My View of Life on the Dock
This is a must attend event every year. Wish it happened every week or every other!
Just another wild weekend in Gloucester with only 50 or so community events happening around town to choose from.
You know those people who say there’s nothing to do around here? They really ought to be committed to the funny farm.
That town was jumpin!
Great job all the way around! Took the trolley from the Rockport Transfer station- less than 5 minutes of a ride on the cool trolley with a super friendly attendant and driver- total no brainer rather than driving in circles in downtown Rockport trying to find a spot to park.
Thanks for the time and energy you put in to make such a fantastic day- we really appreciated it.
and for anyone that missed it- you really ought to pencil it into your calendar for next year- It’s a must-do event.
-The 2013 Harvestfest poster, designed by the very talented Darren Mason!
Scroll down for a HarvestFest Schedule of Events. And be sure to pick up your Scarecrow Stroll Contest Ballot! Great cash prizes awarded courtesy of Granite Savings Bank to the winning scarecrows!
HarvestFest All Day Events: October 13th from 10 am to 6 pm
Information Booth & Music Tent in Dock Square. Pick up information about all there is to do and see during HarvestFest and listen to some great live music in the heart of Rockport!
Local Fare Fair on T-Wharf. Featuring food made locally on Cape Ann and in New England, with Cape Ann Brewing Co. offering a taste of some local brews from 11 to 6 o’clock. Cooking demonstrations to take place at 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Click HERE for more information.
Scarecrow Stroll Contest throughout Downtown. Don’t miss Rockport’s unique & artistic collection of scarecrows from Front Beach to Bearskin Neck to Harvey Park! (And be sure to vote on your favorite!). Great prizes offered to the winners sponsored by Granite Savings Bank in Rockport. Click HERE for more information.
Kids’ Zone in Harvey Park. Climb the hay bales and more! And don’t miss our scheduled events: pumpkin painting from 2 to 4 pm and the costume parade, The Great Scarecrow Chase, at 4:30!
Glass Art Installations by John Bassett, seARTS Partner With an Artist 2012 Winner. Bassett’s work will be on display at three downtown restaurants, right in the heart of the new Rockport Cultural District. Bassett has created the colorful Hannah Jumper series with slumped and fused recycled glass from Rockport’s transfer station.
WOCA Fair in Harvey Park. The What’s On Cape Ann Fair highlights area non-profits, organizations and sponsors. Enjoy interactive booths as you learn just what resources are available to Cape Ann residents and visitors!. Click here for more information.
NYRE Food Booth in Harvey Park. Proceeds to benefit New Year’s Rockport Eve, an annual tradition in Rockport.
HarvestFest Scheduled Events*
Cooking Demonstrations
11 am: Cooking Demonstration with author and educator Nancy Singleton Hachisu under the tent on T Wharf. Hosted by food writer Heather Atwood. Nancy will also be available to sign copies of her recently published cookbook, Japanese Farm Food.
1 pm: Cooking Demonstration featuring Chef Frank McClelland of Boston’s L’Espalier and Apple Street Farm in Essex. Hosted by food writer Heather Atwood.
3 pm: Seafood Throwdown Sponsored by NAMA and emceed by Heather Atwood of the Taste of the Times. For more information, click here.
Live Music
11 am - 12:15 pm
Tom O’Carroll playing in Dock Square. Traditional Irish & Folk. Click here
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Nicholas Bogosian and Michael Knoblach playing in Dock Square. Old Timey Roots Music. Click here.
1:45 – 3:15 pm
Daniel Dye & the Miller Road Band playing in Dock Square. Indie Americana. Click here.
3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Brad Byrd with full band playing in Dock Square. Indie/Alt Rock
11 am - 12:30 pm
Courtney Reid playing on T Wharf. Indie/Alternative Rock. Click here
12:45 pm – 3:15 pm
The Sturdy Oak Boys playing under the tent on T-Wharf. Bluegrass
3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Old Cold Tater playing under the tent on T-Wharf. Bluegrass
2 pm – 3 pm
Rockport Legion Band in Harvey Park. Click here or here to watch a video clip.
Activities for Families
11 am – 1 pm
Make Your Own Instruments with Rockport Music! In Dock Square at the Old Firehouse Trust Building. Create your own guitar from cigar boxes and other supplies. Sponsored by Rockport Music.
12 noon
CAAA’s Best Dressed Dog Parade from Harvey park to Bearskin Neck and back again. Registration for the Parade begins at 11am with the actual Parade starting at noon. The winners will be announced and prizes awarded immediately following the parade at the CAAA table in Harvey park. Sponsored by the Cape Ann Animal Aid
2 pm – 4 pm
Pumpkin Painting at the Kids’ Zone! Paint a pumpkin to take home as part of your Autumn decor! $5 suggested donation – proceeds to support Rockport Festivals programming.
4:30 pm
The Great Scarecrow Chase! Children of all ages can join us for a costumed parade throughout downtown, ending up with a very special surprise and treat! Parade begins in Harvey Park at the Kids Art Zone. Click HERE for more information.
Art & Culture
11 am
Narrative of the Battle of Sandy Bay: Rockport during the War of 1812, as seen through the eyes of five speakers portraying real historical characters who instigated and lived out events in wartime Rockport. The Narrative will be followed by Gaetano Micalizzi reading his award-winning essay on the War of 1812 as well as a brief musical presentation by students. Located at the First Congregational Church and Sponsored by the Cape Ann DAR
1 pm
MIT Juggling Club on T-Wharf. Traditional street entertainment: juggling, unicycles & more!
1 pm
Glass Art Installation at Brackett’s Oceanview Restaurant on Main Street. Meet Partner With an Artist 2012 Winner John Bassett. Light refreshments. Presented by seARTS and the Rockport Cultural District.
1:30 pm
MIT Juggling Club in Dock Square. Traditional street entertainment: juggling, unicycles & more!
2 pm
Glass Art Installation at Roy Moore’s Fish Shack in Dock Square. Meet Partner With an Artist 2012 Winner John Bassett. Light refreshments. Presented by seARTS and the Rockport Cultural District.
2 pm
MIT Juggling Club on Bearskin Neck. Traditional street entertainment: juggling, unicycles & more!
3 pm
Glass Art Installation at the 7th Wave Restaurant on Bearskin Neck. Meet Partner With an Artist 2012 Winner John Bassett. Light refreshments. Presented by seARTS and the Rockport Cultural District.
4:00 pm
Scarecrow Stroll Contest winners announced in Dock Square! Sponsored by Granite Savings Bank.
For More Information:
www.rockportartfestivals.com
rockportfestivals@gmail.com
978-501-3593 
Rockport’s HarvestFest is coming up on Saturday and THIS year Granite Savings Bank has generously furnished some cash prizes for the winning scarecrows in our Scarecrow Stroll Contest. $175 and $150 for first and second place in the 15 & Older Category. Yes, that’s right: $175 and $150! You could do a lot with that money. Teams are encouraged to enter, with nonprofits especially encouraged to enter to raise funds for your organization. The possibilities are endless! There is also an “Under 15” category for groups or individuals with $75 and $50 as the first and second place prizes. Don’t be shy! Make a scarecrow! You can pre-register online (Click HERE and scroll down when you get to the page for online registration) or just show up with your ‘Crow on Saturday, October 13th at 9 o’clock in the Scarecrow Stroll Headquarters in Dock Square!
Great local food (steamed lobsters!), a beer tasting with brews from Cape Ann Brewing Co., cooking demonstrations with Frank McClelland, Laurie Lufkin, Christian Collins, Eric Lorden and Heather Atwood, hayrides, lots of scarecrows, local non profits, art activities for kids (including a Rockport Music-sponsored instrument making workshop) and great live music. Rockport’s HarvestFest was beautiful and a whole lot of fun. Cape Ann residents and visitors were able to celebrate the best of the season in one of the most beautiful towns in the New England. Many thanks to Esther Mathieu of Esther Mathieu Photography for documenting the day and allowing us to share her photographs!
Go to www.rockportartfestivals.com to stay in touch about upcoming events in downtown Rockport.
For More Info Chickity Check- RockportArtFestivals
Good Morning Gloucester 