A Century of Tradition: The St. Peter’s Fiesta Photo Album Returns to Gloucester
Cape Ann Museum Calls on the Community to Help Document 100 Years of Community History
Fiesta Celebration, Gloucester, MA. Undated. The St. Peter’s Fiesta Photographic Collection, Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, MA.
GLOUCESTER, MA. (September 2026) – The Cape Ann Museum and the Fiesta 100 Photo Committee, along with Cape Anncestry, are asking families to submit Fiesta photographs for Fiesta at 100: A Community Photo Album, an exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the St. Peter’s Fiesta in the summer of 2027. Submissions are open now through December 31, 2026. The exhibition will be on view during the 2027 Fiesta at a location to be announced and will be complemented by a companion display at the Cape Ann Museum providing additional historical context and exploring the Fiesta’s significance within the cultural life of Gloucester.
The upcoming exhibition revives and expands upon a photographic display first presented to the public in 1992. Originally hosted in the building that now houses Oak to Ember restaurant, that exhibit was organized by the Gloucester Young Men’s Coalition, an offshoot of the Gloucester Prevention Network. It featured more than 600 photographs gathered from the community, documenting the rich history and traditions of the Fiesta, including novenas, the procession, the altar, the Blessing of the Fleet, sporting events, and carnival festivities. For the centennial exhibition, this original collection will be augmented by new images submitted by local families.
The 2027 project is being led by Joe Palmisano and Jamey Burnham, both of whom were instrumental in the 1992 exhibit. They are working in partnership with Fiesta 100 and Cape Anncestry, a community initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating the diverse immigrant and ethnic experiences of Gloucester residents.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, Joe Palmisano noted: “Organizing the 1992 exhibit was a true privilege. Families entrusted us with treasured photographs that had often never left their homes. I am honored to participate in this project once again to capture a full century of St. Peter’s Fiesta traditions.”
Collaborating with the organizers and the Museum are students from Gloucester High School, including members of the graphic arts department who will contribute to the exhibition’s research, design, and interpretation.
Fiesta Celebration, Gloucester, MA. Undated. The St. Peter’s Fiesta Photographic Collection, Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, MA.
How to Participate: A Call for Community Photographs
The success of Fiesta at 100 relies on the personal histories held within the Gloucester community. Families are invited to contribute to this historic centennial archive through the following submission methods:
Digital Submissions: High-resolution digital files can be emailed directly to library@capeannmuseum.org
Physical Photographs & Scanning Day: For those with physical prints, the Museum will host a community scanning day on Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Janet & William Ellery James Center at CAM Green (13 Poplar Street). Museum staff will be on-site to scan images free of charge, and all original photographs will be returned to families immediately.
Participants are encouraged to provide any descriptive details available, including the approximate year, location, and the names of individuals or lending families. Every submission helps ensure that the 100th anniversary celebration fully reflects the diverse experiences of the Gloucester community.
For further inquiries regarding submissions, please contact Jamey Burnham at 978-407-0565 (fiesta100th@gmail.com) or Cassie Anderson, Librarian & Archivist at 978-283-0455 ext. 119.
The Cape Ann Museum, founded in 1875, exists to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of the region and to keep it relevant to today’s audiences. Spanning 44,000 square feet, the Museum’s Downtown campus is a major cultural institution on Boston’s North Shore, welcoming thousands of local, national, and international visitors annually to its exhibitions, programs, and community-led events. In addition to fine art, the Museum’s collections include decorative art, textiles, artifacts from the fisheries and granite industries, four historic structures, a Library & Archives, and a sculpture garden in the heart of downtown Gloucester.
The Cape Ann Museum’s Downtown campus is located at 27 Pleasant Street in Gloucester and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for Cape Ann residents and seniors. Youth (under 18), students with ID, and Museum members are free. Cape Ann residents receive free general admission on the second Saturday of each month. During Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea, additional fees apply and timed ticketing is required.
The Cape Ann Museum Green (CAM Green), the Museum’s campus off Grant Circle and Route 128 in Gloucester, is home to the 12,000-square-foot Janet & William Ellery James Center, built in 2020. The center includes a flexible exhibition and community programming space designed to reach broader audiences with new exhibits and public programs. CAM Green, which served as the Museum’s base of operations during the renovations, features three historic structures—the White Ellery House (1710), the Babson-Alling House (c. 1740), and an adjacent barn (c. 1740)—as well as a Contemporary Art Wetu (2023–2024) and a Mush8n (mi-shoon) (2023), an Eastern Woodlands boat. From July 10 through September 27, CAM Green will be open Friday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
More information can be found on capeannmuseum.org or please call (978)283-0455 x110.
