A good week to get out around town — here’s what’s going on in Gloucester and Rockport:
Last call on Rocky Neck — Sunday, Nov 1. Final day of YES!, the Rocky Neck Art Colony members exhibition — 72 local artists at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, noon to 5, free — and Vanessa Michalak’s open studio at 77 Rocky Neck Ave runs 11 to 5 the same day.
Gloucester Gratis Day at Hammond Castle + Beauport Sessions — Tuesday, Nov 3. Gloucester residents get free self-guided tours of Hammond Castle Museum every Tuesday (proof of residency at check-in, plan on at least an hour) — and Tuesday night, the Beauport Sessions live music series runs 6:00–9:00 PM in the 1606 Bar at the Beauport Hotel, free.
Holiday Market at North Shore Arts Association — Friday–Sunday, Nov 6–8, 11 Pirates Lane, Gloucester. NSAA’s last open weekend of 2026 pairs hot cider and coffee with wearables, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, mosaics and art big and small from NSAA artists and the Cape Ann Artisans — an easy first stop for holiday gift shopping.
From the Deep: A Fall Downtown Gloucester Arts Party — Saturday, Nov 7, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM, downtown Gloucester, free. The Harbortown Cultural District‘s free fall arts party takes over downtown with performances, installations, gallery openings, poetry readings and hands-on art activities all over the cultural district — including our own Sea Creative Children’s Sketching Contest, 11 to 3.
Renaissance Faire at Hammond Castle Museum — Saturday & Sunday, Nov 7–8, Gloucester. Hammond Castle goes full medieval: armored combat demos, a talk on medieval arms and armor, storytellers, a harpist, a kids’ craft tent, and James Jones and Shelley Wolfe from Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum as King and Queen on Saturday. Costumes encouraged; free parking at Stage Fort Park with shuttles 8:45 AM–5:00 PM.
