Community Outreach

Girls Rock Climb-A-Thon

Come to MetroRock Newburyport for a fun night of climbing! Proceeds will benefit Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area!

Hosted by Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, this fun event is a fundraiser and climb-a-thon in support of Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area. Participants are encouraged to fundraise before the event and then come to MetroRock for a night of climbing complete with a music, pizza, ice cream, snacks and prizes! Our top fundraisers will be awarded prizes and all climbers will be entered into our prize drawing taking place at the close of the event. 

When: 
Saturday, February 8, 2020 5:30-8pm

YMCA's Taste of Cape Ann

YMCA's Annual Taste of Cape Ann dinner - a fundraiser for youth and teen programs!

Cape Ann YMCA invites you to a celebration of community spirit! Celebrating our TENTH YEAR! The most delicious event of the year, The Taste of Cape Ann features the best of Cape Ann eateries offering food, wine and spirits for one $25 ticket price with 100% of the proceeds of ticket sales going to support the Cape Ann YMCA’s Youth & Teen programs in Gloucester and Rockport. Annually, some 300 guests take part in this fabulous foodie festival. 

When: 
Thursday, November 8, 2018 6-9pm

Blackout Boulder Brawl

Blackout Boulder Brawl is climbing fun for all ages at MetroRock in Newburyport!

Boulders! Amazing designs! Glow in the dark! Finals Round! Pizza! We got it all! Here's the lowdown: Imagine a normal bouldering competition, but the room is only illuminated by black lights and each problem has an amazing day-glow design around it. Climbers can be part of the show by wearing white or fluorescent colors. It's the most visually interesting climbing event you'll ever see! Climbing for all ages and levels during the day, finals round in the evening, complete with refreshments and spectacle.

When: 
Saturday, October 27, 2018 12-7pm

Walk to End Homelessness

The Walk to end Homelessness is a powerful show of support for families who are getting a fresh start.

The Walk to End Homelessness unites friends, family and volunteers in support of families who are getting a fresh start. We'll enjoy coffee, juice and breakfast snacks at Lynch Park before our 3-mile stroll through the heart of the Beverly and along the shore. Back at Lynch Park, we'll enjoy more refreshments and celebrate our success. Please support The Walk to reverse the downward spiral of poverty on the North Shore, one family at a time.

When: 
Saturday, October 13, 2018 8am
Location: 

Spring Celebration and Clothing Drive

Community Giving Tree Spring clothing drive at Ipswich Birth to Three Family Center

Come Celebrate Spring at Birth to Three! We will have a pizza party to celebrate good friends, community partners and warmer weather. Community Giving Tree will be on hand to collect your gently used clothing, shoes and baby items. Please remember that clients receiving items from CGT range in age from 0-18 years old. See you there!

When: 
Thursday, April 26, 2018 4:30-6pm

Instrument Drive for the Musary

The Musary is a one of a kind lending library of musical instruments! Donate now

Do you have a musical instrument not being used? Don’t waste it, donate it! The Musary, a one of a kind lending library of musical instruments, provides instruments for anyone in need, and we exist to inspire people everywhere to 'play on'. During North Shore Music Theater's run of the Music Man, The Musary will be taking donations in the North Shore Music Theatre lobby during any performance. Your instruments will be given new life as they’re lent to aspiring musicians throughout the community. Every little bit goes a long way in helping spread the love of music, so any donation is much appreciated.

When: 
June 6-18, 2017

Girls Inc. Bowl-a-Thon

Proceeds for the Girls Inc. bowl-a-thon will go to fund Girls Inc programs.

The Girls Inc. Bowl-A-Thon is a fundraising event for girls between the ages of 9 - 18, to benefit Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area. The event will take place on Saturday, May 14 at Gametime Lanes and Entertainment in Amesbury, MA.  Proceeds will support Girls Inc. programming in our local schools. 

When: 
Saturday, May 14, 2016 5:30-8:30pm

Shampoo Drive for Beverly Bootstraps

On February 28th from 12 to 2:30 pm at Shaws of North Beverly and Stop and Shop on Elliot St., a group of six grade students from Briscoe Middle School will be accepting donations for their shampoo drive. The students are part of a group called Destination Imagination. This is a club that works on team building and problem solving. These students will be competing in a tournament in March and they must complete a community service challenge. This year, the DI group is partnering with Beverly Bootstraps to host a shampoo drive.

When: 
Sunday, February 28, 2016 12-2:30

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Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Touch Tank Time

You can look at and touch the creatures in Joppa Flats Educations Center touch tank in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Spend some quality time at our touch tank where you can see and hold hermit crabs, moon snails, sea urchins and more!
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Lowell's Boat Shop: Boatbuilding in the New Nation

Learn about Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury Massachusetts on this guided Trails and Sails Tour
Step back in time with a visit to Lowell’s Boat Shop  in Amesbury Massachusetts during Trails & Sails! Established in 1793, Lowell’s was one of The New Nation’s many boat shops, and is the oldest continuously operating boat shop in the country. Simeon Lowell founded his own business after...
11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
11:00 am

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Saugus Iron Works Tours

Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
2:00 pm

“The Ghosts We Work With” Exhibit Opening and Ghost Story Open Mic

An evening of local ghost stories in Historic Salem Massachusetts. “The Ghosts We Work With: Preservation in the Historic Witch City”
Join Salem Maritime National Historical Park at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center for an evening of local ghost stories to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibit, “The Ghosts We Work With: Preservation in the Historic Witch City”.  The new photography exhibit is a celebration of the...
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

A Spiritual Quest Weekend at Hilldale Cemetery

Hilldale Cemetary in Haverhill Massachusetts is one of the North Shore's most active paranormal spots!
Do you believe in Ghosts? If you do then join the Essex County Ghost Project and Witches Wonder fort a spooktacular evening of haunts and fun . The gates open at 6:30 pm and hunt starts at 7pm . We are exploring one of New England’s most Haunted historical sites . There have been reports of full...
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Star Party with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club

Join the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club in a free star party at Battis Farm as part of Trails and Sails!
Come see the night skies through one of our volunteer’s telescopes! In addition to the moon (9/14 only) and Saturn we’ll be showing off an assortment of binary and multi-star systems (imagine having 4 suns in your sky!), nebula, clusters, and galaxies, some of which are millions of light years away...
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Saturday, September 20

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

ECTA Run for the Trails

Annual Run for the Trails Essex County Trail Association ECTA
Sign up for the 20th Annual Run for the Trails! Don't miss out on this great course over some of the North Shore's best trails!
9:00 am

AtlAtl Days in Danvers!

See an ancient weapon demonstration at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers Massachusetts as part of Trails and Sails!
Come to Rebecca Nurse Homestead to try your hand at ancient hunting practices! The technique of using an atlatl, or spear throwing stick, is an ancient global technology. Join us, along with the Eugene Winter Chapter of Mass Archaeological Society, as they teach you the finer points about hunting...
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Open Boarding on the Hannah (AKA the Fame)

Board Schooner Fame at the waterfront in Marblehead Massachusetts as part of trails and sails!
The Hannah, the first of several schooners commissioned by General George Washington, began her career as an armed cruiser in September 1775. To commemorate that important part of Marblehead’s history, the Fame – similar in size and appearance to the Hannah (aka Schooner Fame)– will be docked at...
9:00 am

Maritime Adventure Days

Maritime Adventure Free Days at Custom House Maritime Museum Newburyport Massachusetts
Maritime Adventure Free Days offers families and kids a unique opportunity to explore maritime history through interactive activities, guided tours, and hands-on workshops. A day of fun and discovery at the Custom House Maritime Museum for the family.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Marini Farm Corn Maze

The 2025 Marini Farm Corn Maze in Ipswich Massachusetts is themed for The Wizard of Oz
Come to Marini Farm for a fun journey through our corn maze! The Maze Park, corn maze, farm stand, bakery and other attractions provide a great destination for kids birthday parties, school trips, corporate team building, scout outings, and family activities. Marini Farm is located in beautiful...
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Plum Island Lighthouse Tour

Be prepared to climb a steep ladder to get a view from this iconic Light House. Photo: Plum Island Light House ©2015 Bill O'Connor
Step inside the historic Plum Island lighthouse! Sign up for a free, 15-minute tour by visiting www.friendsofplumislandlight.org. The Trails & Sails tour date is on Sept 20th by appointment. Tours are dependent on weather and rain dates are not available.
10:00 am to 12:45 pm

Fairy House Festival at Veasey Park

Fairy House Festival at Veasey Park Groveland Massachusetts Trails and Sails 2023
Walk the trails to see the handcrafted houses at this year’s enchanted Fairy House Festival. Cast your People’s Choice Award vote for your favorite Fairy House. Stay awhile for magical fun, arts and crafts, food, raffles, live music, and more. Rain or shine. Anyone is welcome to submit a house.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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