Free and open to the public

Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 3rd Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival on January 20 and 21, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm! Over 1,800 people came out last year to share their salty pride while enjoying free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester.

The Cape Ann Museum is partnering with Discover Gloucester and several area cultural institutions and businesses to offer two full days of free programming in the coldest part of the year. Inspired by the annual Salem’s So Sweet event, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kids’ art activities, and much more.

Special thanks to our 2024 Ice Sculpture Sponsors: Gloucester Accommodations, Cape Ann Olive Oil, Cape Ann Museum, Cape Ann Savings Bank, The Cut, the Gloucester 400+ Anniversary, Harbortown Cultural District, and the Sawyer Free Library.

3rd Annual Gloucester’s So Salty Schedule of Events

Specific times subject to change, check back soon for even more fun activities!

All Weekend Activities:

• Grab a map from the Cape Ann Museum and find all 10 Ice Sculptures around Downtown Gloucester!
• Enjoy free admission and art activities, find salty spotlights in the galleries, and meet members of the CAM Teen Council at the Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street
• Test your photo detective skills in the CAM Library & Archives with snapshots from the Gloucester Daily Times photo archive.
• Cast your vote to name the Snow Plow at Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Street
• 20% off all salt products at Cape Ann Olive Oil, 57 Main Street
• Start at Mile Marker One with Breakfast in an Igloo or end it with a Sweet & Salty Cocktail in an Igloo, 75 Essex Ave Route 133, reservations recommended for igloos
• Strike a pose for a framed photo, enjoy the Legacy of the Lockwood Family show along with readings by Jim Dunn and Barbara Golden at Lockwood Studios Fine Art & Design Gallery, 2 & 4 Eastern Avenue
• 25% discount on room rates at the Blue Shutters Beachside Inn, 1 Nautilus Road, Gloucester
• Grab a piece of Saltwater Taffy at Fireflies Boutique, 100 Main Street
• Salty Poetry Snippets at Dogtown Books, 132 Main Street
• 10% off Select ‘Salty’ Books and a “Salty Blind Date with a Book” at the Bookstore of Gloucester, 61 Main Street
• Enjoy free Saltwater Taffy, Salty Stickers and Surprises at Toodleloos, 142 Main Street
• After Hours: 10% off your experience at Cape Ann Lanes/Laneside Pub & Brewery, 53 Gloucester Ave

Friday, January 19, 2024:

• 7:00 pm: Gloucester’s So Salty Kick Off at the Salted Cod Arthouse with live music from Bill Dwyer Band and salty drink specials. No cover charge. 53 Rocky Neck Ave.
• 7:30 pm: Grab a piece of salt water taffy and enjoy the stories of Gloucester in Fish Tales: Illumination presented by the Gloucester Writers Center at Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main Street. Tickets available at www.gloucesterstage.com.

Saturday, January 20, 2024:

• 10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Make your own colorful salt art with Pathways for Children Cape Ann Museum Studio, 27 Pleasant Street
• 10:30 – 12:30 pm – Make Your Own Ice Cream with the Open Door Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street
• 12:00 – 2:00 pm – Paint a salt dough fish at Local Colors while supplies last, 121 Main Street
• 12:00 – 5:00 pm – Hot Mead Toddies, Hot Cider, and Hot Cocoa from 1634 Meadery Cape Ann Museum Courtyard, 27 Pleasant Street
• 12:00 – 3:00 pm – Mini Tours of the Sargent House Museum, 49 Middle Street
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm – Shim Sham Shimmy Tap Dance Demo and Class Movement Arts, Gloucester, MA, (MAGMA) 11 Pleasant Street
• 2:00 – 3:00 pm – Find the Flock of Dancing Seagulls on Main Street!
• 3:00 – 5:00 pm – Sea Shanties with Three Sheets to the Wind Cape Ann Museum Auditorium, 27 Pleasant Street
• 5:30 – 6:30 pm – Corey Wrinn: Roll and GoSongs inspired by Gloucester The Cut, 177 Main Street. No cover charge.
• 8:00 – 11:00 pm – Salty Soul: A night of funk, soul and RnB spun on vinyl by Gloucester’s own DJ Enzo Arcari and Josh Byrnes aka “DJ Elevator Man” at The Cut, 177 Main Street. Tickets available at the door. https://thecutlive.com/events/20

Sunday, January 21, 2024:

• 10:00 – 10:30 am – Mayor Greg Verga reads Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, 27 Pleasant Street
• 10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Paint an Oyster Shell Cape Ann Museum Studio, 27 Pleasant Street
• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Strengthen your Salty Voice in a Voice & Embodiment Class with Lanes Coven’s Lily Narbonne. Cape Ann Museum Auditorium, 27 Pleasant Street
• 2:00- 2:30 pm – Capoeira Roda Demonstration Movement Arts, Gloucester, MA, (MAGMA) 11 Pleasant Street
• 2:30 – 3:30 pm – Shim Sham Shimmy Tap Dance Demo and Class Movement Arts, Gloucester, MA, (MAGMA) 11 Pleasant Street
• 3:00 – 4:30 pm – Gloucester Songwriters Swap with Alexandra Grace, Eva James, and Corey Wrinn Cape Ann Museum Auditorium, 27 Pleasant Street

Make sure to visit all the Gloucester’s So Salty 2024 Community Partners!

• Discover Gloucester
• Cape Ann Museum
• Fireflies Boutique
• Mile Marker One, The Hotel at Cape Ann Marina
• The Vista
• Lockwood Studios Fine Art & Design Gallery
• Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
• Cape Ann Olive Oil Co.
• The Cut
• Pathways for Children
• Sawyer Free Library
• Cape Ann Lanes/Laneside Pub & Brewery
• The Bookstore of Gloucester
• Dogtown Books
• 1634 Meadery
• The Salted Cod Arthouse
• MAGMA
• Gloucester 400+ Anniversary
• Gloucester Writer’s Center
• Gloucester Stage Co.
• Sargent House Museum
• Lanes Coven Theatre Co
• Local Colors
• Toodleloos