Gloucester's So Salty
January 25-26, 2025: Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester.
Festivals
Gloucester is home to many unique and entertaining festivals.
Festivals, Events, & Things To Do in Gloucester
Gloucester is home to many unique and entertaining festivals. From music festivals, saint festivals, waterfront festivals, and art festivals, you’ll never get bored in Gloucester and Cape Ann. In fact, we are most proud of a few festivals that are truly exclusive to our city’s heritage and tradition. Events listed below on this page are annual events that happen in Gloucester. If you are looking for new and upcoming events and festivals happening this weekend, go to our events page.
Specific festival event information on dates and times may change and we ask that you check the event’s websites to confirm information before making your visit to Gloucester.
Spring in Gloucester
May 2025: Spend spring in Gloucester with specials at accommodations, shops, and restaurants, plus the reopening of seasonal attractions.
Motif No. 1 Day Festival
May 17, 2025: Motif No.1 Day honors the fishing shack, artist’s studio, and tourist attraction that started it all! Enjoy poetry, dance, music and art-making activities.
Cape Ann Pride
May 30-June 1, 2025: A weekend (and beyond!) full of pride, celebration, community, education, fun, and support for all LGBTQIA+ people and their Allies.
Rockport Chamber Music Festival
June 13-July 13, 2025: Experience outstanding performances by world-renowned classical musicians from the Jupiter String Quartet to pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
250th Battle of Bunker Hill
June 21-22, 2025: Celebrate and commemorate the actions and sacrifices of all sides of the Battle of Bunker Hill through careful research, public demonstrations, civic engagement and...
St. Peter's Fiesta
June 25-29, 2025: A five-day festival honoring the patron saint of the fisherman Saint Peter. Parades, carnival, concerts, sporting competitions, and the legendary Greasy Pole event.
Fishtown Horribles Parade
July 3, 2025: The Fish Town Horribles Parade has been a tradition since some of the first settlers came to Gloucester.
Culture Splash
Thursdays in July & August: Explore Gloucester’s two cultural districts and enjoy free live music, art exhibitions, dance performances, and more on both sides of the harbor.
Bluefin Blowout
July 15, 2025: Attend this summer’s annual tuna fishing tournament at Cape Ann Marina supporting the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Gloucester Blues Festival
August 9, 2025: World-class blues will reverberate through the park with some of the nation’s finest performers playing from the Gloucester Blues stage, located right on the...
Gloucester Waterfront Festival
August 16, 2025: Over 200 booths featuring juried artists and craftsmen from throughout the U.S. will display their unique creations.
Gloucester Schooner Festival
August 27-31, 2025: The annual Gloucester Schooner Festival takes place on Labor Day weekend. It’s Gloucester’s major marine event.
Stand Up for Art & Science
August-October: Stand Up for Art & Science is a city-wide collaboration of organizations presenting cultural and educational events supporting artistic and scientific endeavors in...
Blackburn Brewfest
September 13, 2025: Experience one of the best views on Cape Ann with a cold beer in your hand benefitting the Cape Ann Community Foundation. Rain date: September 14.
Cape Ann Plein Air
October 4-12, 2025: The annual Cape Ann Plein Air competition is a week-long event showcasing America’s top painters with artists demos, gala, and sale.
Essex ClamFest
October 25, 2025:The annual Essex ClamFest features the Clam Chowder Tasting and competition, plus vendors, and activities.
Winter Lights on Cape Ann
November 29, 2025-January 1, 2026: Local businesses throughout Cape Ann get into the festive spirit by decorating their storefronts with twinkling lights and creative window displays.
Rockport New Year's Eve
December 31, 2025: Ring in the new year at the annual New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts for all ages taking place in venues in downtown Rockport, all within walking...