Holiday

Kids of all ages are welcome to come down to Essex Town Landing for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Enjoy Woodman’s chowder and Dunkins’ cocoa and munchkins while we await the arrival, then let the kids take a turn sitting with the big red couple to plead their cases for gifts that breathe and/or are outside of any reasonable budget - you know, all the stuff they can only get from Santa. The arrival itself will happen at 5:00pm and visits will take place on the front porch of the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum. Please bring a mask to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Gather around the tree in front of Essex Town Hall to honor loved ones past and place your memorial ornament. This is always a meaningful and peaceful way to begin the holiday season. Registration forms for your memorial ornament can be found at Brookline Bank and Essex Town Hall and must be returned by November 28th to ensure that your ornament is ready. Contact Heidi Jackson at Brookline Bank with questions: email hjackson@brkl.com

Start your turkey day by burning off some calories with a run or walk along the Ipswich River on Turkey Shore Drive and Labor-in-Vain-Road and you'll have a chance to win a ready-to-bake pie! Racers, runners, walkers or stroller pushers are invited to the Ipswich Town Hall bright and early on Thanksgiving Day for a 2.8 mile riverside race along Turkey Shore Drive and Labor in Vain Road.  The 1.2 mile kids run starts at 8am.

Gloucester's Holiday Parade is a great tradition to kick off the holidays! Come enjoy the parade, Santa, and the tree lighting at Kent Circle!  Volunteers will line up parade participants at the State Fish Pier on Parker Street at 2:00 PM and will guide them through downtown Gloucester and on to Kent Circle for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.