The Gloucester Schooner Festival over the Labor Day weekend has grown in 41 years into a signature New England event. It’s an economic engine that attracts crowds from throughout the Northeast and Eastern Canada.
Throughout the long weekend schooners will be seen under sail and docked around the harbor from the temporary docks at I4C2 on Rogers Street to Maritime Gloucester to Smith Cove.
Given its importance, it’s not too early to plan this year’s festival. The Schooner Festival Committee, chaired by Cyrus Bent, and assisted by former chair Daisy Nell, earlier this month held its kick-off meeting for the 42nd annual festival to include a weekend full of events.
Some two dozen schooners are invited. Many have already committed to participate. In addition to Saturday’s Heritage Day and Sunday’s Parade of Sail, the festival will feature the annual schooner races off Easter Point.
It comes as the schooner Adventure celebrates its 100th anniversary. Adventure was built in 1926 at the James Yard in Essex and is the last American dory trawler and was a “highliner” of the fleet (https://www.schooneradventure.org).
She’s birthed at Maritime Gloucester, which is Festival headquarters (https://www.maritimegloucester.org). Also at Maritime Gloucester are Harold Burnham’s Ardelle and Isabella.
Burnham, a master shipwright and National Heritage Fellow, comes from generations of Burnham’s whose vessels continue to remind residents and visitors of their importance to “our maritime history, our economy and our culture.”
Committee members, including Burnham, Tom and Heath Ellis of the Thomas E. Lannon, and Emily Pearce, executive director of the Adventure, attended the meeting. Together with other committee members and volunteers they are scoping plans for a series of events — starting April 10 with a committee-hosted fund-raising event at the Gloucester House — culminating Labor Day weekend with activities at multiple locations on the waterfront.
Cyrus Bent said, “schooners are synonymous with Gloucester thanks to the volunteers who have worked for more than 40 years to make the festival a success.” People interested in volunteering can call Maritime Gloucester at 978-281-0470.
Photos Below: Local Schooner Festival regulars (top to bottom): Adventure, Ardelle, Thomas E Lannon, Gen. George Patton’s When & If, Isabella, and the Thomas E Lannon with Adventure.
Submitted by Carl Gustin
Good Morning Gloucester 