Old Sloop Fair Summer Fair
Date and Time
Saturday Jul 26, 2014
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Location
First Congregational Church of Rockport, Rockport, MA 01966
If you are coming by road, drive north on Route 128 into Gloucester, across the Andrew Bridge, and through two rotaries to the first traffic light at the bottom of the hill. Turn left onto Route 127 and drive 4 miles to Rockport. Continue slightly right through the "five corners" intersection onto Broadway (Route 127A). At the stop sign with a lighthouse in the middle of the road, turn left and then bear left onto Main Street. The First Congregational Church is on the left at the corner of School Street, the next intersection. There is parking on School Street and on Main Street. If you are coming by train, take the Rockport branch of the Newburyport/Rockport line to the end. This commuter rail line originates at Boston's North Station and passes through stations in a dozen communities before reaching Rockport, taking about 70 minutes. The Rockport train station is about a half mile from the church. To walk to the church, turn right on Railroad Avenue upon leving the station, walk .2 miles to the "five corners" intersection, and turn slightly left onto Broadway. Walk .3 miles and turn left onto School Street (Rockport Public Library on corner). The church is on the left.
Website
Contact Information
978-309-9667
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Description
Rockport's beloved Old Sloop Fair finishes Saturday, July 26, with the Giant Yard Sale. Items that were somehow overlooked the previous two weekends will be sold at ridiculous prices, and there will also be many items reserved for the yard sale. The yard sale begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. The Old Sloop Fair is one of the oldest and largest church fairs on the Massachusetts North Shore. The First Congregational Church was organized in 1755. The building that is now the church sanctuary was constructed in 1804 and originally served as the town meeting house. The tall steeple and white facade close to the Sandy Bay shoreline resemble a ship's sail when seen from the sea, and the nickname "Old Sloop" was conferred by the fishermen. The steeple contains the Town Clock. Proceeds from this year's Fair will go toward the church's operating expenses and the restoration and preservation of the sanctuary building. A project to restore the roof, siding, and windows was recently completed, financed by a Community Preservation Act grant and by contributions from parishioners and townspeople.
