Day: January 8, 2026

Join us in celebrating the fish city’s recognizably salty character with the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty, a festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each January to shop at local stores, enjoy family friendly activities, visit the Museum Courtyard, and find each of the ice sculptures sponsored by local cultural institutions and businesses.

Gloucester’s So Salty will take place on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm!

Activities and Performances

Ice Sculptures, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

While the downtown Museum is temporarily closed for renovations, we welcome you to visit us at the CAM Tent in the Museum’s Courtyard to grab a Brochure map of the weekend’s activities and find all the ice sculptures downtown (Hint, three are right by the tent in the Courtyard!).

Sea Shanties, Saturday, January 24, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Sea Shanties performed by Three Sheets to the Wind. Free and open to the public. Unitarian Universalist Church of Gloucester, Middle Street, Gloucester.

Sawyer Free Library, Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Meet Mayor Lundberg who will be reading Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton, at 1:00 p.m. and enjoy free children’s activities and crafts on Saturday with Open Door and Pathways of Gloucester. Free and Open to the Public.

Sawyer Free Library: All events are open to all ages, families and community members!

  • Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. on the Second Floor (Children’s Department): Frozen Fun with Elsa: Elsa’s Frozen Ice & Snow show brings stories and the science of ice together for a fun morning of learning for children!
  • Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the Main Floor (Reading Lounge): Live Music Trio featuring a variety of wintertime fun including Gershwin, Disney, some folk tunes, and classics
  • Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. on the Main Floor (Reading Lounge): Mayor Lundberg reads Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
  • Saturday 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on the Ground Floor (Community Room): Get Salty with fellow Community Partners! The Open Door hosts Crispy Chickpeas (includes samples!!!) and Pathways for Children offers Salt Art Snowflakes (colored salt and glue of pre-cut snowflake shapes).

Businesses Downtown

Check individual locations for days and times including listings for Special Offers as well as Family Friendly Activities!

  • The Bookstore of GloucesterFestive window display, 10% off select Salty books, and special ‘salty’ candles for sale courtesy of A Tale of Two Candles! Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 61 Main St.
  • Floating Lotus All weekend: 10% Off storewide. Join us for a Drumming Class: Primal Roots Drumming on Sunday, Jan 25th, 1:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the store. (Bring your own drum or rent one! For tickets visit: www.floatinglotus.net/products/primal-roots-drum. 169 Main Street.
  • Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library Sawyer SATURDAY: Free events and activities! 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Frozen Fun with Elsa: Elsa’s Frozen Ice & Snow show brings stories and the science of ice together for a fun morning of learning for children! 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the Main Floor: Live Music Trio featuring a variety of wintertime fun including Gershwin, Disney, folk tunes, and classics, 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.: Mayor Lundberg reads Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Get Salty with crafts by The Open Door and Pathways for Children. 2 Dale Avenue.
  • Dogtown BooksCreate your own Salty poetry, expressions or silly phrases on our front window! Saturdayand Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 132 Main St.
  • Fireflies Boutique Stop in for piece of Saltwater Taffy, free, at Fireflies Boutique. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 100 Main St.
  • Cape Ann Olive Oil 20% off on all salts and salt related products. Saturday & Sunday, 10-:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 57 Main St.
  • Design of Mine, a local boutique, 40% Off storewide Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 33 Main St.
  • Sweats of Gloucester 20% off storewide Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 85 Main Street.
  • Saluti and The Salted Cod After you find all the ice sculptures, come to Saluti, Gloucester’s new wine bar, located at the end of Main Street and enjoy a $5 mug of mulled wine or spiked cider! Good all weekend, 12:00 p.m. to closing. 272 Main Street. Offer also available at the Salted Cod on Rocky Neck (53 Rocky Neck Ave.)
  • Pop Gallery will be serving up Sales & Ales, warming libations and featuring some fun new looks as well as a Gloucester-So-Salty Raffle prize. Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 67 Main St.
  • Local Colors Come paint salt dough fish, while supplies last; see and shop work by local artists too! Saturday & Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., 121 Main St.
  • Design of Mine 40% Off storewide, All Weekend. 33 Main St.
  • Happy Tails Shoppe 10% Off All Dog & Cat Treats. Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 186 Main St.
  • Masshole & Co Pet Provisions Special:Doggie “Pawgaritas” – $1 with any purchase! A cucumber-based drink topped with whipped cream that pups can’t resist. Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 137 Main St.
  • Mark Adrian Shoes Icy, salty streets getting you down? Stay safe, dry, warm and fabulous in new winter boots! Lots on sale! Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 103 Main St.
  • Gloucester Apparel and Pat Ds Photos Buy-3, Get-One-Free Hat Sale! Includes Fleece Lined Caps. Pat D’s Photos: All notecards $3 each and large banner flags discounted to $25. Plus – free Salted Caramels 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day. 44A Main St., in between the Cave and Caffe Sicilia.
  • The Dress Code Stop by The Dress Code to warm up and enjoy 20% Off winter coats! Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 159 Main St.
  • Joe’s Fresh Fish Prints Come check out Fish Printing Demonstrations from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., 6 Main St.
  • Castaways Vintage Café $2 Salted Caramel lattes!! Saturday & Sunday, 6:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m., 65 Main St.
  • Sample This Winter Sale! Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 123 Main St.
  • Cape Ann Lanes/Laneside Pub & Brewery Special Offer! Buy-1, Get-one-free hot cocoa in our Winter Wonderland Beer Garden OR 10% off bowling and food after 4:00 p.m. Offer good all weekend! 53 Gloucester Ave.

Pre-Salty! GLO-ARTs – Make Your Own Ice Sculpture, A Children’s Program

Join Sawyer Free Library and Gloucester Center for the Arts (GloArts) to make a collaborative ice sculpture for the 5th Annual Gloucester So Salty Festival! We’ll be making elements for the collaborative ice sculpture using food coloring, natural plants, and more. We’ll also talk about how to assemble our final sculpture. Once the elements freeze, you’re invited to come back on Friday, January 23 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. to help put out our ice sculpture art installation outside the library! Patrons ages 11-19 (grades 6-12) are welcome to participate in this event. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Saturday, January 17, 1:30—3:30 p.m.

Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Bridge Construction

Posted on by Nichole S.

Day #1 of my bridge construction experience was fairly seamless. I dropped Finn off at Gloucester High School (just a few more weeks until he has his license!) and sat at a red light for just about a minute before being able to turn left off the boulevard to the HS. Leaving the HS traffic was backed up on Centennial just a bit….but again, no big deal. As my luck would have it, the light turned red again just before it was my turn to turn back onto the boulevard so that the one-way traffic headed over the bridge could commence for those waiting on the other side. I had to sit again for just a couple of minutes and then continued on my way. I need to remember to reroute myself going forward and I’m guessing things will be worse on other days and at other times….but, so far so good. And, you can’t beat the view while “stuck.” Given that we’re all used to sitting at the bridge all summer long, this is just par for the course….for drivers anyway. Boat traffic is a different issue.

Kings Roast Beef For Lunch

Posted on by Pat D

I was unexpectedly alone for lunch recently and decided to stop by Kings Roast Beef on Main St. I got a Junior Three Way and a chef salad for later. The sandwich was message, but outstanding. Mostly though, take note of this GIANT chef salad covered in yummy roast beef. It’s priced on the high side but totally still a value since Jim and I each got dinner out of it. Joey joined me shortly and enjoyed his own meal but I think this chef salad gets a chef’s kiss!

From Sea to Shore: Gloucester’s Fishing & Foodways Through Time

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 ~ GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE

Please join Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) and Schooner Adventure on Thursday, January 15th at GMGI, for an evening exploring the city’s maritime past, present, and future. 

From Sea to Shore: Gloucester’s Fishing & Foodways Through Time will examine the enduring relationship between sea and shore, from historic schooners and traditional fishing practices to leveraging marine genomic research to support sustainable fisheries.

Click the link below for more information and to register for this free event! 

Register

Featured Speakers:
Tim O’Donnell, GMGI Research Scientist
Emma Strand, Ph.D., GMGI Staff Scientist
Justin Demitri, Historian and Author on Gloucester Fishing Heritage
Emily Pearce, Executive Director, Schooner Adventure

I’m very proud of Kate. Here’s a 35plus year real estate professional saying that working with her has been the best experience working with a real estate broker since he’s been in the business. That’s saying a lot.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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