Ipswich RiverFest

Ipswich River Watershed Association Paddle-a-thon is a fun day on the Ipswich River for the whole family!

Celebrate the start of summer and Father’s Day weekend at RiverFest—a free, family-friendly festival full of outdoor fun, nature, music, and more—on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ipswich River Park in North Reading.

RiverFest is our signature event, a celebration of our local river and all it makes possible. Whether you’re hoping to catch your first fish, meet a live snake, or just relax and enjoy local eats and tunes, RiverFest has something for everyone.

Highlights include:

  • Learn to Fish with MassWildlife – Freshwater fishing technicians from the MassWildlife will be on site with rods, bait, and expert advice. No license or experience necessary—just bring your curiosity!
  • Pollinator Garden Talk with Grown Native Massachusetts – Discover how you can support pollinators and wildlife at home. Explore the benefits of native plants.
  • Slithering Fun with Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team – Get up close and personal with live snakes and learn about the region’s fascinating reptile species.
  • Live Music by Alpha Omega – Enjoy great local tunes while you explore the festival.
  • Delicious Eats & Treats – Grab a bite from TJ Taste Truck and cool off with a refreshing slushie from INspire Café.
  • Family Farms Edible Landscaping – Learn how to grow food and beauty at the same time with help from local experts.

Rain date: Saturday, June 21st

When: 
Saturday, June 14, 2025 10am-1pm
Phone: 
978.412.8200
Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

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

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Bring your little ones to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh story hour. We will read books about animals and nature, maybe sing a song or two, then head up to the carriage barn to visit our Nubian goats, Angora rabbits and see what other animals are out and about on the farm. We will engage in...
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Crane Beach Star Party

Join the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club in a to learn about Astronomy at the Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts
Celebrate International Dark Sky Week, April 13-20, and join us for a star party with the North Shore Astronomy Club on Tuesday, April 14 (back-up weather date, April 16). Club members will bring telescopes and their expertise to help us explore and view the dark sky from the Crane Beach parking...
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Wednesday, April 15

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

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

Thursday, April 16

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

Friday, April 17

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

Saturday, April 18

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

Salamander Meander

What kind of Salamanders will we find at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary? Photo: Mass Audubon
Explore the sanctuary's vernal pools, ponds, and woodlands to search for amphibians active during this season. If we're fortunate, we might discover Wood Frog and Spotted Salamander eggs, and we may even catch a few adults to observe closely before releasing them.
10:00 am to 2:30 pm

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

The Legacies of Long Hill: House & Garden Tour

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Step inside the beauty and layered history of Long Hill with a guided tour of its breathtaking gardens and historic house. Once the...
10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Low-Sensory Play at North Shore Children's Museum

Low-Sensory Play at NorthShore Children's Museum in Peabody Massachusetts
Join us for a low-sensory play session. For some children, visiting places like NSCM can be over-stimulating. This special play session will have reduced noise, crowds, and stimulation. While medical diagnosis is not required, we encourage that these limited tickets be used for families with a...
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Sunday, April 19

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