This Saturday morning a long-time tradition takes place in conjunction with the International Dory Races. To encourage people of all ages to watch the historic races, the organizers are hosting a public pancake breakfast.

The breakfast takes place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the corner of East Main Street and Parker Street at Gordon Thomas Park, named after a famous schooner captain. That area is also known as the Head of the Harbor. The requested donation for the breakfast is $8.

The races start around 9:30 a.m., and the best spot for viewing them is along the Jodrey State Fish Pier.

This is part of a nearly 60-year tradition.

James Tarantino, a rower who has competed for the past 30 years, explained that when the schooner races died out, the tradition of racing their dories began. This competition includes rowers from throughout the Canadian Maritime provinces.

"In the days of the great fishing schooners, the dorymen's ability to move that boat meant life or death on the Grand Banks," Tarantino said. "But we're no less proud of our ability to move that boat. We train year-round for this."

There will be competitions in several divisions, including juniors, mens, womens, mixed doubles and more.

Stage Fort falling to pirates this weekend

Stage Fort Park in historic Gloucester will host Pastimes' annual piratical production, New England Pirate Faire, for the first time this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and guests with military identification, and $8 for children ages 4 to 12. There will be both an adult and children costume contest.

The event features everything from the building of an 8-foot tall, parrot balloon sculpture to pirate rock music.

"We're very excited to be in Stage Fort Park with actual cannons and the beach, on which some pirates will land from the schooner Lannon," said Paul Stickney, an organizer. "The story this year is about treachery and greed, and even murder, at a meeting of the pirate council."

The pirate's council includes famous historical pirates such as Black Beard, and Anne Bonney and Mary Read — two of the most famous women pirates in history — as well as famous local pirates such as Ned Lowe, who had ties to Gloucester, Thomas Veal, a pirate out of Lynn, and George and Rachel Wall from Salem. Rachel Wall was the last person ever hanged on Boston Common.

"We mix legendary pirates with local pirates," Stickney said. "It's a full day's events."

Performing will be a musical group of Long Island rocking pirates, Brigands, as well as Wonderfool, an escape artist, juggler and fire eater from Miami. The entertainment includes a celebrity roast of a pirate captain. There will be more than 20 vendors including those offering a variety of food.

Royal Sorell, a nationally known balloon sculptor who is in the Guinness Book of World Records, will perform a balloon sculpture magic show as well as create the giant parrot at the front box office.

This event is presented by Pastimes Entertainment, which produces the "Castle of the Damned" shows at Hammond Castle in Gloucester, as well as the King Arthur and Robin Hood festivals.

Pirate sails on local schooner

In conjunction with the New England Pirate Faire, the schooner Thomas E. Lannon is offering Pirate Sails on Saturday and Sunday. Pirate costumes are encouraged on all sails this weekend.

On the 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. sail each day, Faire pirates will be on board and the Lannon will be part of the show at Half Moon Beach. Pirates of all ages are invited.

Saturday evening's sunset sail from 7 to 9 p.m. will be a Pirate Ball, for pirates 21 and over only, with prizes for best pirate costumes. Schooner Lannon sails from Seven Seas Wharf at the Gloucester House restaurant, Rogers Street, Gloucester. Reservations are suggested. For ticket information, visit to www.schooner.org or call 978-281-6634.

Fun Day 4 Kidz this Saturday

The JJ Nicastro Fun Day 4 Kidz is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Gorton's parking lot. All proceeds are donated to The JJ Nicastro Foundation. The Fun Day will have many attractions such as a 75-foot obstacle course; a 20-foot Geronimo slide; Speed Pitch, operated by Dylan Maki; Hockey Shot, operated by Josh Salah; Dunk Tank, operated by Ryan Cusick; bounce houses, inflatable boxing ring, disc jockeys, face painter, cotton candy, slush, a full concession with burgers, hot dogs, and much more.

New Voices in concert

A concert of songs and arias from the 16th to the 20th centuries, "New Voices" will take place next Tuesday, June 23, at 8 p.m. at Rockport Congregational Church. The performance features Antanas Meilus, tenor; Kayleen Rossio, mezzo; Gillian Hurst, soprano; Quenton Hurst, soprano; and Beverly Soll, piano.

These accomplished young singers, students of Salem State College, Rockport High School and St. Anne's School, collaborate with Beverly Soll, a coach and accompanist and guest lecturer at Salem State College, performing some of the world's most poignant melodies by Caccini, Purcell, Handel, Puccini, Verdi, Menotti, Gershwin and others.

The church is at 12 School St. in Rockport. Concert is free. Donations accepted. For more information call 978-509-4995.

'An Evening in Sleeper's Garden'

Historic New England's Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House, 75 Eastern Point Blvd., hosts an evening reception to kick off a weekend of garden celebrations in conjunction with the 10th annual Cape Ann Garden Festival hosted by the Sargent House Museum.

The event, "An Evening in Sleeper's Garden," takes tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. Historic New England's property care team leader, Benjamin Haavik, will discuss the ongoing landscape work at Beauport, highlighting the restoration of the original terrace staircase built by Beauport's creator, interior designer Henry Davis Sleeper. Abridged house tours and light refreshments are available.

Admission is $15 for Historic New England and Sargent House members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, please call 978-283-0800 or e-mail pgarro@historicnewengland.org. For more information about and tickets for the other Garden Festival events, please visit sargenthouse.org.

Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the nation. If offers unique opportunities to experience the stories of New Englanders through their homes and possessions. For more information visit www.HistoricNewEngland.org.

'Capturing Historic Houses'

Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will present a photography program, "Capturing Historic Houses," on Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Photographer Geoffrey Gross discusses his fascination with historic houses, his creative process, and his five Rizzoli publications, including "Great Houses of New England." A photo of the Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House graces the cover of "Great Houses," which features four house museums owned by Historic New England. Gross has nearly 40 years experience in the field and is completing two publications, "Old Houses Of New England" and "New England Modern." Both books include Historic New England properties. "Great Houses of New England" is available for sale following the program.

This program is free but space is limited and registration is required. Please call 617-227-3957, ext. 264, for more information or to reserve a spot.

Gloucester photographer holds show

"Wild Thing II — Wildlife Photography to Captivate You" is the title of a new show by award-winning photographer Richard Seeley of Gloucester. Seeley will exhibit his limited edition wildlife photographs at the Newburyport Art Association this Monday, June 22, through July 8. There is a public reception Friday, June 26, from 7 to 9 p.m.

This exhibit is the second edition of a successful one-man "Wild Thing" show at the Newburyport Art Association in September 2007. His wildlife images have been published in and on the cover of books, magazines, and newspapers. His work features images of eagles, egrets, osprey, foxes, wolves, elk, herons, loons, moose, otters, bears and other wildlife taken in New England, Colorado, California, Florida, Washington, Montana and Wyoming.

"The challenge in wildlife photography is to capture the animal in a unique moment and scenic setting that will evoke an emotional response from the viewer," Seeley said.

His works are on display at the Rocky Neck Gallery, Gloucester; Rockport Art Association; Bodin Historic Photo, Gloucester; and in art galleries in Breckenridge and Denver, Colorado.

The art association is at 65 Water St. in downtown Newburyport. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m; Sunday, from1 to 5 p.m. It is closed Tuesday, June 30. For more information, call 978-985-5475 or visit www.richardseeleyphotography.com.

Downtown Block Party Schedule

Four Block Parties are planned for this summer. Save the third Saturday night of June, July, August and September for a night full of fun for all ages. Those dates are June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19. Artists can set up in front of Cape Ann Savings Bank during the Block Party for no charge and sell art.

For information contact Joey, 978-815-5595, at GoodMorningGloucester.

Poetry reading

"An Anxiety of Poets," a poetry reading, will take place at the new Tessera Mosaic Studio, 42 Main St., Gloucester, on Saturday, June 27, at 7 p.m. A line-up of North Shore poets, featuring Neal and Kerry Zagarella and Gloucester resident Derek Richards, will read their works For more information, contact Dennis Bryant at 978-491-7535. A $3 donation is suggested.

A moving musical tribute

Music at Eden's Edge, the North Shore's resident chamber music ensemble, kicks off its 2009 Summer Concert Series tonight and Saturday. The program "At the Heart of June" features John Williams' "Air and Simple Gifts," the music from the 2009 presidential inaugural; the Poulenc "Cello Sonata" under the virtuosic hands of Emmanuel Feldman and pianist Paul Orgel; and finally, the greatest of cultural monuments, the Messiaen "Quartet for the End of Time." Clarinetist Wesley Erik Christensen, an emerging artist, will perform in the June concerts.

The "Quartet for the End of Time" is a spiritually-conceived work composed by Olivier Messiaen while he was incarcerated in a German prison camp during World War II. The Quartet was performed for the first time on Jan. 15, 1941, before an audience of 5,000 fellow prisoners.

Concerts are tonight at 7:30 at the elegant Willowdale Estate at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Community House in Hamilton.

Call 978-270-4463 or visit www.edensedge.org for information or tickets.

One World Coffeehouse

The Backwoods Ramblers will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. at One World Coffeehouse at First Universalist Church at 59 Main St. in Essex. Handicap accessible. Requested donation is $15. For reservations, call 978-325-3252.

The Backwoods Ramblers is Barry Michaud, lead vocals and guitar; Jack Schwartz, banjo, vocals, and electric bass; Pat Conlon, mandolin, harmonica and vocals, performing a blend of folk-rock, country, and bluegrass. Well known on the Cape Ann music scene, the musicians Barry Michaud, Jack Schwartz and Pat Conlon will have you singing along with the toe-tapping music.

Concert goers are asked to not park at the Village Restaurant. There is parking behind the fire station.

Local music

Dan King will play a solo acoustic show with special guests Sunday at The Rhumbline, 40 Railroad Ave., Gloucester. For details, visit www.therhumbline.com or danielscottking.com.

The group KBMG (King, Brown, Mattacks, Ginandes) will play Berklee Performance Center, 1140 Boylston Ave. in Boston, on Monday, June 22, at 8p.m. For more information, contact Sieglinde Levery-Nicholas, victoryagents@gmail.com, or 978.809.1535.

This Thursday, Dave Sag's Blues Party features Willy "Loco" Alexander with Billy Loosigian on guitar and Steve Chaggaris on drums at The Rhumbline, 40 Railroad Ave., Gloucester.

Elegant Trash is back to rock Gloucester at Cameron's on Main Street in Gloucester on Saturday night.

Singer and entertainer Armando will return for the first anniversary of Sunday Morning Live on Father's Day, June 2l, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Seaward Inn, Rockport. No cover charge, 978-546-3471.

Relay For Life of Cape Ann welcomes the return of Garfish. Cape Ann's own classic rock band will be returning to the stage tomorrow from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Gloucester High School. Garfish may also be seen performing Saturday at The Rhumbline, 40 Railroad Ave., Gloucester. For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org, www.garfish.net. or www.myspace.com/garfishband

The Linda Amero Trio — vocalist Linda Amero vocals, pianist Bob Boughman, bassist Bronek Suchanek and drummer Tony Cerra — will performing jazz standards at two venues in Gloucester over the weekend. ¬ Tomorrow night' show features fellow Berklee teachers Steve Heck on piano and Bob Patton on sax at the Franklin Cafe, 118 Main St., Gloucester, from 7 to 10 p.m. ¬ The ensemble will also be featured at a special Father's Day lunch, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., outside on the deck at Captain Carlo's Restaurant on Harbor Loop on Sunday (weather permitting). Reservations are recommended for both.

Emerson Inn By The Sea at One Cathedral Avenue offers music Thursday and Saturday nights. Joe Blanchard offers a selection of classical piano as well as many of his own music Thursday. Bob Allison, who has been entertaining diners at the Emerson for years, plays many show tunes and old favorites Saturday. Allison's Web site is CasablancaPiano.com. Life in Ireland

Dublin-born Rory O'Connor is doing a performance of storytelling and humour about Ireland and life tomorrow at 8 p.m. at The Blackburn Performing Arts theater at One Washington St. in downtown Gloucester.

O'Connor's friends — Paddy The Rat, Spud Murphy, Dick Reily and Marty Nolan — will be among the audience.

"A word of warning: Mr. O'Connor has been known to have made a pact with the Devil so it's important to say your confessions with your local priest as Mr. O'Connor has been known to corrupt the purest of minds that even Nick himself has been extremely mortified and will most likely be out of a job by the time this show is over," according to a press release.

The theater will be easily spotted because O'Connors' donkey and cart will be outside the entrance of the theater. In company with his donkey will be his donkey's friend, McGinty the goat. Proceeds of $10 admission will benefit Shobu Aikido.

New show at Mercury

Recent paintings by critically admired landscape and seascape painter Jon Marshall will be on exhibit through June at Mercury Gallery, 20 Main St., Rockport. Marshall, who lives in Denmark, Maine, is noted for his atmospheric views of the New England coast, its inland woodlands and mountains. The artist has exhibited widely, including at galleries in New York. In an extended stay in Holland as a young man, he studied the great 17th century landscape painters and was greatly inspired by that Golden Age of Dutch painting. The gallery represents a range of artists, from early 20th century New York-based Expressionists to contemporary painters. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 978-546-7620, or visit www.mercurygallery.com.

'The Man Who Changed World's Eating Habits'

Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library present "Clarence Birdseye: The Man Who Changed the World's Eating Habits" on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. in the Friend Room with speaker Maggie Rosa.

The presentation will focus on how Birdseye changed the way the world eats through his development of the frozen food industry. From Long Island to Labrador to Gloucester to Peru, Rosa will tell the story of a remarkable man who didn't consider himself very remarkable at all. Included in the discussion will be information about his later inventions and his home life in Gloucester.

Rosa is a Gloucester resident who was chairwoman of the Gloucester Historical Commission for several years and is chairwoman of the City Hall Restoration Committee. She is also executive director of the Gloucester Educational Foundation.

Lyceum programs are free to the public. For more information call 978-281-9763.

Rockport Chamber Music Festival

From bluegrass to baroque, the third week of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival features a variety of artists and music. All shows are at the Rockport Art Association.

Tonight at 8 features Time for Three with Zachary de Pue and Nicolas Kendall, violins, Ranaan Meyer, double bass. They present imaginative arrangements of classical repertoire and bluegrass, along with original compositions. The program includes Ragtime Annie; Shenandoah; Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5; Lennon-McCartney Blackbird; Amazing Grace.

Tomorrow, 8 p.m., features a special four-hand piano concert with Mia Chung and Alina Polyakov. The program features works written specifically for four-hand piano, by Schubert, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff.

Saturday at 8 p.m. features pianist Gilles Vonsattel who is joined by two other young virtuoso's to form a powerhouse piano trio with Frank Huang, violin, and Nicolas Altstaedt, cello. Program includes Haydn: Piano Trio in F major; Brahms: Piano Trio in C minor; Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor.

Sunday at 5 p.m. features the Newberry Consort in a program, "The Theater of Music," featuring works of baroque composers Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel. The Newberry Consort, based at the Newberry Library in Chicago, is a critically acclaimed early music ensemble that includes Ellen Hargis, soprano; Drew Minter, countertenor; and David Douglass, violin and viola. Boston-based Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichordist, will perform with the group on this occasion.

For information, visit www.rockportmusic.org.

Final week of fun-filled musical

The Broadway musical "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" runs through Sunday. Based on the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz, this family friendly musical features the songs "Happiness" and "The Baseball Game." Shows are through Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturday's matinee at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

For reservations or further information, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.

'Lanesville Legacy' on exhibit

Flatrocks Gallery presents "Lanesville Legacy," centering on the figure drawings of George Demetrios, whose great talent for art, teaching, and friendship inspired a whole generation of artists.¬ The exhibit explores the links within his circle, and the ways in which these relationships gave rise to Lanesville's vibrant artistic community. Featuring works¬  by¬ Lee Natti, Walker Hancock, Margaret Cassidy Manship, Sandra Douglas,¬  Mary R. McCarl, John McClellan and Deane Hancock French.¬ The show¬ runs through July 5th. Flatrocks Gallery is located at 77 Langsford St. - route 127 - in Lanesville and open 12-5 Wednesday -Sunday or by appointment. 978-282-5436 or 978-283-7312

Note change: All items need to be sent 10 days before the event.

Arts Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000, ext. 3445 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.