Watching the grand Schooner Adventure from the Dogbar Breakwater today at noon reminded me that Gloucester’s magnificent Schooner Festival begins one week from today!  

Gloucester and Essex participating schooners:  

Adventure, Flagship of the City of Gloucester and leading the Parade of Sail

Thomas E. Lannon, honoring her namesake– a fisherman from 1901-1943

Ardelle flagship for Maritime Gloucester

Bald Eagle, Green Dragon  and Sugar Babe from Gloucester

Redbird & Lewis H. Story from Essex.

GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL 2017 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, September 1, 2017

All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests (ticketed event)

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Gloucester Block Party on Main Street in downtown.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is free to the public.

4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Gloucester House Public Clambake
Music, food and a whole lot of fun. The cost is only $16 for Lobster, Corn and Cornbread.

5:15 pm to 5:45 pm
Carillon Concert at Our Lady of Good Voyage, final concert of the summer series can be heard throughout the downtown Gloucester area.

6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Live music and light effects on Stacy Boulevard with a break during the fireworks.

7:00 pm
Fireworks Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Watch Gloucester’s annual Schooner Festival fireworks display from the terrace and lawn of Beauport. Treat yourself to an abridged evening tour as the house transforms at night. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics, and mosquito spray. Candles are prohibited. Adults and children over twelve only, please. $12 Historic New England members, $20 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800

7:00 pm
Boat Parade of Lights
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins at dusk at Jones Creek on the Annisquam River, travels down the river, through the drawbridge and into Gloucester Harbor, ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor. Click here for information on joining the Lighted Boat Parade.

9:15 pm
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate “fireworks” on your donation.)

Sunday, September 3, 2017

8:30 am
Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race.  Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
2017 Gloucester Schooner Festival Notice of Race

10:30 am
Parade of Sail Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Visit Beauport for some of the best views of the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival’s Parade of Sail. Watch schooners sail to the Eastern Point Light breakwater to begin the Mayor’s race for the Esperanto Cup. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring blankets and/or chairs and other refreshments if preferred. The house is not available for tours during this event. $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800

10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.

11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free ofCharge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.

1:00 pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event)

Cape Ann’s Schooners
Adventure, Flagship of the City of Gloucester and leading the Parade of Sail,
Thomas E. Lannon, honoring her namesake– a fisherman from 1901-1943,
and Ardelle flagship for Maritime Gloucester.
The Bald Eagle, Green Dragon  and Sugar Babe from Gloucester,
and Redbird & Lewis H. Story from Essex.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE 33RD ANNUAL GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL WEBSITE HERE

Highlights from last year’s 32nd annual Schooner Festival

The original, very first, Gloucester Schooner Festival Parade of Sail short film, 2013

Schooner Adventure Gloucester Harbor August 25, 2017