Topsfield

Enjoy the spirit of the season and take home the fragrance of the forest. We will read The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown. Then we will visit the forest to identify a variety of evergreens by their shape, needles, cones, and fragrance.

We are all intrigued by the elusive owls. We'll learn about these creatures and have the opportunity to observe owls mounts and touch feathers, followed by a walk outside to look and listen for owls. Upon our return, we will let Mother Nature be our inspiration and create owl art from a variety of mediums at different work stations.

Join Mass Audubon for a family concert with acclaimed singer-songwriter and storyteller Steve Schuch. Steve has delighted audiences across the U.S. and Europe with his toe-tapping music, humor, and captivating stories. Come hear beautiful fiddle playing, listen to songs about the wildlife and wild places right here in New England, and enjoy stories about the natural world that the whole family will love.   Also check out our morning workshop with Steve for adults who are interested in learning to use music and storytelling at home and in the classroom to connect children with nature.

Come enjoy an early evening excursion at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield! During the autumn months, thousands of migratory waterfowl fly directly over the sanctuary as they travel from their summer breeding grounds in the north to their winter homes in the south. Each night, hundreds of ducks drop into Bunker Meadows to rest and refuel for their journey. We will hike down to Bunker Meadows and climb the observation tower to observe the magnificent spectacle of ducks coming in to roost. Learn to identify different species, use counters to keep track of numbers, hear the sounds of ducks settling in for the night, and listen for the call of a great horned owl across the marsh. This is an evening not to be missed.

Come support our veterans in need and see bluegrass band E.C. and the Moonshiners, led by renowned fiddler Ellen Carlson, perform at a Southern style barbeque! This family fun afternoon offers ribs or chicken plus all the Southern barbecue fixings for adults and hot dogs for children. 

Originally founded by Nancy Begin in 1971, the Topsfield Farmers' Market features locally grown products and hand-crafted goods. Come see us on Saturday mornings 8am to 12 noon through the end of September. Our vendors feature a variety of fruits and vegetables, baked goods, jams, jellies, relishes, vinegars & soups made with locally grown produce. We guarantee you'll a bountiful and mixed selection of vendors from week-to-week.

Explore the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary after hours and join us for a night of camping under the stars. Have an early dinner at home and then come with your family, your tent, and a dessert to share. Join us as we explore the habitats of the elusive owls.

Explore the Ipswich River at dusk. Bring your family and join us for an evening paddle in a canoe as we learn more about the river and some of its inhabitants. Many kinds of owls "call in the night" with their hoots and screams as the sun begins to fade. As we paddle along, we'll look and listen for owls, talk about the types of owls we're likely to find at this time of year, and do some hooting ourselves.

Come venture along the sanctuary trails on a sensory tour. We will explore the magic of the outdoors by using our many senses. Let's see what we can discover using our eyes, ears, nose, hands, and even taste. Using found materials from nature, we will create a nature collage.

Come be a part of the “Great American Eclipse.” A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Massachusetts on August 21, and we’ll celebrate by building solar-eclipse viewers to safely watch the event. We’ll also learn a little about astronomy and discover why eclipses happen. Our next solar eclipse won’t be visible until 2024, so don’t miss this chance!