The Fourth of July weekend on Cape Ann kicks off July 3 in Gloucester with the Fishtown Horribles Parade, featuring past favorites and new performers, and fireworks opening with a salute to America’s 250th on Friday evening.
Manchester-by-the-Sea will also begin its celebration of America’s Independence on Friday with a boat parade and fireworks.
Then, on the Fourth of July, Rockport and Manchester will celebrate Saturday with parades and other activities.
The Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and feature a wide variety of performers and “horribles,” a costume or skit made up for having fun. The parade will depart from Gloucester High School and make a loop around much of downtown before making its way back to the high school.
Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade Committee member Cathy Levie said attendees can expect several new performers in this year’s parade including the Oompah Meisters who are bringing traditional German-style music; the Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School band, which is traveling to Gloucester from Minnesota to showcase award-winning musicianship; and the Roberto Clemente 21 Dancers, who will bring vibrant costumes, high energy and culture.
Returning for this year’s festivities will be Rocking Santa and Bubbles Magee who will fill the streets with thousands of bubbles.
To combat Friday’s heat, Shaw’s and Stop & Shop will donate 10 cases of water each to be placed along the parade route and Minglewood Harborside restaurant will be donating ice.
Being honored as the parade’s grand marshals will be members of the Gloucester Department of Public Works.
Parking at Gloucester High School will not be permitted beginning July 2, and parking at the Dun Fudgin’ boat ramp will not be permitted on July 3. These areas are needed for the parade participants to set up.
Organizers are asking attendees not to bring or use novelty “poppers,” or items thrown on the ground to make a loud sound as they can startle participants, frighten pets and service animals, and even damage antique and specialty vehicles in the parade.
Volunteers and public safety personnel will be stationed along the parade route to ensure the event goes smoothly. Attendees are encouraged to find a spot to watch well before the parade begins.
The Fishtown Horribles Parade is completely volunteer-run and funded through private donations.
“As the Parade Committee grows and learns, we continue to look for new and exciting entertainment. We have all worked really hard throughout the past year to meet the community’s expectations,” Levie said. “We sincerely hope Gloucester enjoys this year’s parade.”
Gloucester’s fireworks on the harbor are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 3 — and will have an opening salute to America’s 250th.
Barry Pett, an organizer now in his 35th year for this event, said that a single shell will be sent up five minutes before the show starts to alert people that the fireworks display is about to begin.
“This year is the 250th anniversary of the nation so we are going to start with an opener that is basically 250 shells that will be all red, white and blue,” Pett said.
The show usually runs around 20 to 25 minutes.
The concert on the Boulevard starts at 5:30 p.m. with a break for the Fishtown Horribles Parade, after which the music begins again until the fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; and the music starts up again afterward until about 10:45 p.m.
The opening acts will be Scarlett Berg followed by Scott Parisi with the main act, The Runaround.
Organizers are still raising money for the two fireworks shows and the concerts. To make a donation, visit the Facebook pages for “Gloucester Fireworks” or “Concerts on the Boulevard, Gloucester, MA” for a link. Or by mail, with checks made out to the Gloucester Fund, with “fireworks” in the memo, and sent to 44 1/2 Main St., Unit 1, Gloucester, 01930.
Rockport offers an old‑fashioned Fourth of July as our nation celebrates its 250th year. The day begins at 10 a.m. Saturday in Dock Square with the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence, sponsored by the Rockport Rotary Club.
Downtown shops and businesses will be open throughout the day.
At 6 p.m., the Rockport Firemen’s Association Parade, with a theme of “1776” steps off from Rockport Middle/High School on Jerden’s Lane. The parade of bands, floats and “horribles” will proceed down Jerdens Lane, take a left on South Street and continue on Mount Pleasant Street. After passing through Dock Square, the procession will head up Main Street and then take a right on Beach Street to Back Beach.
At the beach, the celebration continues with a patriotic concert by the Rockport Legion Band in the gazebo. The annual bonfire lights up the shoreline between 9 and 9:30 p.m.
Both the parade and bonfire are sponsored and organized by Rockport Firemen’s Association. Anyone wishing to support its efforts can send a donation to Rockport Firemen’s Association, P.O. Box 2, Rockport, MA 01966, or via Venmo to @Rockport-Firemens-Association.
Manchester’s Fourth of July celebration begins with the Rev250 Boat Parade at 2 p.m. Friday, July 3, in Manchester Harbor and, weather permitting, end with a troupe of skydivers landing at Coach Ed Field Playground.
The boat parade is open to all boats, including those not in Manchester Harbor, that can maintain 5 knots under power; sailing will not be allowed. Best view from land is at Tuck’s Point.
Boaters may register for the parade by emailing mopal@live.com and providing boat name, type, size and where you will be going to dock/moor after parade. Prizes awarded for Most Patriotic, Best Dressed, Spirit of Manchester, and Spirit of 1776 and announced on the VHF after the parade ends.
Also Friday at Singing Beach will be a 7 p.m. concert, featuring Peter Hoare and Essex Junction, followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. The beach lot will close at 4 p.m. but will be open for handicapped and limited mobility parking only. General parking is available behind Town Hall, Memorial School, and the high school.
The Fourth of July Parade steps off, rain or shine, Saturday at 10 a.m. Grand Marshal is former longtime Moderator Alan Wilson.
The parade will line up on Lincoln Street between Memorial Elementary and Manchester Essex Regional High schools. It will travel up Vine Street to School Street, then take a right onto School and proceed up to Pleasant Street. From there the parade will take a left onto Pleasant Street, then a left on to Pine Street. It will go down Pine, take the left onto Central Street and go up Union Street to Norwood Avenue and end at Coach Ed Field Playground.
Skydivers are expected to land between 11:45 a.m. and noon at the parade after-party. Free hot dogs and ice cream courtesy of the Manchester Club and Citizens Bank will be served.
The Manchester Police Department will close roads on a rolling basis so plan ahead. Temporary parking restrictions will apply along the parade route on July 4 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Manchester’s Fourth celebrations are funded primarily through donations. A tax-deductible contribution may be made at https://unipaygold.unibank.com/customerinfo.aspx
In Essex, the annual Fourth of July Chebacco Lake Boat Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Gregory Island Cove, then wraps around the lake counter-clockwise.
All boats are decorated with patriotic or creative and funny themes. No pre-registration is required for boats. Prizes are given to every boat that participates, by the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association, as well as special prizes for most creative, and most patriotic, boats and costumes.
Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-675-2714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes.com.