Preparing for Summer and a Historic Year for Gloucester
In the June 16 meeting of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council, our group discussed plans for the important summer season — we looked ahead to the year-long Gloucester 400+ celebration and tourist opportunities with the exciting updates planned for the Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Library.
To lead these discussions, we welcomed two guests to our June meeting: Isabel Pett, events manager for the celebration of Gloucester’s 400th year; and Jenny Benedict, library director for the Sawyer Free Library.
Isabel gave us an update on recent Gloucester 400+ happenings and — more importantly — upcoming events and activities scheduled for the remainder of the year. This includes a Cape Ann Symphony Pops Concert at Stage Fort Park on July 28, a Fisheries Festival in August, activities in conjunction with the Schooner Festival on September 1-4, and a Northeastern-BC Women’s Hockey Match on November 25. These are just some of what’s planned for this year’s Gloucester 400+ — to learn more, visit their website at www.gloucesterma400.org.
Jenny talked with us about the expansions and renovations planned for the Sawyer Free Library, which is already a destination for visitors to Cape Ann. She provided a look ahead to the new spaces and collections that will help the library serve an even broader base of visitors and residents in new and exciting ways.
Our June meeting was also an opportunity to discuss plans for this summer and fall, including Culture Splash (Thursdays this summer), Harbor Loop Concerts, the Waterfront Festival, downtown Gloucester Block Parties, the return of the popular Blackburn Brew Fest, and Cape Ann Plein Air. All this and more makes Cape Ann an extraordinary destination any time of year.
We’ll take a break for the busy summer season and won’t meet in July, but when we regroup in August, the Tourism Council will focus on plans for this fall and the holiday season — giving us a chance to go back and share updates with our summer visitors.
Anyone with an interest in our visitor-based economy is welcome to join our August 18 meeting — or be part of discussions in future monthly meetings of the Tourism Council. We gather on the third Friday of each month at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce offices — and via Zoom. Please reach out to me or contact the Chamber staff to learn more.
Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
tsapienza@gmail.com