Appleton Farms is one of the most significant cultural and natural landscapes in American agrarian history. Our working landscape offers a diversity of learning opportunities for all ages, from soil science and habitat management to cheese making and community supported agriculture. The rich stories, rare resources, and sustainable operations, make Appleton Farms one of the finest stages in the country to showcase and teach excellence in small-scale agriculture.
You're invited to Sandy Point State Reservation to celebrate World Shorebird Day. Come see a shorebird up close and personal. Every year, tens of thousands of shorebirds stop over at Parker River to eat and rest on their journey from the Arctic to South America. Refuge biologists are studying how and where these birds migrate. Come learn more about this research and these amazing birds up close. Meet at the Bill Forward Blind. Docents will escort visitors to the banding site on a rotating basis.
Part of the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is a great way to get together and have fun with the whole family in an exclusive setting. You can pack a picnic dinner, bring the kids, and get ready to dance the night away under the stars on the Grand Allée. Explore the landscaped grounds and the family "Eye Spy."
Ipswich Downtown Tuesdays includes great dininglive music, dancing on the Riverwalk & extended shopping hours for shopping Downtown Ipswich Tuesday evenings! Each week will feature live entertainment on the Riverwalk, making for a fun evening out for the whole family!
For the first time, the Great House at Castle Hill is open for tours on Labor Day. Grab the family and take the Guest of the Cranes tour on the hour and our roof tour, Cupola with a View, at 11:30 AM and 1:30PM. Unique gifts and food options are available at our gift shop and Grab and Go cafe with 10% off for Trustees members. Last tour of the day is at 3PM.
Pack a picnic and bring your dancing shoes to Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich for a diverse series of concerts that are sure to entertain! Enjoy the long, lazy days of summer at Castle Hill's Picnic Concerts. Each week offers an exciting family-friendly and danceable band. Walk the grounds, visit the gardens, or relax on the lawn. Stop by the visitor information tent to check out our weekly raffles and membership promotions, borrow a frisbee or ball, or try our family Eye Spy based on Castle Hill's landscape features.
Wagon Rides are new to Appleton Farms this summer! What better way than to spend a summer day on the farm. Hop aboard our hay wagon and go for a ride past our vegetable fields and out to the great pasture. Enjoy our rolling landscape, maybe spot some cows grazing and enjoy being outside! The ride will last approximately 25 minutes and starts at the Farm Store. The wagon will stop at the Barnyard on the way back for those who wish to get out and see our animals before walking back to the store.
Part of the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is a great way to get together and have fun with the whole family in an exclusive setting. You can pack a picnic dinner, bring the kids, and get ready to dance the night away under the stars on the Grand Allée. Explore the landscaped grounds and the family "Eye Spy."
Join us for a relaxed, fun, and family-friendly paddle from our headquarters at Riverbend, right on the river in Ipswich. It is perfect for all ages and levels of paddling experience. You will have the opportunity to learn basic paddling skills, from the proper way to hold a kayak paddle to different ways to steer your canoe. You will enjoy a leisurely evening paddle down the river and experience the beauty of the river’s wildness and maybe even see some of our resident wildlife, from beavers to turtles to the many birds who call the river home. We have a limited number of canoes and kayaks that you may use for free, but you may also bring your own. Please let us know if you need a boat and which type you prefer.
Summer may be coming to an end, but what better way to get one last summer night in than a camp out at Appleton Farms! For the first time ever, Families will be able to set up a tent in the Stone Paddock. Experience the fun of camping, while still having access to bathrooms and the experience of being on a farm!
