City celebrates Kipling's Grand Banks tale

Not many adventure novels are the center of a city's attention for a whole day. But on Saturday, Gloucester will host its first Captains Courageous Festival, honoring both Rudyard Kipling's 1897 novel, "Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks" and Gloucester's cultural heritage.

Kipling's novel features Harvey Cheyne Jr., the selfish wealthy boy who was swept overboard and rescued by Gloucester fishermen. As a visitor of Gloucester, Kipling captured details of the area that brought his novel to life. "Captains Courageous" illustrates Kipling's perception of Gloucester fishermen and of the Grand Banks as the backdrop of Harvey's revival from a selfish boy to a mature young man.

Kipling's time in Gloucester will also be celebrated in a number of activities, including a discussion hosted by local author David McAveeney, who will examine Kipling's writings using his book as a reference: "Kipling in Gloucester: The Writing of 'Captains Courageous'." His talk, and the following question and answer period, is tonight, from 7 to 8 at The Bookstore of Gloucester, 61 Main St.

On the day of the festival, "Captains Courageous" will be divided into four sections and read aloud at four different places throughout Gloucester: 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cape Ann Historical Museum, 27 Pleasant St.; 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave.; 1:45 to 4 p.m. at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center at Harbor Loop; and 4:15 to 6 p.m. at Cape Ann Art Haven, 180B Main St. Readers include Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk and state Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester.

If being read to is not enough, Three Sheets to the Wind, a group of sea shanty singers and musicians, will serenade the crowd from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a playing of the 1937 "Captains Courageous" film from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., starring Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew and Lionel Barrymore, at Cape Ann Community Cinema, 21 Main St.

A scavenger hunt, rope making, paper-dory decorating, and other activities will also accompany the day's events, along with the opportunity to discover the Gloucester community.

All the readings and related events are free; film tickets are $10.

"The Captains Courageous Festival will bring people to Gloucester's historic downtown," said Anne Robinson, coordinator for the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts on Cape Ann. "This area is often missed by people who only visit the beaches. But there's also the Cape Ann Museum, the Sawyer Free Library, the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, Cape Ann Art Haven and other sites."

Robinson said that people of all ages are expected to attend from Gloucester, from across the North Shore as well as Greater Boston. Robinson says the Captains Courageous Festival highlights many of Gloucester's treasures in a creative way.

"I hope people will discover, or rediscover, Captains Courageous, Gloucester and Cape Ann," said Robinson. "It's a stunningly beautiful area with so much to offer."

Captains Courageous Festival is presented by seARTS in partnership with Cape Ann Art Haven, Cape Ann Community Cinema, Cape Ann Historical Museum, Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, Sawyer Free Library and Schooner Adventure.

To get a copy of Kipling's "Captains Courageous" before the festival, visit the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester Bookstore or the Dogtown Book Shop, or visit Rockport's Library or Toad Hall Bookstore.

To buy "Captains Courageous" movie tickets, visit: http://www.massbayfilmproject.org/#captains.

The festival will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For information on Captains Courageous Festival scheduling, contact seARTS: 978-281-1222 or info@searts.org.

'Captains Courageous' Festival Schedule

TONIGHT'S EVENT

7 to 8: "Kipling, Gloucester & Captains Courageous," a talk by author David McAveeney at The Bookstore of Gloucester.

Saturday events

Readings

9 to 11 a.m., first reading at Cape Ann Museum; 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., second reading Sawyer Free Library; 1:45 to 4 p.m., third reading Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center; and 4:15 to 6 p.m., last reading at Cape Ann Art Haven.

Family and children's activities

10 a.m. to noon: Ongoing ocean-themed crafts for children ages pre-school and older in the Children's Library at Sawyer Free Library.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Ongoing activities for families all day in the Education Room including: "Captains Courageous" scavenger hunt; paper dory decorating; "What it is?" allows participants to examine fishing artifacts; and "Where in the World did Gloucester Go?" a mapping activity for all ages; all at the Cape Ann Museum.

11 a.m. to noon: Tour the Fisheries & Maritime Galleries at the Cape Ann Museum.

7 to 7:30 p.m.: Three Sheets to the Wind, Cape Ann sea shanty singers and musicians, perform at Cape Ann Community Cinema, 21 Main St.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: See the 1937 film, "Captains Courageous," starring Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew and Lionel Barrymore, at Cape Ann Community Cinema, 21 Main St. Tickets, $10.

12:30 to 1:15 and 4:15 to 5 p.m.: Take the "Captains Courageous" tour of Gorton's Seafood Gallery for families and children 5 and older. Explore what life was like aboard a fishing schooner at port and while fishing on the Grand Banks in the 19th century. Highlights include sounding a foghorn, making rope, charting a course and menu planning for hungry dorymen. At the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

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