Essex

Visit the Essex Farmer's Market for a great variety of locally grown produce and other foods! Essex, Massachusetts is an amazing part of the world where farming, fishing, clamming, art and antiques come together in a tight knit little town on Cape Ann. The Essex Farmers Market showcases the wonder of Essex and Cape Ann while supporting local small businesses and farms. The Essex Farmers Market is expanding its reach to increase awareness of the issues of sustainability and local sourcing.

Paint Essex: 3rd Annual En Plein Air Painting and Wet Paint Auction sponsored by Essex Merchants Group will bring numerous fine artists to Essex to paint the Great Marsh, Essex River, antiques, historic sites and landscape of Essex. Sculptors are welcome to build or donate sculptures to Sunday's auction and 10 photographers may participate. Several antique shop interiors are available for artists too. Space is limited: one artist per participating shop.

The Chebacco Lake and Watershed Association will sponsor its annual Fourth of July Boat Parade on at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 4th.  All boats will meet near the Centennial Grove beach and proceed around the lake counterclockwise. Prizes will be awarded for Most Patriotic, Most Creative and best costume or costumes.

Essex River Day is an idea that has been evolving for many years. Often when boaters are out on the River you hear the same question over and over again, "Wouldn't it be great if everyone in Essex could experience the beauty of the River?" The concept for the event is simple. Those who have a boat offer a neighborly boat ride to those in town who may not have a boat and don't have ready access to appreciating the wonders of the Essex River. This simple thought has grown into a full day of events culminating that evening with a softball game, a cook out, music and a bonfire at Memorial Park.

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 Essex County Greenbelt Association hosts a fundraiser dance for the Cape Ann Farmers' Market at Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts! Pack a picnic dinner and bring the entire family to Essex for a night of family fun!  Explore the grounds of the Essex County Greenbelt Association headquarters overlooking the marshes of Essex Bay, then join the fun in the barn for a traditional square dance with a live band and caller!

The Essex County Greenbelt Association and the their community partners will host a FREE Earth Day celebration at the Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts! This free event will celebrate the environment, and build connections to our natural world by offering family-friendly activities.  The event will also showcase local non-profit organizations that share a commitment to building an environmentally sustainable community. 

Come fly a kite at Cogswell's Grant! Bring your own kite or build one of your own, and watch professional kite flyers from Kites Over New England. Archie Stewart of Kite Education teaches a workshop with all materials included, where kids and adults can make their own kites and learn how to fly them.

At Lil’ Sprouts of Essex, we are creating a safe environment that promotes a sense of security, trust and acceptance so your children are able to grow socially, emotionally and academically. We celebrate a true love of learning and prepare our young students for success when they enter the primary grades.

Lil’ Sprouts of Essex is a creative, developmental preschool designed to meet the needs of children and families in our surrounding communities.

Learn more at Lil' Sprouts of Essex or join us for one of our community open house events.