Holiday

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating & Story Hour

Come make gingerbread farmers and join the holiday fun at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.

It’s not the holidays without gingerbread cookies! Join us in the kitchen for a gingerbread cookie decorating workshop for kids. First we’ll learn how to make the dough from scratch – measure ingredients, learn about the science behind baking, work the dough, and cut out the shapes. Then we’ll provide gingerbread cookies, and icing and candies for decorating. Each child will take home five (5) decorated cookies. After our creations are complete, we’ll move into the dining room to enjoy treats, hot cocoa, and a gingerbread man story.

When: 
Saturday, December 22, 2019 10-11:30am
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Holiday
Christmas
Farm
Trustees of Reservations
Gingerbread

Holiday Community Sing Along

The Holiday Sing-Along at Rockport Music's Shalin Liu Center is FREE Holiday fun

Get in the holiday spirit and join Rockport Music’s annual holiday community sing-along.  This year’s event will feature the brass ensemble Some Assembly Required, as well as sing-alongs of holiday favorites led by the Rockport High School’s Madrigal Singers.   Free, no tickets required.  First come, first serve on day of event.

When: 
Saturday, December 21, 2019 7pm
Location: 
Shalin Liu Performance Center
Rockport
Holiday
Sing Along

Pack the Bus for Pathways!

Come to beauport Hotel in Gloucester to help a local organization - Pathways for Children!

Come stop by the hotel any day between 9am and 9pm before December 19th and drop a new, unwrapped toy into the blue beach bus. The bus doors will be closed for the season December 19th at 2PM. Let's get this bus packed again this year! Pack our beach bus with toys for Pathways! Between Friday, November 29th and December 19th, stop by Beauport Hotel Gloucester anytime between 9am and 9pm daily and place a new, unwrapped toy in our blue beach bus. All toys will be donated to Pathways for Children.

When: 
Daily through December 19, 2019
Location: 
Beauport Hotel
Gloucester
Fundraiser
Holiday
Benefit
Charity

Lobster Trap Tree Lighting

Lobster Trap Tree Lighting Party in at Cape Ann Art Haven in Gloucester Massachusetts

The annual Middle Street Walk 2024 wraps up every year with the lighting of the lobster trap Christmas tree in Gloucester Massachusetts! Stop by Cape Ann Art Haven for a Holiday Party with hot chocolate, sweet treats, kids' crafts, holiday photos, face painting live music. Caroling starts at 4:30pm, followed by the tree lighting across the street at 5pm. Come find your buoy hanging on the tree, enjoy caroling, seeing the star put on the tree join us for the countdown and celebrate the season with the lighting of our Lobster Trap Tree!

When: 
Saturday, December 14, 2019 4-6pm
Location: 
Downtown Gloucester
Cape Ann Art Haven
Gloucester
Holiday
Walk
Food
Performance
Museum
Dance
Santa
Live Performance
Exhibit
Library
Crafts
Art
Tree Lighting
Middle Street Walk

MAC Holiday Toy Drive

Manchester Athletic Club Holiday Toy Drive - Manchester MA

With the need for toys at an all-time high for local children, Manchester Athletic is offering a generous benefit for your donation. Bring in any new and unwrapped toy to donate to the toy drive, MAC will waive the join fee. MAC collects as many toys and gift card donations as possible to fulfill North Shore needs. 

Bring your toy before December 17.

For further information, please call 978-526-8900

When: 
now through Tuesday, December 17, 2019 6am-8:00pm
Location: 
Manchester Athletic Club
Manchester
Holiday
Charity
Toy Drive

Festivus 5K For Autism

Come Race the Festivus 5k in downtown Salem Massachusetts and raise funds for kids with autism.

Come race the Festivus 5k in downtown Salem Massachusetts and raise funds for the Northshore Education Consortium of Beverly to help them purchase technology to assist and educate children with autism! Festivus 5K (F5K) for Autism is a yearly Festivus-themed holiday race through historic Salem, MA. The event is sponsored by Friends of North Shore Education Consortium. To date, F5K has raised over $100,000 to help children with autism and their families. Costumes are welcome and encouraged!

When: 
Sunday, December 15, 2019 10am-Noon
Location: 
Downtown Salem
Salem
Holiday
Race
Fundraiser
Health
5k
Charity

Holiday Adventures of the Misfit Toys | Matinee

Holiday Adventures of the Misfit Toys performed by Jaoppa Dance Company at the Firehousecenter for the Arts

Firehouse Center for the Arts hosts Joppa Dance Company as they present 'The Holiday Adventures of the Misfit Toys', an original dance-theater production that centers around three unlikely friends. One, a stuffed animal that doesn’t fit into any particular species; the second, a doll that prefers an alternative punky-gothic style to the usual pink frills; the third, a Barbie who rejects the normal attire for…men’s suits? Yes!

When: 
Friday, December 6, 2019 8pm
Saturday, December 7, 2019 2 & 8pm
Sunday, December 8, 2019 2pm
Location: 
Firehouse Center for the Arts
Newburyport
Holiday
Performance
Christmas
Ballet
Live Performance
Dance

Market Street Lynnfield Holiday Stroll

Calendar of Events and Things to Do Northshore Massachusetts. Shopping, Dining and Entertainment at MarketStreet Lynnfield

Cue the mistletoe and pine scented candles because MarketStreet’s Holiday Stroll is BACK! MarketStreet Lynnfield invites us to kick off the Holiday Season with amazing shopping opportunities, scrumptious food sampling, interactive holiday decor, Ice Bar hosted by Notch Brewing, live entertainment, festive activities and a very special tree lighting led by Mr. Clause himself!

Beginning at 3 PM, stop by Market Square to pick up your event guide that will include all of your favorite activities, special in-store promotions, and so much more.

Let’s stroll-here’s what we have for you: 

STROLL HAPPENINGS

When: 
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 3 PM - 6 PM
Location: 
MarketStreet Lynnfield
Lynnfield
Holiday

Holiday Children's Party at Castle Hill

Kids will meet Santa at the Crane Estate in Ipswich MA!

Make memories with your child or grandchild at our Children's Christmas Party. Set in the magnificent Great House lavishly decorated for the holidays, you'll enjoy holiday songs with children's entertainer Jennie Mack, a craft, refreshments, and of course, a special visit with Santa who will have a gift for every child. Reservations strongly recommended. Your name will be on a reservation list at the door rather than receiving tickets.

When: 
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 4-5:30pm
Location: 
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Ipswich
Santa
Holiday
Christmas
Party
Crafts
Scavenger Hunt
Trustees of Reservations

Pages

Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

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...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series
Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!
Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Annual Plant Sale at NTL
Newbury Town Library's annual fundraiser palnt sale in Newbury Massachusetts
The Friends Annual Plant Sale is coming. Save the date so you can spring into gardening with perennials, annuals, fabulous raffle prizes, and more!  The Friends will gladly accept divided plants from your garden if you would like to donate. Just send them an email at: friendsofnewburytownlibrary@...
Where: Newbury Town Library
8:30 am to 1:00 pm
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Motif #1 Day
Sidewalk Chalk art at Motif #1 Day in Rockport Massachusetts - a day of family fun!
The Motif No.1 Day Festival celebrates Rockport across the arts! The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back Motif No. 1 Day, a beloved event celebrating the long history of artists featuring Motif No.1 in their works. The event will be held on Saturday, May 18 (rain date...
Where: Downtown Rockport
9:00 am to 4:59 pm
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Motif #1 Day 5k & Fun Run
The Motif #1 5k run takes place on Motif #1 Day in Rockport, Massachusetts
This 5k Road Race and Kid's Fun Run is a great way to kick off Motif #1 Day! The 5k road race and 1 mile fun run that starts and ends at T Wharf in beautiful downtown Rockport. Run the race and then spend the day with your family enjoying the fun, food and entertainment of the day-log festival.
Where: Downtown Rockport
9:00 am to 10:30 am
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Beverly Library Spring Book Sale
Beverly Library in Massachusetts hosts hosts their annual book sale and fundraiser. Image is AI generated.
Our annual Friends' Spring Book Sale takes place daily at the main library from Saturday, Saturday May 10 through May 17. The sale will be open daily during regular library hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9AM-9PM; Fri.
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Annual Plant Sale | Generous Gardeners
Generous Gardeners is having a plant sale just in time for the growing season in Gloucester Massachusetts!
Generous Gardeners is having a plant sale to just in time for the growing season in Gloucester Massachusetts! Join us for a Plant Sale on Stacy Boulevard on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 9am to noon. The event will be held rain or shine. Locally grown plants plus dahlia tubers will be available for...
Where: Stacey Boulevard
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Beverly Warrior Weekend
Warrior Weekend at Beverly Massachusetts HighSchool
Warrior Weekend is a two day event that pays tribute to veterans through demonstrations and other events for the community. There will be all kinds of military hardware on site including tanks!
Where: Beverly High School
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Saturday
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
Where: Grace Episcopal Church in Salem
9:15 am to 11:15 am
♦ Read More →

Birds, Bees & Butterflies | Family Nature Series at Cox Reservation

Essex County Greenbelt Association hosts an Exploration Workshop for families at Cox Reservation in Essex Massachusetts!
Essex County Greenbelt Association invites families to Cox Reservation for a fun session that's all about bees! This show-and-tell introduces children of all ages to the importance of bees and other pollinators.
Where: Cox Reservation
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Salamander Meander
What kind of Salamanders will we find at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary? Photo: Mass Audubon
We'll search the sanctuary's vernal pools, ponds, and woodlands for a variety of amphibians that are the on the move. If we're lucky, we might see Wood Frog and Spotted Salamander eggs and catch a few adults to observe up close and then release.
Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Gloucester Student Arts Festival
Gloucester Student Arts Festival showcases multiple forms of art created by the students of Gloucester Massachusetts
Arts Fest is an annual celebration of the arts in the Gloucester Public Schools, a day to enjoy creativity, connection, and celebrating our students’ talents as a Gloucester community. It is led by the Gloucester Education Foundation in partnership with the Gloucester Public Schools, Cape Ann...
Where: Cape Ann Museum Green, Where: O'Maley Innovation Middle School
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

TitO presents Petrushka & the Caterpillar
Theater in the Open presents Petrushka and the Catapillar at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
What happens when your favorite stories need a new ending? Everyone's favorite clown upends iconic fables and fairytales in our signature storytelling style – with tons of imagination, humor, and heart. Join Petrushka and the gang as they retell old stories for our times!
Where: Maudslay State Park
2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Tuesday, June 3

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...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead
10:00 am to 10:45 am
♦ Read More →

Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle
Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:30 am to 11:30 am
♦ Read More →

Wednesday, June 4

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...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Wednesday
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
Where: St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms
9:30 am to 11:15 am
♦ Read More →

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →
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