Celebrate the holiday season with the 5th Annual Winter Lights on Cape Ann! Discover Gloucester, in collaboration with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, invites you to experience the magic of the season in the charming coastal towns of Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. The festivities begin on Small Business Saturday, November 30, 2024, and continue through New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025.

Businesses across Cape Ann will light up the season with enchanting storefront displays, transforming their communities into a sparkling holiday wonderland. The illuminated streets and festive windows create a beautiful backdrop for exploring, shopping, and enjoying the magic of this special time of year.“

This event brings together the heart of Cape Ann—our small businesses and our community spirit—to create something truly special for residents and visitors alike,” says Steve Buckley, CEO of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. “We’re thrilled to see so many businesses participating again this year, each contributing their creativity and holiday cheer to make the season shine even brighter.”

The annual Winter Lights Decorating Contest is back, encouraging everyone to explore Cape Ann and vote for their favorite displays. Voting begins on Small Business Saturday, November 30, and continues throughout the season. Winners will be announced in the New Year, and anyone who votes will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.

“Winter Lights on Cape Ann is one of the most festive times of the year,” says Brittany DiCologero, Marketing Director of Discover Gloucester. “It’s the perfect opportunity to discover what makes our communities so unique—walkable streets, beautifully decorated shops, and the unmistakable charm of Cape Ann during the holidays.”Start planning your holiday adventure today! Find the full list of participating businesses, cast your vote for the best displays, and explore the interactive digital map with event details, local promotions, and more at https://discovergloucester.com/winter-lights-cape-ann/. Brochures are also available at participating locations or downloadable online.

About Discover Gloucester

Discover Gloucester is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Gloucester as a premier visitor destination. Working collaboratively with local businesses and cultural institutions, Discover Gloucester inspires authentic visitor experiences and fosters economic vitality in the region.

About The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Serving Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport for over 100 years, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting local businesses, fostering economic growth, celebrating cultural heritage, and enhancing the quality of life throughout the region.

Discover Gloucester is pleased to announce this year’s distinguished award recipients who will be celebrated at the 2024 Holiday Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, December 12, at Cruiseport Gloucester. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon program starting at 12:00 p.m. 

This annual event brings together community leaders, business owners, and residents to recognize individuals whose contributions have helped shape Gloucester into an authentic and dynamic destination.

The 2024 Discover Gloucester Award Winners are:

Exceptional Service Award
Awarded to “Beauport Bob” of Beauport Hospitality Group
This award honors an individual or establishment that has consistently gone above and beyond to promote Gloucester as a top destination. Through exceptional service, “Beauport Bob” has demonstrated a commitment to providing memorable experiences for visitors near and far, while supporting the core values of Gloucester’s hospitality industry.

Outstanding Appreciation Award
Awarded to Zach Sears of Minglewood Harborside
This award recognizes individuals or organizations whose dedication has strengthened Gloucester’s position as a valuable and authentic visitor destination. Zach Sears has fostered resilient community connections, showing exemplary devotion to both residents and visitors alike. 

Cultural Heritage / Harbor of Learning Award
Awarded to Mary Kay Taylor of Maritime Heritage Charters / Schooner Ardelle
This award celebrates those dedicated to preserving Gloucester’s cultural heritage and educating others on its maritime legacy. Mary Kay Taylor has been instrumental in sharing Gloucester’s rich history and fostering appreciation for the unique experiences that Gloucester has to offer.

The Tobin Dominick Leadership Award
Awarded to John Orlando of Harborview Inn
This legacy award honors leaders with longstanding contributions to Gloucester’s tourism industry. John Orlando is recognized as a community pillar, demonstrating a lasting commitment to supporting Gloucester’s tourism and hospitality sector and embodying the leadership qualities that inspire others to invest in this special destination.

The Awards Celebration and Holiday Luncheon is sponsored by Cruiseport Gloucester.

Join us on December 12, at Cruiseport Gloucester, to celebrate these remarkable individuals and their impact on Gloucester’s vibrant community and tourism landscape. To purchase tickets to the Holiday Awards Luncheon, please visit: https://gloucester-tourism-alliance-dba-discover-gloucester.square.site/

For further details, please contact:
Brittany DiCologero
Discover Gloucester
brittany@discovergloucester.com | (978) 949-1644
discovergloucester.com

About Discover Gloucester
As the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the City of Gloucester, Discover Gloucester works to promote tourism and the visitor based economy by increasing awareness of Gloucester as a desirable visitor destination while also improving the quality of life for Gloucester residents and local business owners with positive economic benefits.

Discover Gloucester is a nonprofit 501-C-6, with grant support from the City of Gloucester, along with tourism-related local businesses that invest in advertising in our annual Discover Gloucester Visitor Guide and specially designed cooperative advertising packages and social media campaigns.

Don’t miss out on the final days of the progressive sale of Sea Glass Stepping Stones at the Cape Ann Designs Studio.  Open Saturday, November 9 from 10-4 – 44 Thurston Pt. Rd. Back Barn.

The artists of Rockport invite you to the Second Saturday ArtWalk! This Saturday, November 9th, from 5:00-8:00 pm our galleries will be open, with many offering snacks and beverages. This is a great chance to shop local and get a jump on your holiday shopping list! Visit our website RockportArtists.com for a list of participating galleries and an interactive map. 

It’s a great chance to shop local and get a jump on holiday shopping

KRISTIN CZARNECKI

Encounters with Inscriptions: A Memoir

Saturday, November 2, 4PM
North Shore Arts Association
11 Pirates Lane, Gloucester, MA

North Shore Arts Association is excited to have a book reading and signing by Kristin Czarnecki, Executive Director of the Rockport Art Assocation & Museum. In her new book, Kristin writes about the books that have been inscribed and given to her by her parents over the years – an array of novels, short stories, poetry, nature writing, cultural criticism, and a cookbook. To purchase “Encounters with Inscriptions” and to learn more about the author please click HERE.

We would love for you to join us in celebrating Kristin’s recently published book with fresh-baked pies, hot cider, and mulled wine. This warm and cozy autumn experience is not to be missed! 

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirates Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information, please call us at (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Sundays, 12 – 4 PM, and closed Mondays.

What: HOLIDAY POP-UP
Where: North Shore Arts Association, 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
When: November 2 & 3, 2024
Cost: Open and free to the public
Images: 1 attached

It’s that time of year! Come enjoy our LAST OPEN WEEKEND of 2024 (November 2 & 3), with mulled wine, hot cider, fresh-baked goodies, and of course, lots of art. Both our annual Silent Auction (Champagne & Strawberries Closing Reception on November 3, bidding ends at 3PM) and the Artists on Cape Ann: Past and Present exhibit will be on display. Find the perfect gift for friends or family this holiday season, right here at NSAA! All are welcome!

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about events please call (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Sundays 12 – 4 PM, and closed Mondays.

Please visit our Holiday Pop-Up Event Page for more information about this weekend’s festivities.

It’s the end of one season and the start of a new one!  Cape Ann Designs inventory of steppingstones will enjoy a “progressive sale” through November 11th.  

The studio will be open 10-4 on Saturday, November 2 & 9th and by appointment at the back barn of 44 Thurston Pt. Rd., Gloucester.    Join me for a hot cider and to toast to end of a fabulous summer and fall!  Questions and appointments – 978-283-8333.

If you are in Rockport, don’t miss the FALL PROMOTION  at Gallery Number One – One Main Street.   Check out the special table in the back for special art deals including sea glass, painting, and more!

8 p.m. Friday

Shalin Liu Performance Center,
37 Main Street in Rockport, Mass.

Effervescent and engaging, Boston-based fiddler Hanneke Cassel’s fiddle music fuses influences from the Isle of Skye and Cape Breton with Americana grooves and musical innovations. Her music is a blend of the contemporary and traditional, described by the Boston Globe as “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and an irresistible playfulness.”  For this duo project, Hanneke joins forces with pianist Dave Wiesler who has built a national reputation for his rhythmic and innovative piano playing, and his sensitive accompaniment of dance music, choruses, and soloists.  Hanneke and Dave have played together for over 20 years, recorded together on six albums, and have toured the East coast of the United States and across France, performing concerts and playing for Scottish Country Dances. 

Keith Murphy and Yann Falquet are masters of contemporary Celtic guitar, representing the compelling textures, harmonies and rhythms that the guitar has brought to traditional songs and instrumentals since the Celtic music revival in the 1970s. As singers, they bring a rich blending of the Franco and Anglo song traditions. Falquet comes with a wealth of songs from the French-Canadian tradition. He is probably best known for his work with the Quebecois trio, Genticorum, with whom he has been a driving force since the group’s inception.  Murphy is a highly respected traditional singer and brings a song repertoire filled with gems from his native Newfoundland as well as Quebec and his current home, Vermont. He was a founding member of the groundbreaking trio, Nightingale. https://www.hannekecassel.com/

What: Silent Auction
Where: North Shore Arts Association, 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
When: October 18 – November 3, 2024
Reception: Sunday, November 3, 1-3 PM
Cost: Open and free to the public
Images: 1 attached

North Shore Arts Association’s much-anticipated, long-awaited annual Silent Auction is finally here! Starting October 18, the public can bid on over 60 different artworks, starting at $150 with a minimum increment of $25. This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase artwork by renowned local artists at an affordable price.

We will have a Champagne & Strawberries closing reception on Sunday, November 3rd, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Bidding will close at 3:00 PM. Come enjoy light fare and beverages and get your final bid in!

All are welcome! North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about events please call (978) 283-1857 or emailarts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Sundays 12 – 4 PM, and closed Mondays.

Exhibition Dates: October 12 – 14, 2024
Reception: Sunday, October 13, 3 – 6 pm

Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Ave., Gloucester, MA
Gallery open: Friday – Monday, 12 – 6 pm

The Rocky Neck Art Colony proudly presents Phyllis Feld—A Retrospective, a three-day exhibition curated by Dina Gomery, showcasing the works of Phyllis Feld (1941–2023) at Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Ave.

Phyllis Feld, a Gloucester resident, worked from her studio overlooking the inspiring Cripple Cove. An award-winning artist and cherished member of the Cape Ann arts community, Phyllis passed away suddenly in May 2023 at the age of 81, leaving works in progress and dreams of new creations. She loved painting en plein air, finding the experience both challenging and “liberating.”

A perfectionist with high standards, Phyllis brought the same dedication to her art as she did to her career as a space designer. Her oil paintings are known for their fine detail, tonal depth, and atmospheric quality. She was an active member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, North Shore Arts Association, Gallery 53 (now The Salted Cod), Central Street Gallery in Manchester-by-the-sea, and the Marblehead and Concord Art Associations.

This retrospective offers an opportunity to honor Phyllis’s memory, celebrate her legacy, and reflect on her contributions to the artistic community. The gallery will be open during Columbus Day weekend, October 12, 13 and 14, from noon to 6 PM, with a reception on Sunday from 3-6 PM.

###

RNAC acknowledges the generosity of Mark Goetemann who has donated the use of the former home and gallery space of his late parents Gordon and Judith Goetemann to honor their legacy as artists, as inveterate supporters of artistic excellence, and to carry on their commitment to keeping Rocky Neck a haven for artists and art lovers

Enjoy the second Sails and Trails special Friends and Family Friday at Gallery Number One this Friday, September  27^th from 5-8 PM.  Celebrate FALL on Cape Ann during Essex Country National Heritage  #SailsandTrails!   As part of the event, every visitor can “pick their own promotion” to have a unique discount from 10-40% or a free gift from many of the artists in the gallery!

The Gallery, is home to Deb Schradieck and her dreamy watercolor scenes of Cape Ann along with painter Audi Souza. It also features pottery and fused glass.   The gallery will hold extended evening hours from 5-8PM with beverages, appetizers, and extensive work from Cape Ann Designs authentic sea glass jewelry and hair accessories.  Pop in to  get a head start on seasonal shopping and add to the evening ambience in Rockport.

For details contact Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, CapeAnnDesigns.com  jackie@capeanndesigns.com or 978-283-8333

Imagine a world where zombies do more than shuffle around looking for brains—they SING and DANCE! Yes, our hilarious new show “Night of the Living Dead, The Musical” is ready to rise from the grave and make its New England Premiere, but we need $2,000 to bring this brain-eating, toe-tapping extravaganza to life!

Here’s what your donation will fund: Thrilling songs like “Eyes in the Night,” the zombies’ signature song, “Night of the Living Dead,” and the comical “They’re Coming to Get You, Barbara.” Plus, “corpse chic” costumes and make up, spooky sets, striking visuals and heart- stopping moments.

For just the price of a fancy coffee, you can help us make zombie history! If you’ve ever dreamed of watching a horde of zombies sing their hearts out (literally), now’s your chance.

The show will go on at the Christ Church United, 1 Bartlet Street, Lowell, MA from October 18 to 20. Schedule details are on the ticket page. This is a Dramatically Incorrect Theater Group & Dance Company production.

Donate here today and secure your front-row seat to the most entertaining apocalypse since .

. . well, ever!

Tickets are available here.



Dramatically Incorrect Theater Group and Dance Company is a registered 501(C)3 non-profit organization nestled in the heart of downtown Lowell, MA. We pride ourselves on pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and celebrating the richness of human experience through the performing arts. https://ditgdc.org/

Join Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco at Gallery Number One in Rockport for the first two “Friends and Family Friday” nights to celebrate FALL on Cape Ann during Essex Country National Heritage  #SailsandTrails! The Gallery will hold extended evening hours from 5-8PM with beverages, appetizers, and added work from Cape Ann Designs authentic sea glass jewelry and hair accessories. Enjoy paintings & prints from Deb Schradieck and Audi Souza along with pottery and glass.  Special promotions will be offered each week to give you a head start on your seasonal shopping.  

Events from September 20 – September 27 (capeanndesigns.com)

 North Shore Arts Association, 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
August 24 – September 12, 2024
Open and free to the public

The North Shore Arts Association is delighted to exhibit artworks by Associate Members in the Summer Show on view from August 24 – September 12, 2024. The show is abundant with talent and a variety of styles, bringing the gallery to life with over one hundred works of art.  Award winning artworks are displayed throughout honoring local artists on Cape Ann. The opening reception is Saturday, August 31 (1 – 3 PM). All are welcome!

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about events please call (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Sundays 12 – 4 PM.

Announcing Cape Ann GuitarFest 2024! Join us for a celebration of guitar music to be held at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, on September 28th, 2024, from 12:00 to 9:30 pm. Mariachi, Blues, Classical, American Primitive, and Malian Griot are all on the program, featuring local, regional, and national performers. In addition to the performances, there will be two workshops for guitarists, in Jazz and American Primitive styles. 

The versatility of the guitar will be on full display at Cape Ann GuitarFest as a solo instrument, ensemble member, and vehicle for storytelling and song. Cape Ann Guitar Society’s purpose is to elevate local guitarists as well as to connect with the global guitar family, and we are thrilled to present this diverse array of musicians under the big tent at Windhover. 

Festival Program

Workshops:

• 12 pm: Steve Lacey jazz guitar – Chord/scale relationships, common chord progressions and voicing, practice routines
• 1 pm: Nick Schillace, fingerstyle guitar, John Fahey and the American Primitive style. 

Concerts:

• 2:30 pm: Mariachi Guadalajara en Boston
• 3:30 pm: Cape Ann Guitar Society’s Brendan Evans, classical and flamenco
• 4:30 pm: Gloucester’s resident blues expert Bill Gleason
• 5:30 – 7 pm: Dinner*
• 7:00 pm: American Primitive guitarist Nick Schillace
•  8:00 pm: Griot singer, guitarist, and storyteller Boubacar Diabate and his band SambaLolo

*Food options: Order a Banh Mi sandwich with your ticket, BYO picnic, or queue up at the food truck for smash burgers and tacos. 

Tickets available here, or at http://www.capeannguitarsociety.org

Performer bios

Mariachi Guadalajara en Boston is New England’s premiere Mariachi ensemble, playing parties, shows, and concerts throughout the region. 

Classical guitarist Brendan Evans has performed, taught, and won awards throughout North America and around the world. A Rockport, Massachusetts native, Brendan performs and teaches locally and internationally, is the founder of the Cape Ann Guitar Society, and enjoys playing in various groups, including the original project Nightowls. Brendan holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the Oberlin and San Francisco Conservatories. While pursuing his undergraduate degree Brendan spent a year studying flamenco guitar in the cities of Granada and Cordoba, Spain. 

Gloucester resident Bill Gleason has been playing guitar all of his life. He is self taught, and  used to hang out in DinkyTown Minneapolis with Bob Dylan before he was famous. 

An early devotee of traditional American guitar styles, Nick Schillace began studying fingerpicking techniques at the Augusta Heritage Workshop in West Virginia with artists including John Jackson, John Cephas, Steve James, Roy Book Binder, Del Ray, and many others shortly after picking up a guitar in 1984. Nick spent a decade adapting these techniques to acoustic and electric guitar, and later banjo, before entering the music program at Wayne State University, ultimately earning a masters degree with a focus on 20th Century American music identity.

Centering his research on the late guitarist and composer John Fahey, Nick explored the intersection of folk and vernacular influences and how these influences develop into a cultivated style for artists. This research still informs the way he approaches his own music, as well as his work as an educator via Orion Music Studio and Detroit Folk Workshop.

Griot singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter and storyteller Boubacar Diabate from Bamako, Mali comes from the Mande lineage and has combined traditional rhythms with modern influences to create his own style of contemporary Malian Griot music presenting his own compositions and arrangements, singing and playing guitar with his group, SambaLolo. Singing in Bambara and Manding, Boubacar Diabate and SambaLolo create a performance that spans the full spectrum of Traditional to Contemporary Malian music from West Africa combined with Blues, Jazz, Reggae and Bluegrass – Bouba sings of our common shared experience of love, life and humanity, giving all an opportunity to hear the age-old West African tradition of Griot storytelling through song.

Cape Ann Guitar Society is dedicated to building and nurturing a community of listening and learning through guitar related concerts, workshops, and meetups. As a maritime center, Cape Ann’s culture is inherently diverse, and we seek out, represent, and learn from that diversity through the guitar. The Guitar Society amplifies local voices and brings visiting artists and teachers to Cape Ann, connecting our local communities with the global guitar family – music as cultural diplomacy. We seek to expand the repertoire through commissioning projects and collaborations with other local arts and historical organizations. 

Windhover Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center serving the greater Cape Ann region by creating and nurturing community through sharing the experience of the arts. In addition to public performances of dance, theater and music,  we offer classes, workshops, yoga and meditation retreats, and opportunities for community conversations about issues that matter.

Windhover offers sanctuary and shelter –  for the audience under the huge tent that now covers the stage and audience area, and for performers, directors and choreographers to work together in creative collaboration through week-long residencies.

Friday, September 13th 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Gates will open at 6:00 p.m.
for photos with Miz Diamond
Wigfall and refreshments.

Local drag queen Miz Diamond Wigfall will come to Castle Hill to dazzle, delight, and dance the night away to millennial tunes. Guests can sip on craft cocktails provided by Deacon Giles DIstillery, nibble on small snacks, and laugh until their sides ache. Miz Diamond’s show will light up the darkness of the Casino, and fill Castle Hill with a colorful, joyful, and hilarious drag show.

Doors will open at 6pm for photos with Miz Diamond before the show begins at 7pm. All seating is open table seating. 21+ only. Ticket includes parking and one complimentary cocktail. This is an outdoor event; tickets are rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors. 

Tickets may be purchased online in advance or at the gate (if still                   available).  $50/person or $40/person for Trustees members. This event is rain or shine. Please visit https://thetrustees.org/event/418923/ or call 978.356.4351 for more information.