Join us this Halloween season for an unforgettable evening based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe at Hammond Castle Museum!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Step back in time to the days immediately following the Stock Market crash, as ruin awaits many and the nation is on the brink of the Great Depression, to attend one of John Hays Hammond, Jr. famed soirees to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve. In his strange fortress that he calls the ‘Abbey by the Sea’, you’ll meet the eccentric inventor and the members of his inner circle who reveal secrets steeped in obsession, dread, and the macabre. Come dressed for a 1920s Halloween gathering, and journey through time and space as you descend into the darkened castle amidst its haunting chambers and your hosts’ descent into madness.

This unique promenade theater performance begins on the drawbridge and winds through multiple rooms within the Castle. It runs just shy of 60 minutes in total. Performances begin at 6 pm and run every 15 minutes through 9:00 pm. Performances are limited to groups of 15 audience members at a time for an intimate experience. Each story is approximately 6 to 10 minutes long.

**Vintage Halloween attire styled from the 1920s is encouraged. ** Not recommended for children under 13 years old.

Learn more & reserve your tickets here!

From Leaf to Bean: A Delicious Look at the Health Perks of Tea and Chocolate

~ Sawyer Free Library

Savor an afternoon of flavor and fun at the Sawyer Free Library with From Leaf to Bean: A Delicious Look at the Health Perks of Tea and Chocolate on Tuesday, October 14, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

Led by Kim Larkin of Klassic Kreations, this engaging workshop explores the rich history, health benefits, and cultural traditions of both dark chocolate and fine teas. Participants will enjoy pairing three teas with three different varieties of chocolate, guided by a tea aroma tasting wheel. Along the way, Kim will share fascinating insights into how cacao beans and tea leaves are transformed into the treats we love, demonstrate how to brew the perfect “cuppa,” and introduce the artistry behind Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies. The afternoon wraps up with a lively interactive quiz—making this a deliciously educational experience you won’t want to miss.

To attend this delicious and informative event, register at sawyerfreelibrary.org

Author Talk with Mark Kurlansky: The Boston Way: Radicals Against Slavery & The Civil War

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library for an afternoon with acclaimed author Mark Kurlansky as he discusses his latest book, The Boston Way: Radicals Against Slavery & The Civil War on Saturday, October 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

In this powerful and thought-provoking work, Kurlansky explores a lesser-known side of abolitionism—the Boston pacifists who believed persuasion, not violence, was the only path to lasting freedom and justice. Through the lives of William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and other Black and white abolitionists, Kurlansky examines how their moral courage and commitment to nonviolence shaped not only the fight against slavery, but the broader pursuit of human rights that would influence thinkers from Leo Tolstoy to Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Copies of The Boston Way will be available for purchase at the event courtesy of The Bookstore of Gloucester.

The event is free, and open to all to attend but registration is requested at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Rain or Shine!

Saturday, November 8th.

Step into the world of medieval and Renaissance culture at Hammond Castle Museum, where the castle itself provides a uniquely dramatic backdrop for a magical day steeped in history and fantasy in a stunning setting. This year, we are thrilled to host James B. Jones and Shelley Wolfe of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum as our Honorary King and Queen!

Experience the excitement of The Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword as they return with their high-energy armored combat demonstrations, bringing the medieval battlefield vividly to life. Enjoy captivating performances from the L.I.A.R.s, who will fill the air with sea shanties, alongside a hulahoop artist, a storyteller, a wandering harpist, a bubble faery, and other enchanting entertainers.

New this season, our kids’ tent offers little princes and princesses a craft for hands-on fun. Cosplay dress-up is encouraged, but weapons of any kind are prohibited and will not be permitted on campus. With more vendors and food trucks than ever, this year’s Faire is bigger, better, and more magical than before.

Required Off-Site Parking & Free Shuttle Information:
Free parking will be available at Stage Fort Park (24 Hough Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930), with complimentary White Beauport Shuttles, generously sponsored by Townsend Energy, running between the park and the Museum from 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM. On-street parking on Hesperus Avenue is prohibited. On-site parking is reserved exclusively for guests with mobility needs and is not guaranteed.

Your admission includes access to explore parts of the interior of the museum, free access to all scheduled entertainment. *Vendor services are not included.)

Little ones ages 4 and under are free but do require a reserved ticket, and kids ages 5 – 12 are $10 and adults are $35. Hammond Castle Museum Member savings apply. Proceeds from this event will support the ongoing restoration of the Museum and STEAM-based programming.

Learn More & Reserve Your Tickets Here

Join the Sawyer Free Library for the Relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum

~ Sawyer Free Library

Placemaking: Our Library In Our Community with Ethan Kent

The Sawyer Free Library will officially relaunch the Gloucester Lyceum with a special event, Placemaking: Our Library In Our Community, featuring internationally renowned placemaking leader Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX.

The program will be held Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sawyer Free Library’s Community Room, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester. Free and open to the public, registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited.

The program will begin with remarks by Mr. Kent, followed by interactive conversations with fellow attendees throughout the various spaces of the newly renovated, expanded, and modernized Sawyer Free Library. The perspectives shared in these dialogues will inspire closing insights from Mr. Kent, allowing participants to reflect on how Gloucester can continue to build meaningful, inclusive spaces—starting with its newly reimagined Library.

“Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share,” said Ethan Kent. “It’s about making the spaces we live, the places we love.”

The Gloucester Lyceum: A Tradition Renewed

Founded in 1830, the Gloucester Lyceum once brought thought leaders such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau to Cape Ann. Today, the Sawyer Free Library’s relaunch builds on this proud tradition, offering marquee programs that bring contemporary voices into dialogue with the community.

“The relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum is about renewing a proud tradition of bringing people together for public discourse within a collaborative forum. True to the notion that a lyceum is “where the city comes to think,” we are honored to welcome Ethan Kent as our first speaker in this new chapter. His work around the world embodies the very spirit of community dialogue and imagination that we hope to cultivate right here in Gloucester,” said Laura Ventimiglia, Chair of the Gloucester Lyceum. 

“Welcoming Ethan Kent to Gloucester to help relaunch our historic Lyceum is both timely and inspiring,” added Mern Sibley, President of the Board of Trustees of the Sawyer Free Library. “Our newly reimagined Library is the hub of the community—offering so much to so many. Ethan’s work demonstrates how meaningful public spaces can bring people together, foster belonging, and strengthen communities.”

About the Sawyer Free Library

For nearly 200 years, the Sawyer Free Library has served Gloucester as a hub of culture, learning, and civic life. Its newly renovated and expanded building continues this mission, providing equal access to resources and programs that support the community’s evolving needs.

For more information and to register for this special evening, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited, so register today!

Hammond Castle Museum Presents Two Silent Movies with Live Accompaniment This October!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Internationally acclaimed accompanist Peter Krasinski returns to the Great Hall this Halloween season for two unique performances featuring live improvised accompaniment to classic black-and-white silent films: Phantom of the Opera and Metropolis. Krasinski will perform on John Hays Hammond Jr.’s original Chickering & Sons piano, filling the soaring acoustics of the Great Hall with an unforgettable blend of history, music, and cinematic magic.

Learn More & Reserve Your Seats Here

GMGI Hosts Annual Byrnes Lecture: Rockfish to Resiliency – Marine Genomic Insights for Oceans & Human Health

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

Please join us on Thursday, October 9,  at the newly renovated Sawyer Free Library for our annual Byrnes Lecture exploring how cutting-edge genomics is transforming our understanding of ocean life and human health.

The ocean is a source of endless mystery, sustaining life on Earth and inspiring generations of discovery. Within its depths, remarkable creatures hold clues not only to the resilience of marine ecosystems but also to the health and longevity of humans. Yet, as pressures from climate change, overfishing, and pollution intensify, understanding how ocean life survives and adapts has never been more critical.

GMGI researchers are harnessing cutting-edge genomic technologies to illuminate the hidden blueprints of marine life, driving forward new strategies for conservation, and building essential connections between ocean science and human well-being.

Admission to this event is free, but registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot.

Doors for this event open at 5:00pm, with the lecture beginning promptly at 5:30pm.

This is GMGI’s Annual Byrnes Lecture, honoring longtime GMGI and community supporter John Byrnes. As a resident of Cape Ann for over 20 years, he was an integral part of the community, providing advice and generous philanthropic support to GMGI and many other organizations.

Gloucester Band Program gets a boost – but needs community to step up!

~ gloucestereducationfoundation

Yesterday, Gloucester’s middle school band lit up the O’Maley stage with a joyful, high-energy performance that showed just how transformative music education can be.

Thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from Music Drives Us, the elementary and middle school band programs continue to grow and thrive, serving over 200 4-8th graders at no cost to families.

But with $60,000 still to raise this school year, GEF and GPS need the community’s support to ensure that the opportunity to learn an instrument remains available to every Gloucester student in grades 4-8. Every donation helps!

Read the story in the Gloucester Daily Times here and here

Donate to GEF to support the elementary and middle school bands (and please put “BAND” in the Special Instructions field so we know where to direct your gift!)

Only a dozen seats remain!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Join us in the candlelit Great Hall at Hammond Castle Museum for an extraordinary group reading with Kevin V. Coan, a highly regarded evidential medium with over 35 years of experience. Kevin’s empathetic approach and down-to-earth demeanor have brought comfort and healing to countless individuals, offering profound messages of connection from loved ones who have crossed over.

Enjoy light refreshments as Kevin uses his remarkable ability to interpret messages through photographs of the departed. Witness firsthand the power of his gift to bridge the gap between worlds and provide evidence of the enduring bond with loved ones.

A single printed photograph of those who have passed is needed to help facilitate the possibility of a reading. Learn more and reserve your seats before they’re gone! This event is expected to sell out.

Reserve your seats here!

Sawyer Free Library Now Recruiting Adult Participantsfor Free Computer Basics Course

~ Sawyer Free Library

Graduates receive a Chromebook and one year of home Internet service

The Sawyer Free Library is now accepting participants for its new Computer Basics Course, a free, hands-on program designed to help adults build essential digital skills for everyday life, work, and learning. The 15-hour, self-paced course, which runs through December 12, 2025, is delivered in the Library’s new Digital Learning Lab. Upon successful completion, qualified participants will receive a free Chromebook to keep and a hotspot with one year of Internet service. 

“Digital skills open doors—to jobs, to services, to staying connected with family,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict. “The Sawyer Free Library’s Digital Learning Lab team provides welcoming, one-on-one support so adults with little or no experience can learn at their own pace and celebrate every milestone.”

Participants will gain foundational skills that include setting up and using a computer and the Internet, navigating websites and applications, practicing online security and safety, and using communication tools such as email and video conferencing.

The Computer Basics Course will be held in the Digital Learning Lab on the ground floor of Sawyer Free Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. Drop-in training and practice hours are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The course is designed for adults with limited computer access or experience. Priority will be given to applicants who qualify for benefit programs and have a defined learning goal. Eligible programs include, but are not limited to, SNAP, TANF, WIC, TAFDC, EAEDC, MRVP, RAFT, LIHEAP, MassHealth/Medicaid, and SSI/SSDI.

Interested participants can contact the Digital Learning Lab Service Desk by phone at 978-325-5546, by email at computerbasics@sawyerfreelibrary.org or in person at the Library and asking for Roger or Joe.

Participants do not need to own a computer to enroll. A Chromebook will be provided for use during the course and may be taken home upon successful completion. In addition, a hotspot with a one-year Internet service plan will be included for eligible graduates.

“This is about access and confidence,” added Benedict. “With individualized coaching from our Digital Tutors and Librarians, adults can practice real-world tasks—safely setting up devices, applying for jobs, accessing health information, or connecting with loved ones online.”

The Sawyer Free Library’s Digital Learning Lab is a new community resource dedicated to digital inclusion—offering approachable training, devices, and support to help Gloucester residents thrive in an increasingly online world.  The Computer Basics Course is supported through a generous Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grant from the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF).