate, enrich, empower and motivate.  The evening’s food vendor will be Crepes Du Jour, offering sweet and savory crepes for all to enjoy! Please bring folding chairs, blankets and extra cash for when the donation buckets go by!

HEADLANDS AT THE MEETINGHOUSE JULY 18th!

~ chasnaz

Dear Friends of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation,

Please join us on July 18th at 6:00pm for music by Headlands, a favorite local band who brings an eclectic range of instruments for all to enjoy!  Headlands, with their exciting three-part vocals that put their stamp on whichever musical genre they choose, whether an acoustic trio or a full-blown rock band with percussion, fiddle and horns, Headlands treats their audiences to thrilling harmonies, tight arrangements, and humor! Please join us for this spectacular Music on Meetinghouse Green event! Backyard Growers will be our local non-profit joining us for this event, Backyard Growers cultivates healthy, connected, resilient communities and fights for food sovereignty by empowering people to grow their own food.  They increase equitable access to vegetable gardens and the resources people and communities need to grow their own food. Our food vendor for the evening will be the Lobster Roller, serving up delicious seafood for the Cape Ann community!  Please bring folding chairs, blankets and extra cash for when the donation buckets go by! Located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets.

FULL SUMMER SCHEDULE

DATE            MUSIC                                         NON-PROFIT

July 18          Headlands                                   Backyard Growers

July 25          Rhiannon Hurst & Friends          Pathways for Children

August 1       Goddesses                                  Gloucester Education Foundation

August 8      Willie Alexander                          The Open Door

August 15     Hye Fusion                                 Grace Center

August 22    What Time is it, Mr. Fox              Action, Inc.

August 29    Jim n’ Tonic                                 HAWC                             

Sept  5         Cape Ann Big Band                     Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Join Us Wednesday Mornings Through The End of August for Storytime on the Seaside Lawn!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

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!

Learn More and Book Your Storytime Adventure Here!

Gloucester Rotary Comedy Show

~ trixy546

Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Ken Rogerson, Artie Januario, Sam Pelletier, and Boston’s Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester’s harborfront. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Don’t miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $30 each, and are available online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/comedy2025/event/glouceserrotarycomedyshow2025/ or contact Mark Vadala (978-490-0939).

Ken Rogerson, the funniest man you’ve never heard of, has performed on the nationwide “Rescue Me Comedy Tour” with Denis Leary, and made television appearances on such shows as NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, Comics Come Home for Comedy Central and Showtime’s A Pair of Jokers and more. Rogerson has also appeared at The Chicago Comedy Festival and TBS’s The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. The Boston Herald proclaimed, “He makes the absurd seem logical” and Las Vegas Magazine wrote, “As far as pure stand-up goes, it doesn’t get any better than Rogerson.”

Artie Januario (aka Artie J.) has spent 10 years living a double life as a pharmacist and one of Boston’s premier comedians. He has been selected to perform at Denis Leary’s prestigious annual Comics Come Home concert, the longest running comedy benefit show in the United States, which has raised more than $4 million for the Cam Neely Foundation, which aids cancer patients and their families during treatment. He’s traveled the country, performing all over New England as well as in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and is a favorite for fundraisers and corporate events. Among the acts he’s worked with: Dom Irrera, Brian Regan, Jeff Dunham, and Lenny Clarke.

Sam Pelletier has been bringing his unique blend of observation and relatability to audiences for over a decade. Originally from the (somewhat) great state of Maine, Sam won the Cellar on Treadwell Competition in 2023, and was a finalist in the New England’s Funniest Comedian Competition of 2021. He opened for national headliners including Shane Torres, Joe Bartnick, and Alex Edleman. Sam has been featured in the Boston Comedy Festival, Maine Comedy Festival, and Mutiny Radio Comedy Festival in San Francisco. His hobbies include hiking and being a good listener.

Host Dave Rattigan had summer plans included performances in Ireland (for the second time), as well as at the Hampton Beach (NH) Comedy Festival and the inaugural Cotuit (MA) Comedy Festival. In addition to standup, he’s had humorous columns published in The Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, North Shore Magazine and North Shore Sunday, and has acted in regional TV commercials and small independent films “that didn’t pay anything.”

(This event always sells out!!)

www.scampscomedy.com

Gloucester Rotary Pancake Breakfast

~ trixy546

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 also be available on the morning of the breakfast.   

Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary.

Help Fund Ocean Explorers

~ michaeldekoster

For the past 21 years, Maritime Gloucester’s Ocean Explorers program has brought marine science education to every 3rd, 4th, & 5th grader in the Gloucester Public Schools. We visit the classrooms in all 4 elementary schools and welcome these students to our campus to participate in exciting hands-on experiential learning in our Sea Pocket Aquarium, the Marine Science Education Center, onboard the Schooner Ardelle and so much more. Over the course of the school year, your kids interact with our educators a total of 6 times, offering invaluable access to the harbor, bridging a unique connection with our local youth in our own blue backyard. 21 years participating in our curriculum equates to the educational engagement of over 13,500 students!

As we mark this year’s final 5th grade graduation celebration, we want to emphasize the importance of this program in our schools and we urge you to consider supporting its continuation. Maritime Gloucester annually raises the funds to sustain Ocean Explorers as our gift to the community, but we now are urgently seeking funding to keep this program alive for elementary students across Cape Ann and beyond. To support Ocean Explorers into 2026 and help us keep this essential program going at no cost to the Gloucester Public Schools, please Donate Today: MaritimeGloucester.org/give-1

Gloucester Education Foundation looks back at a busy year – and busy hands – in new report!

~ gloucestereducationfoundation ~ 1 Comment

GEF released its FY25 Impact Report today, “In Their Hands: The Power of Experiential Learning”. This colorful report highlights 30 hands-on programs led by talented Gloucester educators who go above and beyond to help students learn by doing. With nearly $475,000 invested in GPS this school year, GEF sees that the Gloucester community is steadfast in their support for our schools and experiential learning. We hope you’ll help keep that momentum going with a gift to our spring appeal!

Learn more about GEF at http://www.thinkthebest.org.

2025 season of Gloucester’s farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, kicks off June 18

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

 Backyard Growers, the Gloucester-based food equity nonprofit organization, is thrilled to share the return of the Backyard Growcery, Gloucester’s community-centered, food-focused farmers market in America’s Oldest Seaport. Now in its second season, the Growcery reopens on Wednesday, June 18, at Burnham’s Field and will run weekly until October 15, 2:30-6:30pm. 

The Backyard Growcery brings fresh, local food to the heart of downtown Gloucester while supporting small-scale farms and up-and-coming food businesses. It’s more than just a market—it’s a space to connect, learn, and grow together.

“We can’t wait to see everyone back at the market for another fun season of supporting local growers and making fresh, local food easy for everyone to enjoy,” said Alison DiFiore, Executive Director of Backyard Growers. “The Backyard Growcery is a great spot to hang out—whether you’re picking up veggies, learning something new, getting creative with art, or just spending time with friends and neighbors. See you at Burnham’s!”

Fresh Food, Local Vendors & New Faces

This year’s lineup features favorites like Cedar Rock Gardens, Marshview Farm, First Light Farm, Bonny Breads, Wild Heart, Underground Mushroom, Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana, and more. The Growcery is also welcoming High Tide Farm, a new certified organic farm hosted by New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. Plus, keep an eye out for pop-up appearances from other North Shore food vendors and producers, like Salty’s Bagels, all season long.

The Backyard Growcery is a food-focused market with a mission to boost the local economy and help small businesses thrive while also creating opportunities for community connection. In order to reduce business risk to small-scale food producers, the market does not charge a vendor participation fee. 

New This Year: Growcery Quest!

Want to get to know seasonal, local food, and the people who grow it? The Backyard Growcery is introducing Growcery Quest, a season-long scavenger hunt for kids and families to inspire them to make weekly discoveries at the market. Stop by the Backyard Growers table at the market to get involved.

Accessible, Welcoming, and Here for Everyone

Located at Burnham’s Field—just a 5-minute walk from the MBTA station—the Growcery is easily accessible by foot, CATA bus (near Sheedy Park stop), or car (free parking on Sargent Street and nearby streets). The park also features a playground, basketball courts and athletic fields, walking paths, and a 55-bed community garden managed by Backyard Growers. Burnham’s Field is the homebase of Backyard Growers’ work in the community, connecting low-to-moderate income Gloucester residents with access to the space and resources to grow fresh food.

With the closure of Shaw’s on Railroad Avenue, the need for fresh food in this downtown neighborhood has significantly increased. The Growcery proudly accepts SNAP/EBT, and Backyard Growers provides Market Mint, a SNAP Match up to $5 per week. This year, the Backyard Growcery is doubling the number of vendors who accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. WIC coupons will be available at the market on July 23, with more chances to pick up WIC and Senior Coupons throughout the season. 

Cultivating food-growing knowledge & resources in our community

Backyard Growers is committed to ensuring equitable access to the resources, space, and knowledge needed for communities to grow their own food. During the Backyard Growcery, Backyard Growers will once again host regular free workshops, with a focus on vegetable gardening, food preparation and preservation, art, and gardening for pollinators. The nonprofit will also offer regular free giveaways of resources such as vegetable seeds and guidance, with the opportunity to purchase fertilizer, compost, and more, directly from their booth. 

Learn more at www.backyardgrowers.org/backyard-growcery or follow us on social media @backyardgrowcery. 

See you at Burnham’s!