ROCKPORT — Sailors and singers and scarecrows, oh my!
Live entertainment, the second annual Scarecrow Stroll and a visit from the sailors of the USS Constitution and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard are just a few highlights of this year's Rockport Harvest Festival.
The fifth annual Harvest Festival, spread throughout Rockport, will be held this weekend — rain or shine — and is designed to celebrate autumn's arrival with music, seasonal fare and a variety of activities.
The weekend of family-friendly fun is jointly sponsored by the Rockport Art Festivals Committee and the Chamber of Commerce, managed by volunteers and financially supported by the donations of many local businesses and individuals.
The new nonprofit Art Festivals Committee is made up of representatives of the Parent Teacher Organization, the retail sector, innkeepers, and other groups like Rockport Music.
It is now charged with running events such as a full-fledged town arts festival, as well as the town's long-standing celebrations like Motif No. 1 Day, "and other entertainment and educational events that emphasize the special seaside allure and unrivaled artistic heritage of Rockport," said Sarah Kelly, chairman of the Art Festivals Committee.
"I see the potential in Rockport, and really wanted to help out," Kelly said. "We'd like to add things, like outdoor movie nights, to create a vibe in Rockport; it used to be like that here and I think it will work out well in the end."
"We really want the community to reconnect with what's going on downtown," she added.
A number of musicians are scheduled to take the stage this weekend including, jazz musicians Nat Simpkins and Henri Smith, local singer/songwriter Chelsea Berry, bluegrass band Merrimack Valley Rounders, and Maeve, just to name a few. Many other local artists are also slated to perform including, the Rockport Legion Band, Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band, Alek Razdan and the A-Train Orchestra and members of the high school's madrigal choir.
New England Fall Food, such as chowder and homemade pies, will be offered for purchase through festival food vendors and the Festival Kids' Zone will host art workshops, pumpkin-painting, and games and prizes.
While most events are free, donations are accepted for cider and doughnuts, and fees charged for some events such as pumpkin painting and registration for the live Scarecrow Parade. Proceeds help offset the costs of this and future committee-sponsored events.
The Scarecrow Stroll features scarecrows of every variety from the tip of Bearskin Neck to Front Beach. Visitors are urged to pick up a map during the Festival at the information booth in Dock Square.
"We really focused on the Scarecrow Stroll," said Kelly. "Just from talking to people, roughly 40 people plan to participate."
Though the scarecrow stroll and other fan favorites are coming back, there are various new events sure to bring smiles to the faces of both young and old.
The What's on Cape Ann Fair (WOCA) is also an integral part of this year's festival.
"It's a fair within a fair with a lot of interactive exhibits," Kelly said. "It's a great opportunity for visitors and residents alike to discover all the great organizations and nonprofits that exist here on Cape Ann."
Visitors to this year's WOCA Fair will find food, children's games and interactive exhibits from local organizations including, the Cape Ann Food Pantry, Eastern Point Day School, New Year's Rockport Eve, Boy Scouts, Spiran Hall and Pigeon Cove Circle.
Another special event this year is a celebration of the seven-year refurbishment project at Scout Hall. With a new occupancy permit in hand, local Scout organization leaders will hold an open house at the building between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. both days.
"We plan on having Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Brownies all participate during the open house, perhaps doing crafts, outdoors skills, or showing off some projects," said Jeff Amero, president of Rockport Friends of Scout Hall. "We just got our occupancy permit ... and will be scheduling the building for Scout organizations to use after the open house."
Kelly said donations to support the committee's mission are welcome. Checks can be made payable to Rockport Festivals, and sent c/o La Provence, 4 Main St., Rockport. For more information, visit www.rockportartfestivals.com or e-mail rockportfestivals@gmail.com.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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