Tourism Council Update – June 2025
Spring is an important time for the Greater Cape Ann tourism community, as plans are put in place and preparations are made for the busiest months of the year. The May 16 meeting of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber Tourism Council was a reflection of this focus, as the group came together to discuss summer, fall and beyond.
A major discussion point was the 2025 Tourism Mixer, held on May 13 at the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum. More than 60 members of the tourism community gathered to reconnect and share updates. The focus of this year’s Mixer was on networking, and attendees took advantage of this opportunity throughout the evening. Many of these attendees also contributed to a slide presentation that provided an overview of the many ways our tourism community serves visitors to Cape Ann, with accommodations, attractions, events and so much more. Click here to view the presentation made available by the Chamber.
A feature of this Mixer presentation was a video on the activities for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, taking place at Stage Fort Park on June 21 & 22. Hundreds of enactors and thousands of attendees are expected to gather on these two days for this historic recreation. Visit this site to learn more about this exciting weekend.
In the May Council meeting, we built on the Mixer highlights to discuss some of the near-term spring and summer activities, including May’s Motif #1 Day and Cape Ann Pride weekend. Coming up in the weeks ahead are Essex River Day (June 14), St. Peter’s Fiesta (6/25-29) and Small Business Week (early June), as well as later summer happenings like the downtown Gloucester block parties, summer Culture Splash, Manchester’s Festival by the Sea, the Waterfront Festival, and the Schooner Festival.
Check the events and activities pages on the Chamber’s Cape Ann Vacations website for more – and look for the recently released maps and guides from the Chamber of Commerce and Discover Gloucester that provide more information for visitors.
Another June highlight for the tourism community will be the Cape Ann Community Foundation’s bowling fundraiser on June 5. The Foundation is responsible for the Cape Ann license plates, which help promote the region on automobiles that travel throughout Cape Ann and beyond. Revenue from plate sales is added to a fund the Foundation uses to award grants to Cape Ann non-profit and community organizations. The Tourism Council will have a team competing in the Candlepins for a Cause fundraising event, reinforcing the important part the plate plays in our efforts to attract visitors to Cape Ann. Click here to learn more about the event and to join us for this fun evening.
The May Tourism Council meeting also included a guest presentation from Clay Kern of North Shore Adventures & Outdoor Center. Our monthly meetings have become a platform for any tourism-focused business to provide an overview to the group. We also heard about activities and events planned at Hammond Castle, the Cape Ann Museum, the Crane Estate, and Cabot Theater, as well as new services offered by CATA.
There will be more updates and discussions like this at our next meeting, on June 20. Anyone who is involved in or has an interest in Cape Ann’s visitor-based economy is invited to join us for this and upcoming monthly meetings. We gather on the third Friday of each month at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce offices — and via Zoom. If you’d like to be part of these discussions, please reach out to me or contact the Chamber staff.
Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
tsapienza@gmail.com
Learn more about the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s Tourism Council
