From Discover Gloucester

Downtown Gloucester is coming alive with creativity on Saturday, November 7, 2026, as From the Deep: A Downtown Gloucester Arts Party returns for a day of free art exhibitions, live performances, artist demonstrations, and hands-on activities.

Presented by Harbortown Cultural District, this community-wide celebration invites you to explore the city’s vibrant arts scene while discovering the galleries, cultural organizations, and local businesses that make downtown Gloucester such a special place.

Taking place from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, From the Deep offers something for art lovers of all ages, with more than 25 cultural experiences planned throughout the downtown district.

Explore Gloucester’s Creative Side

Gloucester has long been a destination for artists, writers, and creatives inspired by the city’s coastal landscapes, working waterfront, and rich cultural heritage. From the Deep celebrates that artistic spirit by bringing together local artists, galleries, cultural institutions, and businesses for a day dedicated to creativity and community.

Following a successful debut in May 2026, which welcomed more than 500 attendees and featured over 30 free cultural offerings from 45 participating artists and organizations, the festival returns this November with another exciting lineup.

Whether you’re interested in discovering a new favorite artist, experiencing live music, or trying your hand at a creative activity, From the Deep is a great opportunity to experience Gloucester’s arts community firsthand.

From the Deep Events & Happenings

The festival’s schedule includes a mix of ongoing exhibitions, interactive installations, performances, and demonstrations at venues throughout downtown Gloucester.

Art Exhibitions and Interactive Experiences

Stop by Gloucester City Hall to experience Building the Town, an interactive art installation with Bruce Orr, and Gloucester in Motion, featuring live painting and an art giveaway with Jennifer Loiselle.

Additional highlights include Amy Chace’s The Midnight Zone, presented by John Sarkin Studios at The Cut, and the Salon of Art & Collectibles exhibition at COSMOS Gallery.

You can also attend the opening reception of Jack Evans | Black Rag Blues at Jane Deering Gallery from 1:00 to 6:00 PM.

Live Music, Poetry, and Performances

From the Deep isn’t just about visual art! Throughout the afternoon, you can catch live performances in celebration of Gloucester’s creative community.

Highlights include a multi-instrumental performance by Steve Lacey at Gloucester City Hall from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, and Lanes Coven presenting Moon and Back by Joy & Aaron at The Cut from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

And at 3:00 PM, Gloucester’s Co-Poet Laureates Heidi Wakeman and Jay Featherstone will lead a poetry reading and collaborative poem-crafting activity at City Hall.

Meet Local Artists and Get Creative

This year’s festival coincides with the 37th anniversary of Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative, a downtown Gloucester institution supporting local creativity since 1989.

To celebrate, Local Colors will host artist demonstrations throughout the day, including driftwood sunburst construction, mosaic techniques, layered wooden boxes, and weaving preparation. Attend the mosaic demonstration to create your own small mosaics while supplies last.

Families can also stop by Good Morning Gloucester for the free Sea Creative Children’s Sketching Contest, taking place from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Second Shift…

Thursday Night Football in Gloucester tonight — the Patriots take on the Bears at 8:15 PM, and Publick House Gastropub on Gloucester Harbor is the spot to watch it.

Come hungry, stay for the game — great food, the game on, and live music at Publick House Gastropub, Gloucester Harbor. See you there tonight.

Big one for Gloucester youth sports this weekend — GYF Cheer is hosting its first-ever youth cheerleading competition, Spirit Splash, this Saturday, October 24 at Gloucester High School. The competition starts at 8:30 AM.

These girls cheer our football players on week after week, rain or shine. Now it’s our turn to cheer for them. GYF Football is calling on all players, families, and fans to pack the stands — players, wear your jerseys; families and fans, wear your GYF gear and Gloucester colors, bring the energy and make some noise.

Admission is $15, and children 4 and under are free. There will be concessions, vendors, event T-shirts, flowers, and raffles — bring cash for concessions. You can get tickets ahead of time here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-gala-7646

Good luck to all our GYF cheerleaders — your whole football family is behind you! One family. One team. One Gloucester!

Dig out those Fiesta photos — this Saturday, October 24, from 9 AM to 1 PM at CAM Green on Poplar Street, bring your St. Peter’s Fiesta photos and have them scanned while you wait. It’s free, and your originals go home with you the same day. The scans feed the 100th Fiesta exhibit coming next summer with the Cape Ann Museum — and this isn’t the first time. Back in 1992, the same effort collected more than 600 family photos. Can’t make it Saturday? Email your scans to library@capeannmuseum.org any time through December 31. See you at the Green.

Thursday, October 22nd is packed with delicious specials at Surfside & Long Beach Dairy Maid! 🤩

🍕 SURFSIDE SPECIALS 🍕

🔥 Buy any 18” Pizza, get your 2nd 18” Pizza HALF PRICE! (Limit 2 per customer)

🔥 16” Pizzas HALF PRICE! (Limit 3 per customer)

🦞 $13.99 + tax Lobster Rolls served with chips & pickles!

🥖 $6.99 Meatball Subs

🥪 $6.99 Turkey Subs

🍦 LONG BEACH DAIRY MAID SPECIAL 🍦

🍂 Buy ONE ice cream, get your SECOND ice cream HALF PRICE! 😍

The perfect excuse to treat yourself to something sweet! 🍦🧡

⏰ TODAY’S HOURS

🍕 Surfside: 11 AM – 9 PM

🍦 Long Beach Dairy Maid: 2 PM – 9 PM

🍁 Great food, sweet treats & unbeatable deals! Come enjoy a little taste of fall with us! 🧡

📌 Pizza specials exclude gluten-free pizzas and online orders. Pizza specials cannot be combined. Half-price ice cream must be of equal or lesser value.

Our senior discount form is live! If you missed the window the first time and would like to sign up for a senior discount, visit https://gloucester-ma.gov/1659/Forms. The form will be open until October 31st, so please make sure you make any changes to your service by then.

Please note you will need to know your water and sewer utility billing number to complete this form.

Eligible seniors (turning 65 on or before October 31st, 2026) may apply for a senior discount for a single set of carts to the address (unit specific) you reside in. If you are a senior and you are a tenant, please make sure your landlord is aware of your application for a discount.

In order to access the form, you will need to make an Open Gov account. Visit our website for a step-by-step guide to making your account, or watch the video pinned on our page for a visual walk-through. You may already have an Open Gov account if you have purchased a beach sticker, dog license, or building permit, so please know you can use that account to access the form.

For questions about the new program, please reach out to our Department of Public Works at (978) 325-5600.

Jim and I took a ride out west to the Quabbin area a few days ago. We had never been there and my friend John Slonina was hosting a day long photo tour. This seemed like a good idea to me as an introduction to an area we were unfamiliar with. Jim thought it might be a good idea to get an idea of what goes on during my photography tours with Slonina Photography. I am not sure he knew what he was getting himself into.

It’s about a 2 hour ride, easily do-able in a day. We started in the fog at Sawmill Pond. It was kind of creepy but also super cool for photography trial and error. We also visited Quabbin Park and Bear’s Den (a Trustees property). Along the way we stopped when we saw a pretty scene such as at the New Salem town square. We had a nice lunch at a nearby Irish pub. It was a day full of inspiration, climbing and boot-getting-stuck-in-the-mud adventures. For additional photos, check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook link here.

I don’t know how she puts up with all our shenanigans!

🤣

We love you Pat!

Today’s marine forecast for the coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, from the National Weather Service.

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON

TODAY N winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: NE 10 ft at 9 seconds and N 5 ft at 5 seconds. A slight chance of showers this morning.

TONIGHT N winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: NE 10 ft at 9 seconds and NW 6 ft at 6 seconds.

FRI N winds 20 to 25 kt, diminishing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to 8 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: NE 10 ft at 9 seconds and NW 6 ft at 8 seconds, becoming NE 8 ft at 9 seconds and NW 6 ft at 7 seconds.

FRI NIGHT N winds 10 to 15 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt in the evening. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: NE 6 ft at 9 seconds and NW 2 ft at 6 seconds.

SAT AND SAT NIGHT W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NE 4 ft at 10 seconds and NW 3 ft at 4 seconds.

SUN THROUGH MON NIGHT NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 12 seconds and SW 2 ft at 3 seconds. Seas are reported as significant wave height, which is the average of the highest third of the waves. Individual wave heights may be more than twice the significant wave height.

Source: National Weather Service, Boston/Norton.

Fixture…

Friday, October 23, 2026 | 4–6 PM

Cultural Center at Rocky Neck
6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA

Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) invites the public to a special Gallery Talk on Friday, October 23, from 4 to 6 PM at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, celebrating YES!, the organization’s much-anticipated annual members’ exhibition.

Six exhibiting artists — Patricia Scialo, Donna Caselden, Juni Van Dyke, Martin Sorger, David Covert, and Helen Kamins — will share insights into their work, discussing the creative processes, techniques, and inspirations behind the pieces on display. Audience comments and questions are welcome, offering an opportunity for lively conversation and a deeper appreciation of the artists’ individual approaches and perspectives.

Featuring recent work by 74 RNAC artist members, YES! showcases the remarkable breadth and vitality of Rocky Neck’s artistic community. From bold abstracts to evocative realism, the exhibition celebrates the diverse styles, creative vision, and artistic passion that make Rocky Neck a vibrant center for the arts.

The Gallery Talk offers visitors a chance to connect directly with the artists, discover the stories behind their work, and experience the exhibition through the perspectives of those who created it.

More information: rockyneckartcolony.org

Reminder that our trash form is now live. If you would like to swap sizes, opt-out of the program, or sign a new residence up to receive service, please go to our website: https://gloucesterma.portal.opengov.com/categories/1072 This form is available until October 31st, 2026.

If you have any trouble making an account on Open Gov to access the form, please visit our website for a step-by-step walkthrough, or check out the pinned post on our Facebook page to watch a visual walk-through.

For questions about the new program, please reach out to our Department of Public Works at (978) 325-5600.