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This Labor Day Weekend is an extraordinarily exciting weekend in Gloucester!
This weekend brings the last installment of 2023 Gloucester Culture Splash, The 39th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival, events for the Gloucester 400+ Anniversary, Fireworks over Gloucester Harbor, several free outdoor concerts, two parades on the water, a Main Street Block Party, and a world premier at the Gloucester Stage Company!
With so many events and activities planned, we have created a sampling of events to help visitors navigate this exciting weekend in Gloucester.
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4:00 – 7:00pm
Gloucester Culture Splash
Join The Last Chance to ‘Splash’ in 2023
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Don’t miss your last chance to enjoy Gloucester Culture Splash in 2023 tonight! From 4:00 to 7:00pm, cultural organizations open their doors for immersive experiences, each of which are open to the public and completely FREE. Step into a world alive with art, creativity, and innovation, where event hosts showcase their work and programs, and offer local creative performances, presentations, art openings, workshops, free museum admission, live music, demos, and more!
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6:00pm
Gloucester Fisheries Heritage Month:
Closing Ceremony
Gloucester 400+ | Stacy Boulevard
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The entire month of August is dedicated to Gloucester’s fishing heritage. The closing ceremony will be held at Stacy Boulevard next to the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial at 6:00pm.
Visit www.gloucesterma400.org for up to date information on events during Gloucester Fisheries Heritage Month.
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5:30 – 7:30pm
Schooner Challenge
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Gloucester Harbor
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Join local Schooner Captains as they participate in a friendly competition putting their seamanship to the test over an “obstacle” course. Passengers will be given their own set of tasks to win the coveted Rum Bottle Award. Visiting schooners already arrived will join the event. The public is invited to purchase tickets aboard participating schooners. Visit https://www.maritimegloucester.org/sf-schooners for participating schooners and ticketing information.
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photo credit: George Bekris
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All Day
Arrival of Visiting Vessels
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Gloucester Harbor
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See the various vessels participating in the Schooner Festival as they sail into Gloucester Harbor.
Photo by Mary Barker, courtesy of Maritime Gloucester
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10:00am
Schooner Adventure’s Schooner Fest Kick Off Sail
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Gloucester Harbor
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Catch a glimpse of the excitement building out on the water during the kick off day of Gloucester’s Schooner Festival. Sail into history on Gloucester’s flagship vessel, a National Historic Landmark and icon of the American fisheries. Help the crew raise the sails, take a turn at the helm, learn about Adventure’s legacy and restoration, or sit back and enjoy the iconic sites of Gloucester Harbor. Adventure will be docked at Pier I4C2 for Gloucester’s Schooner Festival. Click here for tickets.
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1:00 – 3:00pm
Greet the Fleet Sails
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Gloucester Harbor
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Hop on a local or visiting schooner and take a ride out to the outer harbor for the official arrival and start of the Gloucester Schooner Festival. Vessels offering public sails and charters can be found here.
Photos by Mary Barker, courtesy of Maritime Gloucester
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6:00pm
Music on Meetinghouse Green
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation | Corner of Middle and Church Streets
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Join a free concert on the lawn of The Gloucester Meetinghouse with food service by The Lobster Roller. Music on Meetinghouse Green is at the corner of Middle and Church Streets at 6:00pm.This week is in benefit of the North Shore Health Project. For more information, visit: gloucestermeetinghouse.org/summer-concerts
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6:00 – 10:00pm
Downtown Block Party
Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce | Main Street
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Join the Greater Cape Ann Chamber and the City of Gloucester for the last of the three summer block parties on Friday, September 1st from 6 to 10 PM to kick off Labor Day weekend. Featured performer Cate Great will delight the young and old alike with her balancing and juggling skills. Slyde, the NE Revolution mascot, face painting, Mary Poppins, Captain Jack and Cape Ann Vernal Pond will also be on hand to entertain the kids. Visit with street vendors, retailers, and non-profits,. Enjoy the delicious offerings of numerous food trucks, and dance the night away to music on three different stages. A great start to the “end of summer weekend!”
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8:00pm
WORLD PREMIER: Tall Tales from Blackburn Tavern
Gloucester Stage Co. | 267 East Main Street
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A world premiere of epic proportions is unveiled at Gloucester Stage. This play brings to life the infamous Gloucester Sea Serpent, the unheard-of Ghost Army fought off by Ebenezer Babson, and the secrets from the Witches of Dogtown. Employing projections and puppetry to tell these larger-than-life fish tales, audiences will revel in the magic of Gloucester’s oral history. Ages 13+
In celebration of Gloucester’s 400+ Celebration, Gloucester Stage has commissioned local playwright John Minigan (Sleepy Hollow, Queen of Sad Mischance, Noir Hamlet) to write TALL TALES FROM BLACKBURN TAVERN, based on folklore from Gloucester’s 400-year history. Directed by award-winning director, educator, actor, and producer Bryn Boice, this production runs from September 1 – 24.
Performances are Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday & Saturday at 8:00pm, and matinees Saturday & Sunday at 3:00pm indoors at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester MA. Click here for tickets and more information.
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All Day
Schooner Viewing & Deck Tours
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Three Locations
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This is a visitor-based dockside experience that puts the public on schooners for deck tours. This is a free option for the public, but donations are always appreciated.
This year, the Schooner Viewing and Deck Tours will be happening at three different locations around Gloucester Harbor:
Maritime Gloucester- 23 Harbor Loop
Schooner Floats – I4C2, 65 Rogers St
Ocean Alliance – 32 Horton St, Rocky Neck
Photo courtesy of Melissa Cox Photography
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10:00am – 4:00pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Gloucester Schooner Fest | 23 Harbor Loop
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Free to the public!
Schooner deck tours, crafts for all ages, skilled demonstrations & family activities. Plus, Maritime Gloucester‘s exhibits and aquarium will be open throughout the day for FREE! Donations are graciously accepted.
Timed Admission to the New Maritime Science Education Center- Reserve your spot here.
Food Trucks on site include Beefie Boys, Uncle Joey’s Cannoli, and Trolley Dogs.
$20 hourly schooner sails on Schooner Ardelle!
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6:30 – 10:00pm
Live Music and Light Effects
Gloucester Schooner Fest | Stacy Boulevard
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7:00 – 9:00pm
Boat Parade of Lights
Annisquam River to Gloucester Harbor
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Boat parade of lights is a sight to be seen. Boaters adorn their boats, big or small, with lights and decorations as they celebrate the fireworks, Schooner Festival and Labor Day Weekend. For more information, visit: facebook.com/boatparadeoflights
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