Yesterday, the SeaPort Veterinary Hospital had a Northern Gannet that needed transport to Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton so I decided to take a bird for a ride. The staff at SeaPort Veterinary Hospital told me this feisty Gannet was found near Zeke’s earlier in the day.

I neglected to take the time of day into account so this ride occurred during rush hour and was longer than it should have been, but the Gannet didn’t seem to mind. I put NPR on to keep him calm 😁 for the ride. He was mostly pretty quiet, just occasionally making little noises in the back. He only squawked vigorously in each facility at both ends of the trip, and it was LOUD! I decided to call him GMG Gannet.

I felt like a story circle was closing in that the Northern Gannet I reported a couple of weeks ago may or may not have survived…..I didn’t know how that Gannet made out, but this one is now safe and in good hands. Thank you staff at Zeke’s, SeaPort Veterinary Hospital and Tufts Wildlife Clinic!

Home » Attend » Riverfest Seaside Music Festival » Getting There / While You’re There

GREAT MUSIC IN A SPECTACULAR SETTING

The Riverfest Seaside Music Festival is held at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester — America’s Oldest Seaport — 35 miles northeast of Boston. The expansive, historic park overlooks stunning Gloucester Harbor — and is a fantastic venue to enjoy live music! (Take a look!)

Grab some friends and join us for this annual celebration!

GETTING TO THE EVENT

 MAP & DIRECTIONS
Stage Fort Park
24 Hough Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930
 Google Map & Directions

 PARKING
A limited number of on-site parking spots will be available on a first-come-first-served basis at the park ($20 for non-residents and free for residents with beach parking stickers). Festival attendees are encouraged to rideshare/carpool to the event, use ride hailing services (Uber/Lyft/Taxi), take alternative transportation to the event, and utilize the free shuttle service to/from satellite parking (see below).

 SHUTTLE BUS & SATELLITE PARKING
The satellite parking locations below will be serviced by a free shuttle bus, provided courtesy of 92.5 the River:
■ Magnolia Woods Recreational Area , 474 Western Ave.  map/directions ($10 parking, Free Shuttle)
■ O’Maley Innovation Middle School, 32 Cherry St.  map/directions ($10 parking, Free shuttle)

Shuttle hours of operation: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

The shuttle drop-off/pick-up is adjacent to the The Cupboard Restaurant, 41 Hough St, right next to the festival.

Additional Satellite Parking is available at Gloucester High School,  map/directions ($10 parking, No shuttle service). This location will NOT offer shuttle service, but it’s only a one mile walk to Stage Fort Park.

*Additional information about the shuttle service and satellite parking locations will be posted here as it becomes available.

 MBTA COMMUTER RAIL
MBTA Commuter Rail’s Newburyport/Rockport Line services points between North Station and Rockport, with a stop in Gloucester. Check MBTA Schedules & Maps for up-to-date train schedule and service info.

 PEDAL POWER
If you live nearby, why not leave the car at home and ride a bicycle to the festival? After all, riding a bike is good for your health, the environment, your wallet, and your soul!

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WHILE YOU’RE THERE

 SHARE THE SPACE
Keeping this event free and open to the public requires us all to share the space respectfully. Feel free to bring chairs or a blanket (no plastic tarps please), but leave your umbrellas at home. Please be mindful of other attendees and our shared desire to see the stage, dance, and have a good time! The festival is held in an open park, and attendees must obey all park policies.

 FESTIVAL MAP
Stretch your legs and stroll around Stage Fort Park. Check out the booths of the various sponsors — whose support helps keep this event free for the public! To make sure you don’t miss anything, check out the 2019 Festival Map.

 PARK POLICIES
■ Help keep Gloucester and Stage Fort Park beautiful! Please do not leave behind cigarette butts, trash, food, etc. Put all trash/recycling in proper barrels.
■ Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in Stage Fort Park, except within the designated age 21+ area(s) specially permitted during this event.
■ Dogs and other pets must be on a leash at all times.

 GENERAL VISITOR INFO
Stage Fort Park is home to a Visitor’s Center, where information and maps are available. Additionally, Discover Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will be sharing a sponsor’s booth at the festival, and will be providing local information and tips!

 LOST & FOUND
The Information Booth will function as a “lost & found” during the event. However, items left after the concert will be either disposed of or recycled following the conclusion of the event.

Lineup Sampler-

Photos from Len Burgess-

August 22, 2019

Stage Fort Park Advisory for Saturday, August 24

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (August 22, 2019) – The City of Gloucester has issued an advisory for Saturday, August 24 in and around Stage Fort Park (SFP) for the Riverfest Seaside Music Festival. The festival is scheduled from 12 PM – 6 PM and additional event details can be found here: https://theriverboston.com/attend/riverfest/.

Residents should be aware that general event parking will be available at SFP, at the Little League parking lot and lower lot adjacent to The Cupboard Restaurant. Free parking is available for residents with a beach parking sticker at SFP, O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Magnolia Woods, and Gloucester High School. Free shuttle service will be provided from O’Maley and Magnolia Woods. The City is encouraging the use of taxi’s and or ride-sharing services (Uber, Lyft) from any MBTA station. CATA will be running its standard Saturday routes, including shuttle service to SFP, downtown and beaches.

For the safety and enjoyment of all residents and guests visitors should take a moment and review SFP’s rules and regulations. That complete list can be found here: https://gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5647.

Local traffic and access will be managed with lot attendants, posted signs and police details. Lane shifts and/or alternating one-way traffic may be required and implemented based on the work and direction of the detail officers. By mid-morning Hough Avenue will be restricted to one way, beginning from the Stacey Boulevard entrance.

The Gloucester Police Department will be implementing a traffic management plan that will mitigate traffic and pedestrian impact on the community and that will facilitate a safe and orderly egress at the conclusion of the event. “No concert parking” signs will be posted at the beginning of more than a dozen streets in and around the SFP Area. Officers will be out enforcing traffic and/or parking violations.

Residents should follow the City of Gloucester and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken Facebook pages. Traffic, parking and event updates will be posted periodically throughout the day.

At times, traffic may be extremely congested. As always, drivers and pedestrians should exercise caution and patience navigating through and around Stage Fort Park. The City of Gloucester appreciates everyone’s patience and cooperation.

About the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts

As America’s oldest seaport, the City of Gloucester is known as an authentic, working waterfront community, a place of spectacular natural beauty, and home to a diverse population of approximately 30,000 residents. Its sharp focus on economic development has helped build its reputation as the ideal location to live, work, and play. An important center for the fishing industry, the City is also proud of its vibrant cultural life and rich art heritage. Gloucester is a destination for thousands of visitors who come to the harbor and its beaches during the summer months. The City will be celebrating its 400th Anniversary in 2023. For more information, please visit: www.gloucester-ma.gov.

MEDIA ALERT – Stage Fort Park Advisory for Riverfest.pdf

Everything old is new again. Some of you may have experienced the congested traffic near Stage Fort Park and Blynman Bridge last weekend and muttered to yourself that  you’ve never seen it worse. Here’s an article from the Gloucester Daily Times Aug 22 1938 saying pretty much the same thing. I find it interesting that we can easily see history repeating itself. Get ready though because Riverfest is coming up this weekend!

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