Gloucester So Salty January 25 & 26th Details

Free and open to the public

Celebrate the fish cityโ€™s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 4th Annual Gloucesterโ€™s So Salty festival on January 25 and 26, 2025 from 10:00 am โ€“ 5:00 pm! Over 1,800 people came out last year to share their salty pride while enjoying free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester.

The Cape Ann Museum is partnering with Discover Gloucester and several local cultural institutions and businesses to offer two full days of free programming in the coldest part of the year. Inspired by the annual Salemโ€™s So Sweet event, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kidsโ€™ art activities, and much more.

Find all 10 ice sculptures around downtown Gloucester!
Grab a map from the Cape Ann Museum Information Tent, 27 Pleasant St., and find all 10 salty sculptures!


Offers and Activities:

All Weekend (Saturday, Jan. 25th & Sunday, Jan. 26th)
Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, or a Sweet & Salty Cocktail, in an Igloo at Mile Marker One, 75 Essex Ave Route 133
25% discount on room rates, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn, 1 Nautilus Road, Gloucester
20% off all salt grinders and salt cellars, Goodlinens Studio, 130 Main St.
20% off salt and select products, Cape Ann Olive Oil, 57 Main St.
Buy one, get one free chocolate chip cookie specially topped with Maldon Salts! Source Bakery, 3 Duncan St.
Grab a piece of saltwater taffy + 20% โ€“ 50% Off sale Fireflies Boutique, 100 Main St.
Add larger-than-life magnetic words to make Salty Poetry Snippets + check out a free and $1 book cart, Dogtown Books, 132 Main St.
10% off select โ€˜Salty Books,โ€™ The Bookstore of Gloucester, 61 Main St.
$2 Salted caramel lattes and $20 Salty Crew Necks, Castaways Vintage Cafรฉ, 65 Main St.
Stay warm and cozy with our amazing socks! All socks Buy 3, Get 1 FREE! Mark Adrian Shoes, 103 Main St.
15% off ALL fine art at the Jon Sarkin Studio, 39 Main St.
Free fish gibbet or shark sticker, $20 Gloucester Lobster or Tuna SPF Hoodie, $30 Puffer Jackets & salty treats at Gloucester Apparel, 44 Main St.
Open mic poetry readings at Lockwood Studios, 2 Eastern Ave.
Free stickers (New designs!) & free candy at Toodeloos, 142 Main St.
Paw-Garita with purchase (Dog friendly cucumber drink) at Masshole & Co. Pet Provisions, 137 Main St.
25% off select items at The Cave, 44 Main St.
40% off storewide and complimentary prosecco at Design of Mine (New location!), 33 Main St.
25% Off sale on select items + fun giveaways and treats at the Pop Gallery, 67 Main St.

Saturday, Jan. 25th
Sea Shanties by Three Sheets to the Wind, with Sing Along, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2pm โ€“ 4pm, 10 Church Street
Make a โ€œSalty Craft,โ€ Maritime Gloucester, 10am โ€“ 4pm, 23 Harbor Loop
Seasoned Snowman Popcorn Bags with The Open Door at Sawyer Free Library, 10:30am-12:00pm, 21 Main Street
Open Mic Poetry Readings, Lockwood Studios, 3pm โ€“ 5pm, 2 Eastern Ave.
Vintage Filagree Treasures Embedded โ€“ an โ€œEye spyโ€ search and find hidden items, at Lockwood Studios, 2 Eastern Ave.

Sunday, Jan. 26th
Make a โ€œSalty Craft,โ€ at Maritime Gloucester, 10am โ€“ 4pm, 23 Harbor Loop
Paint saltwater dough fish, while supplies last, Local Colors, 121 Main St
Open Mic Poetry Readings with light refreshments, Lockwood Studios, 3pm โ€“ 5pm, 2 Eastern Ave.
20$ Salty Suncatchers with Saltwater at Pat Dโ€™s Photos, 44 Main St.
Raffle + One day only Special Drinks (Frosty Tide, Salty Beach) at Shore Nutrition, 139 Main St.
Vintage Filagree Treasures Embedded โ€“ an โ€œEye spyโ€ search and find hidden items, at Lockwood Studios, 2 Eastern Ave.

MLK Day

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s ninth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday event is going forward tomorrow afternoon as-planned!

The fast-moving storm is due to pass overnight and, although tomorrow will be quite cold, we have decided to persevere like good New Englanders.ย  The event takes place in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Middle and Church Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street), running from 2:00-4:00pm.ย  Parking is available on the green in front of the Church, on the street, and in nearby parking lots in the historic district. There is a side entrance with an elevator at 10 Church Street. ย  More info at: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

PROGRAM: โ€œReckoningโ€

ย Charles Nazarian, Welcome.

ย Martin Luther King, Jr. recorded segments of โ€œLetters from Birmingham Jail.โ€

ย Melissa Dimond of Wellspring House presents that organizationโ€™s work on the Freeman Family, the prominent Black family who called the Wellspring House home for over 100 years.

Rev. Janet Parsons will describe the first five years of the Cape Ann Slavery and Abolition Trust and introduce Joe Ruykeyser, project manager. He will present new research into the efforts of enslaved people to secure their freedom through the courts in the wake of the 1783 Supreme Judicial Court decision that enslavement was in conflict with the Massachusetts Constitution.

Intermission

Michea McCaffrey and Dick Prouty lead an interactive discussion of How the Word is Passed, by Clint Smith.

ย 

You are invited to help ring the Paul Revere bell in the Meetinghouse tower to honor Dr. King as we depart the Meetinghouse. Go up the stairs from the entrance foyer to the second-floor landing.

 

 

You buy a Pink or Red Fleece Lined Pom Cap For Your Daughter Sister Mom or Friend And I Include. Heart Valentine Bag Ready To Gift Making It Easy For You!!!

Link to purchase https://gloucesterapparel.square.site/product/super-soft-fleece-lined-thirsty-seagull-label-women-s-pom-beannie/69

No need to overthink it! I got you covered and I guarantee youโ€™ll love them!

Splash over on Stacy Boulevard

An hour and a half after high tide on Saturday.ย  Glad I bought the raincoat for my camera.

A parking ban is in effect in Gloucester from 6 PM today, Jan 19th, until 8 AM tomorrow, Jan 20th. Parking is available at municipal/school lots (except East Veterans Elementary School).

A reminder that residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks adjacent to their property. Please also clear any hydrants near your home to ensure emergency access. Donโ€™t forget to check on elderly or disabled neighbors during the storm.

For updates, visit โ€‹the Snow Center on the City’s website: https://bit.ly/3CiJzel.

โ€‹Reminder that City Hall is closed, and trash/recycling wonโ€™t be collected on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Experience Machaca at Lunchtime โ€“ A Rare Treat! ๐ŸŒŸ

For one special weekend only, Machaca will open its doors at 12:00 PM noon on Saturday, January 25th, and Sunday, January 26th for lunch! 

If youโ€™ve been craving our authentic Mexican flavors but have only been able to visit us for dinner, this is your chance to savor Machaca during the day.

As part of the Gloucester So Salty Festival, weโ€™re bringing the magic to life with a stunning ice sculpture of a sugar skull displayed outside our restaurant. Donโ€™t miss the chance to snap a photo and admire this frosty masterpiece. Stay awhile enjoying a fresh Margarita with lunch!

๐ŸŒฎ Mark Your Calendars ๐ŸŒถ

๐Ÿ“… Dates: January 25th & 26th

๐Ÿ•› Opening Time: 12:00 PM noon 

(lunch hours only for this special event)

Sun Setting On Our Lobster Trap Tree

I’m not sure how much longer we will have to enjoy this year’s Lobster Trap Tree on the Harbor Loop so if you haven’t been down there (especially when lit in the evenings) maybe this long holiday weekend is the time to do that! It’s stunning no matter the time of day, but these were as the sun was setting.