40th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival 2024 a Rousing Success

Gloucester Massachusetts was once again the place to be for all things schooner on Labor Day Weekend 2024. The annual festivities of the Maritime Gloucester’s Schooner Festival were a delight to boaters, festival goers and boaters of all types and sizes came to enjoy parties, fireworks, the parade and racing.

It has become a rite of passage each year and Labor Day is set aside well in advance for the enjoyment of the last days of summer fun in New England.

You can bring your own boat, canoe, scow, dory, sailboat, motorboat, paddle board, kayak or whatever just actually floats your boat and have a great time with like-minded souls.

If you have never sailed or don’t own a boat there are many opportunities to get out on the water by taking a day cruise on one of the schooners or one of the many spectator boats offering excursions during the Mayor’s Race on Sunday.

The Mayor’s Race is the highlight and starts the day with a Parade of Sail past the judges and crowds lining the harbor entrance breakwaters before heading slightly offshore to race for trophies.

For those not wanting to actually be on the water there are plenty of activities and food opportunities for landlubbers and families.

This festival proves that Gloucester Massachusetts knows how to throw one heck of a fun weekend. They have others as well including St. Peter’s Fiesta (stpetersfiesta.org) including the iconic Greasy Pole competition. This active town with long standing and still very active fishing fleet has grown to be a fantastic destination to take in the ambiance of a genuine New England port town.

We’ll see you all next year when the sails are raised, the drinks are poured and flags are flown for another memorable weekend of festivities. Thank you Gloucester!