Essex

Don't miss the last Photo Safari of the season! Join Essex Heritage and Hunt's Photo & Video on Saturday, June 1st for a Photo Safari featuring Tamron at the Cox Reservation!

Equipped with the latest camera lenses and gear from Tamron, provided by Hunt's Photo & Video, and coached by professional photographers and technical experts, photographers of all levels can join this safari to expand their skills while capturing magnificent views of the Great Marsh, the Essex River and beyond, from the Cox Reservation!

For one weekend every June, the barns at the Cox Reservation are transformed with color and form as paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor, monoprints, ceramics and pottery, and sculpture in wood and iron adorn the walls, window sills, tables, stairs and every nook and cranny of our rustic barns. Artists generously donate 50% of their sales to support the land conservation mission of Essex County Greenbelt Association.

The Happy as a Clam 5k, Family Fun Run & Wellness Fair is a yearly event that's filled with fun for both kids and adults. There will be a 5k road race and a 1 mile family fun run. Whole families are encouraged to do the fun run. There will be medals given to all children under 12 yrs. old and there will be family prizes as well.

See, learn, find, create! Young artists are invited to enjoy drawing, painting, print making, and sculpture using the Museum's shipyard and artifacts for inspiration. All materials are provided for projects. All ages are welcome. Those seven and younger must be accompanied by an adult. A public exhibit of the art work produced will take place at the museum. This program is supported in part by the Essex Cultural Council, a local agency, through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information and to reserve a spot email or call.

PAINT A BOWL! For the Mehaffey Farm annual The Open Door Empty Bowl Dinner 2014. Join us at the library to paint bowls to be donated to the dinner and auctioned off to raise money for families in need around Cape Ann and the North Shore! This is a super fun event and supports a great cause!

It's time for the forth annual Messy Art Night in Essex on Feb 1st! Last year’s event was a huge success.  Over fifteen local artists showed off their work to 150 excited kids and parents, taught them to try new techniques and helped them have fun making their own art.  It was amazing!

Wood, hammers and nails--add a little imagination and watch what happens!  The result is always fun! All ages welcome. Those under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. $7 per child or teen.  Drop-ins welcome. It always helps us set up if you can call or email if you are on your way!

 Join us at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum as Susie Talbot guides us through decorating a 20" wreath. Susie is an extraordinarily talented individual who not only designed, but takes care of our front gardens. Amongst her many talents is decorating Holiday greens.

Santa arrives on the Essex River by boat and walks up to the shipyard with a cast of toyland characters. Children can sit on Santa's lap and review their holiday "wish list", while adults enjoy wonderful hot clam chowder from Woodman's.  Carols by 'Sound Waves' and Holiday Idol provide great entertainment for the evening!  Hot chocolate and Munchkins provided by Dunkin Donuts!

To kick off the Essex Holiday Festival, people gather in town for the Lighting of the Memory Tree. This special occasion give people to reflect as a group on the loved one that have gone before them. The town’s children’s bell choir performs in the background.