Event Schedule – Battle of Gloucester

The schedule of events will be the same on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21. However, the site will be open to the public from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Upcoming Events

ALL DAY beginning at 9 a.m. (except during battles)

Meet citizens of 1775 Gloucester, browse 18th century shops, and explore a Revolutionary War encampment.

Throughout the day, the areas surrounding the battleground will bring to life the civilian experience of the American Revolution, with costumed historical interpreters portraying the townspeople who lived and worked in Gloucester in 1775.

These interpretive stations will offer a detailed look into the lives of women in Gloucester during the American Revolution, which included helping to supply the army, harvesting salt hay, making and repairing fishnets, lacemaking, tea service, and more. The women will also give presentations on 18th century New England speech, almshouses for the poor, and diseases such as smallpox.

Visitors can also experience a taste of colonial life through replicated 18th century marketplaces with wares for sale to the public. And finally, they can explore a Revolutionary War military encampment, where reenactors cook their meals and sleep in tents.

On both days of the event, various interpretive stations will be highlighted at different times. Several lectures are also planned each day at the Visitors Center. More details to come.

The site will close to the public at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

10 A.M. — Morning Battle Reenactment: Maritime Chase and Capture

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Cressy Beach, costumed reenactors will bring to life the maritime sequence of the Battle of Gloucester, in which British Capt. John Linzee of the HMS Falcon attempts a naval raid in Gloucester Harbor to disrupt American supply routes, but is swiftly met by American militia along the coast.

Hundreds of reenactors will bring the naval battle to life as the HMS Falcon and two schooners sailing in the harbor take fire from one another. As the ships pursue each other, American militia position themselves on the shore to fend off the British ships as they attempt to land. Meanwhile, the women of the town witnessing the battle must decide whether to gather their valuables and flee or stay to protect their homes, bringing to life the true emotions experienced during the battle.

2:00 P.M. — Afternoon Battle Reenactment: Land Battle and British Retreat

The afternoon battle reenactment will pick up right where the morning’s events left off, with soldiers landing on the shores of Cressy Beach, forcing American militia and townspeople to retreat inland. Soldiers will push onto the main battleground at Stage Fort Park, which will be fully transformed with obstacles and historical buildings such as the Meetinghouse. As the battle plays out, visitors get a sense of the destruction caused by gunfire and cannonballs.

The battle ends poorly for the Redcoats, with some being captured and others being forced back into the harbor, marking an American victory against the most dominant Navy of the time.