Essex

Historic New England welcomes family favorite Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions for a special engagement at Cogswell's Grant . The famous Lipizzan stallions are returning to perform three shows at Cogswell's Grant. The horses of the Herrmann line are among the last capable of executing the "Airs Above the Ground" maneuvers, the dramatic leaps and plunges developed as aggressive battle maneuvers in the sixteenth century, and now a beautiful display of equine grace and strength.

Don’t miss the small town charm of a Memorial Day Parade in Essex. The parade begins at 9 am and progresses to the Town Cemetery for a military rifle salute to our country’s war veterans and then up Main Street to the Causeway Bridge. Town officials lead the parade followed by members of the school band and various athletic organizations. Norman Rockwell couldn’t have painted a better picture than our parade coming down Main Street.

 Artists in the Shipyard at Essex Shipbuilding Museum presents, Dora Tevan, who will be presenting her Participatory Puppet Show on this notable local lore: the Sea Serpent of Gloucester!  $5 Donation requested

Join naturalist Marcia Wilson of Eyes On Owls while she shares her passion for owls! Mrs. Wilson will introduce you to the owls of New England and beyond. This multigenerational program is open to all, so call today and reserve a spot for yourself and your family!

Everyone loves owls! Yet, how many of us have ever seen a live owl up close? Perhaps you’ve glimpsed the shadowy form of a Great Horned Owl in the headlights as you’ve traveled a back road at night. Ever scanned a frozen salt marsh or farmer’s meadow in winter, hoping to find that Arctic hunter, the Snowy Owl? How about a mob of noisy crows circling a white pine tree – have they found an owl?

Join naturalist Marcia Wilson and photographer Mark Wilson in sharing their passion for owls! “Who’s Watching You? Owls of the World” will introduce you to the owls of New England and beyond.

Some owls such as Great Horned, Barred and Eastern Screech Owls are more common than you may think. Boreal owls and Great Gray owls are a rare find here, yet are found on other continents, too. Others like Snowy Owls, Eurasian eagle owls and familiar Barn Owls feature in popular movies and nature programs.

Mark and Marcia will share the field marks, signs and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find wild owls without disturbing them, while introducing you to six live owls up close.

Everyone is treated to a hooting lesson, as well as tips on how to attract and protect owls near you. These secretive birds are specially adapted for living in diverse environments, from marshes to tundra and from rainforest to grasslands.

You’ll find owls on all the continents except Antarctica. Most owls thrive on eating small rodents like mice and voles. Some owls take insects, ducks, snakes, fish, frogs or bats. One owl even relishes a meal of skunk!

Explore the world of owls with two talented naturalists and six lively owls, whose pursuits both near and far make this interactive program fun and educational!

The TOHP Burnham Public Library in Essex hosts a knitting club for anybody aged 8 and up!  Come try your hand at knitting, see what you can make, or share your knitting experience with others. All supplies provided, sign up in advance please.

Come experience the fun new sport of Geocaching at the Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts! This web-based hide-and-seek game is growing by leaps and bounds across the country!Instructors will share how to use a GPS unit and astute powers of observation to find hidden caches at the Cox Reservation.

Daisy Nell and Captain Stan visit the TOHP Burnham Public Library in Essex for an open house! Enjoy songs from Daisy's popular children's books Rocky at the Dockside, The Stowaway Mouse and Tilly and the Pirates.  There will also be tours, snacks, door prizes and crafts!

Come to the TOHP Burnham Public Library for a fun holiday event featuring master storyteller Carolyn Martino. Space is limited and tickets are required.  Pick up your FREE tickets at the Circulation Desk.  Perfect for kids 5 and older! Fancy attire is encouraged and Holiday refreshments will be served.

Holiday Fairs at Essex Churches - The warmth of an old country church fair enlivens the town on a cold, winter’s day when all three of Essex’s downtown churches hold their annual Holiday Fair. All three churches are within walking distance with free on street parking. Gift bargains are served up along with homemade food and hot beverages. A dollar goes a long way at this event.

Visit the Essex Holiday Farmers Market for a great variety of locally grown produce and other foods produced locally and stock up for the holidays! Also at this market you will find Artisan Ice Cream, freshly baked pies and pastries, local pature-raised meats and cheeses, holiday wreaths and greeens, all natural skin care products, honey, prepared foods, handcrafted jewelry and othe great gift ideas!