Ipswich

Christmas at Castle Hill

The Trustees' Castle Hill Christmas by the Sea is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts

Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s Travels with the Cranes. Each room in our 1920s mansion is decorated for the holidays drawing inspiration from Crane travels around the world, including Paris, Japan, Egypt, and New York.

When: 
Fridays through December 22, 2023 2023 4-8pm
Saturdays through December 23, 2023 10am-4pm
Sundays, December 3, 10 & 17, 2023 10am-4pm
Tuesday-Saturday, December 26-30, 2023 10am-4pm

Farmer for a Day | Winter Break Week

Appleton Farm's Farmer for a Day program is geared to children aged 6-9 in Ipswich Massachusetts

Ever wanted to know what a farmer’s life is like? Find out at Appleton Farms for one or more of our “Farmer for a Day” drop-off programs! In the holiday week before New Years, kids ages 5-11 can experience a farmer’s life through authentic barnyard chores, fun-filled farm adventures, and traditional crafts. On one day, your child may learn about dairy farming through hands-on games and a tour of the milking barn. On another, they’ll discover the process of making clothes by collecting fibers from our Angora rabbits and creating yarn of their own. Every day, they’ll explore the forests and fields of Appleton, enjoy a craft and a story, and get their hands dirty with animal chores!

When: 
Tuesday-Friday, December 27-29, 2023 9am-Noon
Location: 

CraneOutdoors: Winter Solstice Hike in the Dunes

Hiking the Dunes at the Crane Wildlife Refuge with the Trustees of Reservations.

Join us for a beautiful dune hike to celebrate the solstice! Winter at the Crane Estate has much to offer, and while just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less-explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime scrub forest, and beautiful beaches on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex/Castle Neck River estuary sides of the peninsula. These trails take you through Pitch Pine forests, up huge dunes offering stunning views of Choate Island, and by the varied landscapes of Castle Neck, including naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

When: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023 2-4pm

CraneOutdoors: Winter Solstice Hike in the Dunes

Hiking the Dunes at the Crane Wildlife Refuge with the Trustees of Reservations.

Join us for a beautiful dune hike to celebrate the solstice! Winter at the Crane Estate has much to offer, and while just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less-explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime scrub forest, and beautiful beaches on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex/Castle Neck River estuary sides of the peninsula. These trails take you through Pitch Pine forests, up huge dunes offering stunning views of Choate Island, and by the varied landscapes of Castle Neck, including naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

When: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023 2-4pm

Signs of Winter Wildlife | Family Nature Series

Essex County Greenbelt teams up with North Shore Nature Programs for a wildlife hike in Ipswich Massachusetts!

This program with North Shore Nature Programs is for families with children of all ages. We'll walk the trails at a farm in Ipswich to explore different signs that wildlife leave in winter, like footprints, scat, nesting materials, and more. Bundle up and get ready to have fun!

When: 
Saturday, February 10, 2024 10:30-Noon
Location: 

Winter Lights on Cape Ann

Celebrate the season with holiday light displays in Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport.

The Annual Winter Lights on Cape Ann is a festive event celebrating the holiday season, running from late November through New Year's Day. Over 100 local businesses in Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport are participating by decorating their storefronts with lights and creative displays. A decorating contest is back by popular demand, allowing visitors to vote for their favorite decorated business in each of the five communities.

When: 
Daily through New Years Day 2024

Holiday Printmaking with IRWA

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen.

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen. Participants will be repurposing real fish (shad, originally used for scientific research) and making beautiful and unique prints which can be used for gifts, decorations, cards, or anything your heart desires!

When: 
Saturday, December 16, 2023 1-3pm

Ipswich Jingle Bell Walk

Join friends and family for a day of holiday festivities and cheer! Sing carols with Buddy the Elf while waiting for Santa’s arrival.

Greet Santa as he arrives at Town Wharf on East Street, at the north end end of Water Street, in Ipswich!  Come sing carols with Buddy the Elf as we await Santa’s arrival.  Jingle Bells will be available for purchase.  Jingle your bells and follow our honored guest and Buddy the Elf on a festive “Jingle Bell Walk” along Water Street to the Ipswich Town Hall at 45 Green Street.  Keep a sharp eye out for the “Grinch”! 

When: 
Saturday, December 9, 2023 11-1:30pm

Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm

The Tree Jubilee hosted by Marini Farm in Ipswich  MA is a fun and unique charity event!!

Come to Marini Farm for the Tree Jubilee fundraiser to benefit The Ipswich Humane Group.  Tour the gallery of beautifully decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! More than 50 spectacularly decorated trees and wreaths will be raffled off (decorations and all!) at the end of the Jubilee. You never know what our participants will decorate their trees with!

When: 
Fridays, November 24 & December 1, 2023 10am-8pm
Saturdays, November 25 & December 2, 2023 10am-8pm
Sunday, November 26, 2023 10am-7pm
Sunday, December 3, 2023 10am-3pm
Location: 

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Adirondack Leadership Program at Gordon College’s La Vida Center

Story Walk |This Is the Nest Robin Built

Kids will enjoy this self-guided story based tour of the Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts! Photo by Bill O'Connor
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise at Halibut Point State Park ! Join us on the grounds of the for a self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book This is the Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. A wonderful story awaits! For...
8:00 am to 4:00 pm

All Family Field Trip | Early Spring Walk in the Woods

Come explore the woods with Joppa Flats and see if you can find the signs of Spring in Newburyport Massachusetts
Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the north shore. Our engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors....
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Friends of Abbot Library Moving/Book Sale

The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! Image is AI generated
The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! The Friends of Abbot Public Library will be having a moving sale from Monday, March 25 through Saturday, March 30! Stop by the Sail Away Book Shop located in the gym space at Abbot Public Library's interim location...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Tabletop Gaming for Teens at APL

Abbott Library in Marblehead Massachusetts invites teens to an afternoon session of board gaming!
Need a break from your console? Hang out at the library for an hour of analog tabletop gaming to meet new friends and discover a favorite new thing to play. 
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Read to a Dog at APL

Kids are invited to read to a dog at Amesbury Massachusetts Public Library. Image generated with AI.
The Amesbury Public Library invites kids to come read to a dog at the Library! Gus, a mixed lab and certified reading partner dog, would love to hear you read aloud!
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Post Secondary School Fair at Landmark

Landmark School hosts a post secondary school fair for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities.
Meet representatives from college and university admissions and student support services, gap year programs, technical schools, and other non-traditional options. We have more exhibitors this year than ever before and we're very excited to welcome you to our high school campus!
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Felted Bunny Craft at Salisbury Library

The Salisbury Massachusetts Library hosts a crafting session featuring felted bunnies.
The Salisbury Library invites kids to join Rachelle for a fun craft night featuring fellted bunnies! Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. For kids aged 8 and older (we'll be using sewing needles). Sign-up is required and space is limited.
6:00 pm

Intermediate Sourdough Bread Workshop at Appleton Farms

Learn the ins and outs of sourdough bread at Appleton Farms in in Ipswich Massachusetts!
Have you taken the Sourdough Bread Baking class and want to learn more? Level up your bread baking skills with this workshop led by Culinary Manager Jess Porter. Participants will learn to make a variety of sourdough breads using one base dough. We’ll discuss how to incorporate whole grains,...
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Saturday, April 6

Salisbury Beach Carousel - Saturday Hours

Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties
Salisbury Beach Carousel Hours: Friday: 4 pm to 8 pm Saturday: 12 pm to 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm to 6 pm Hours of operation are to change.
12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

CraneExplorer: Shipwreck Scholars

Families learn about shipwrecks at Castle Hill and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts
Coastal views with a side of shipwreck! Families will be guided on a Castle Hill hike through the salt marsh, dunes, and beach, while learning about local nautical history, including the role of Fox Creek Canal and Robinson Boat Yard in the area’s shipbuilding legacy, and the fascinating tale of...
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Sunday, April 7

Salisbury Beach Carousel - Sunday Hours

Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties
Salisbury Beach Carousel Hours: Friday: 4 pm to 8 pm Saturday: 12 pm to 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm to 6 pm Hours of operation are to change.
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Sunday STEAM Club for kids in Peabody Massachusetts at the North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science and arts through hands-on projects and experiments. This program is free with admission to the play session.
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Monday, April 8

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at MPL

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party at the Public Library in Manchester Massachusetts
Join us on the front lawn of the library for the cosmic event of the year! We will have a good view of an almost complete eclipse so long as the weather cooperates. We have a limited number of eclipse glasses that will be handed out during the event, 1 per person on a 1st come 1st served bases...
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 9

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Miles River Middle School Arts Night

Miles River Middle School will hold it's annual Arts Night in South Hamilton Massachusetts
Miles River Middle School will hold it's annual Arts Night, Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Come see what our student artists have been up to this year!
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Wednesday, April 10

Fiddleheads | Preschool Drop-Off Series

The Fiddlehead program at Appleton Farms encourages kids 3-5 to explore their environment in Ipswich Massachusetts
Spring has sprung! It is an excellent time of year for exploring and learning on the farm. We will be planting and harvesting in our garden, taking care of our animals and finding all the signs of spring that nature divulges. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 12:30PM for a preschool drop...
9:30 am to 12:30 pm

We Walk the Woods!

Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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