"Horribles" on parade

Most places celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks or bonfires. Cape Ann has both, but it also has something all its own _ Horribles.

Horribles, for the uninitiated, are children and adults dressed in outlandish, outrageous, unusual, exotic and amusing costumes. And each Independence Day, they march between the floats and bands in annual parades in Gloucester, Rockport and Manchester.

Gloucester has the first Horribles Parade of the holiday, on the evening of July 3. Participants wearing costumes pay no fees and don't have to reserve a spot in the parade _ all they have to do is show up at the high school parking lot that afternoon.

The parade, which starts late afternoon, winds along Stacy Boulevard, through downtown, onto Prospect Street, Railroad Avenue, Washington Street and Centennial Avenue.

Fireworks over Gloucester Harbor follow at 10 p.m. The best viewing spots are Stacy Boulevard or Pavilion Beach, located at the Tavern end of the Boulevard.

The Manchester-by-the-Sea extravaganza steps off from Vine Street on July 4, turns right onto School Street, goes to Pleasant Street and continues all the way down to Pine Street. Then it proceeds down Pine Street to Central and Union streets and goes up Union Street Hill to Norwood Avenue and ends at the Brook Street Playground.

Cape Ann's Independence Day festivities end in Rockport, with its annual Horribles Parade. The parade starts at the Jerden's Lane school, proceeds down South Street to downtown, and from there heads to the bandstand at Back Beach.

At the beach, music is provided by members of the Clown Band and the Rockport Legion Band, and the whole affairs ends with a giant bonfire on the beach.

Sidewalk Bazaars

Downtown merchants in Gloucester and Manchester will hold their annual Sidewalk Bazaars this summer.

The Manchester event is July 31; Gloucester's runs for three days, Aug. 5-7.

Gloucester closes its Main Street to traffic for the bazaar, while tables are set up in front of stores and merchandise is marked down.

The bazaar also features clowns, jugglers, sidewalk painting, food and music.

Waterfront Festival

The annual Waterfront Festival brings dozens of arts and crafts exhibitors to set up on sidewalks along Western Avenue near Stage Fort Park. Musicians will entertain there on both days of the Festival, Aug. 21-22

There will be a pancake breakfast Saturday and the Chamber of Commerce will continue to hold their Sunday afternoon fish fry.

Also, the Nathaniel Warner Militia will re-enact the military engagement with the British warship Falcon during the Revolutionary War. That will take place in Stage Fort Park.

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