Free Activities

The Tannery Marketplace will hold a Winter Arts & Crafts festival with Artisans from across the area. Visitors can find unique gifts including pottery, jewelry, photography, painting, blown glass, handmade sweaters, scarves, fabric art and handbags. A good time to find fabulous gifts for fabulous people.

The Gloucester Writer's Center would like to invite children from kindergarten to fifth grade to read their poetry.

Children can sign up to read up to three poems in this open-mic reading at the door or they can sign up in advance by contacting Amanda Cook at orangeamanda@yahoo.com

Manchester Public Library proudly welcomes award-winning children's music artist Leeny of Leeny and Tamara for a free concert that will have the whole family learning, giggling, and singing along!

Glen Urquhart School is hosting 3, free, fun, Mondays for preschool children ages three to four.

• Monday, November 15: 1:00-2:30, Singing with Patty Clark
• Monday, November 22: 1:00-2:30, Art with Catherine Cobb
• Monday, November 29: 1:00-2:30, Stories with Donna Staller

Spaces are limited so RSVP to Leslie Marchesseault @ 978.927.1064 ext. 115 or lmarchesseault@gus.org.

Haunted Happenings is buzzing with excitement in Salem this year and the weather is perfect today to attend the Pumpkin Festival on Salem Common. Enjoy a display of pumpkins decorated by area school children and see if your little ones can find their way through a hay bale maze that's just their size! Sure to be a great adventure for the kids.

The Carnival on Derby Street in Salem and it's another good reason to get your family to Salem before the end of the month. Fiesta Shows Carnival moved from Topsfield Fair into a vacant lot on Derby Street in Salem, across the street from the Pirate Museum.

Take a spin on the rides and test your skill with the games.

This years Haunted Happenings in Salem is a nicely family-focused set of events. Among the special events for children are the annual Children's Day, set for Saturday, Oct. 16, which will include a costume parade, children's music and storytelling; and the Children's Costume Party and Parade, sponsored by the Phoenix School, on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Salem Common.

Here is a list of happening this weekend in Salem for families: