Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Celebrate the Holidays on Cape Ann

ESSEX

Thursday, December 4
6:30 p.m. Holiday festivities kick-off in Essex on Thursday night with a special tree lighting ceremony in front of Town Hall, on Martin Street.
Friday, December 5
6:00 p.m. Day two of the Essex holiday festival features Santa Claus’ arrival at the Town Landing – by boat! As you await Santa, activities and refreshments will be available, including: rides on Thomas the Train, Woodman’s clam chowder, Dunkin’ Donuts hot chocolate, and more.
Saturday, December 6
8:00 – 11:00 a.m. The final day of the Festival begins with a chance to eat breakfast with Santa Claus at the Essex Elementary School.
The holiday spirit continues with all-day Holiday Shopping Open Houses at many of Essex’s local businesses.
Thursday, December 11
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce for the Essex Holiday Party! The whole community is invited! Stop in, say hello and have some Holiday Cheer at the Windward Grille.

GLOUCESTER

Friday, November 28
6:00 a.m. “Shop Local Black Friday” begins early with downtown shops opening their doors, the day after Thanksgiving, with special discounts. Forget the mall and support local business! A fun family tradition to begin the season.
Sunday, November 30
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. End the Thanksgiving weekend with Gloucester’s Santa Parade, beginning at the State Fish Pier and ending at Kent Circle where the Tree Lighting will take place at 4:30 p.m.
www.capeannchamber.com
Thursday, December 4
5:00 – 10:00 p.m. The 42nd Annual Ladies Night on Main Street keeps historic downtown Gloucester open late! This has been a Gloucester tradition since 1972. Enjoy the special discounts and refreshments offered by businesses while finding unique holiday presents for loved ones. Ladies, don’t let your gift shopping wait until the last minute!
Saturday, December 13
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 16th Annual Middle Street Walk – bring friends and family to historic Middle Street to partake in concerts, open houses, special programs, and of course, traditional holiday decorations! An afternoon of cheer, arts, music, dance, and more – locations include, but are not limited to, Cape Ann Museum, Sawyer Free Library, Trinity Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, and Sargent House Museum.
Bring a decorated Gingerbread House to Gloucester City Hall before noon to register for the display and contest. Your sweet abode could take the cake!
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Contribute to the famous Lobster Pot Tree by painting a buoy at Cape Ann Art Haven.
5:00 p.m. Come down to Main Street to witness the lighting of Gloucester’s celebrated Lobster Pot Tree! Averaging 45 feet high and adorned with lobster buoys painted at Cape Ann Art Haven, this tree is constructed of anywhere from 300-400 lobster pots generously donated by local lobstermen. A Gloucester tradition that began in 2001 and inspired many other New England fishing communities!
P.S. – see a buoy you like? In January Cape Ann Art Haven will hold its annual Buoy Auction and Family FUN Night where you can bid on that memorable piece of Gloucester’s Lobsta Tree.
Sunday, December 14
Noon – 5:00 p.m. Family & Friends’ Day on Main Street – Spend the afternoon shopping with family and friends. Enjoy the beautifully decorated downtown stores while finding gifts for everyone in the family. Many stores will be offering refreshments and specials, and strolling musicians and carolers will sing in the holiday spirit.
Tuesday, December 16
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Join the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce for the Gloucester Holiday Party. The whole community is invited! Stop by our offices at 33 Commercial Street.
Thursday, December 18
5:00 – 10:00 p.m. 40th Annual Men’s Night – Gentleman, see something for your special someone or family member but couldn’t purchase with them watching? Historic downtown stays open late one last night for you to pick up your gifts at a discount, and enjoy some refreshments too; this night on Main Street is just for you.

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA

Christmas-by-the-Sea
Thursday, December 4
5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce for the Chamber Holiday Party and the Lucky 9 Raffle at La Casa de Luis on 40 Beach Street. The whole community is invited! Raffle tickets cost $25 and the grand prize is $1,000, with more than 20 prizes in all.
Friday, December 5
4:00 – 9:00 p.m. Shop Manchester Night kicks off Christmas-by-the-Sea’s holiday shopping season and allows you the chance to win an iPad Mini! To play, pick up a Shop Manchester Night Rewards Passport, available from participating stores. If you are able to collect a stamp from all participating shops before 9:00p.m., bring your passbook to Seven Central for a complimentary drink. Plus, all completed passbooks will be entered in the drawing for an iPad Mini.
Saturday, December 6
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Come back to downtown on Saturday for Horse-drawn Hayrides and the Annual Jingle Bell Walk with Santa Claus! Arriving at Masconomo Park at 1:00 p.m. by boat, St. Nick will lead the children to the Community Center, jingling all the way! At the Community Center stay for face-painting, crafts, a miniature petting zoo, refreshments, and a chance to hang out with Mr. & Mrs. Claus and take photos!

Drop in Children’s Crafts at the Manchester Historical Museum 9-12 on the Manchester Holiday Saturday, Dec. 6 ($1 per craft) Thanks, Beth

Sunday, December 7
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. The First Parish Church is once again hosting the Christmas Concert featuring the Manchester-Essex School Band, Soundwaves, High School Chorus, Memorial School Chorus, and La Petite Choral. After the show Mrs. Claus will be on the common handing out candy canes and hot chocolate.
4:30 p.m. The Lighting of the Friendship Tree will take place on the Town Hall Common directly after the concert.

ROCKPORT

Christmas in Rockport
Friday, December 5
4:00 – 9:00 p.m. Shop Rockport Night. Get your holiday shopping off to a festive start during this annual Shop Rockport Event! Participating cafes, galleries and shops will be serving hors d’oeuvres, wine and drinks while you shop throughout downtown Rockport and enjoy a night of special promotions. Stroll Rockport’s Christmas tree-lined streets and shop amidst the glow of a delightful array of colorful lights throughout the town.
Saturday, December 6
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Welcome the holidays to Rockport, with Santa Claus’ arrival by lobster boat, landing at T- Wharf. Picked up by his sleigh, a Rockport Forest Fire truck, Santa will be carted off to Dock Square led by the Rockport cub scouts to commence the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 7

1-5 PM

Start a new tradition with your family this year. For the fourth year running, “Seashells and Jingle Bells” Inn & Kitchen Tour is a great way to get you and your family in the spirit of the season! The tour features a perfect mix of Rockport’s finest accommodations and private seaside homes, decked to the nines in their best holiday décor. Inspiration guaranteed. (Tour begins at Rockport Inn & Suites, 183 Main Street)

Tuesday, December 9
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce for the Rockport Holiday Party and Half-Price Sale. The whole community is invited! Stop in for some Holiday Cheer at Roy Moore’s Fish Shack Restaurant!
Saturday & Sunday, December 13-14
Seaside Village Open House and the 13th Annual Holiday Gallery Stroll;
See events listed below:
Saturday, December 13
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Annual Scandinavian Jul Fest at Spiran Hall: Santa Lucia Pageant, children’s dancing, Spiran musicians, traditional foods and gifts, holiday greens, and luncheon. Free admission.
Noon – 2:00 p.m. Solstice Singers will be strolling through downtown; feel free to join in the song and celebration!
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Free horse-drawn hayrides pulled by a team of Belgian draft horses
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Quintessential Brass in Downtown Rockport, performing music of the season from traditional carols and classic holiday songs to jazzy Christmas tunes.
Saturday & Sunday, December 13-14
Noon – 4:00 p.m. 13th Annual Gallery Stroll in Downtown Rockport; become familiar with the local galleries, studios, artists, and artisans.
Saturday, December 20
5:00 p.m. The 69th Annual Christmas Pageant is a Rockport Christmas staple; the live re-enactment of the Nativity. The event begins at Dock Square with a torch-lit procession up Main Street towards the “stable,” representing Joseph and Mary’s journey to find the manger. After a quick stop at the Bethlehem Inn (Rockport Art Association), the procession continues to its final destination, a stable at the Congregational Church where the events of the Nativity are performed. With narration throughout and Christmas hymns sung by a full choir.
Wednesday, December 31
6:00 p.m. – Midnight New Year’s Rockport Eve 2014 – six hours of continuous entertainment provided by various businesses in Downtown Rockport. Ring in the future surrounded by merriment! There will be clowns, cowboys, magicians, and musicians, ventriloquists, puppets, dance, and drama – and much more celebrating of life and good fortune for the 2015 year to come!
Check out www.capeannvacations.com , www.capeannchamber.com , and www.rockportusa.com for more events during the holiday season and throughout the year!

Tree Lightings listed by town

Gloucester: (traditional) Sunday, November 30, 4:30 p.m. – Kent Circle & (Lobster Pot Tree) Thursday, December 13, 5:00 p.m. – Main Street
Essex: Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. – Town Hall
Rockport: Saturday, December 6, 4:00 p.m. – Dock Square
Manchester-by-the-Sea: Sunday, December 7, 4:30 p.m. – Town Hall Common