The Merrimack River Eagle Festival

Come celebrate the return of the Eagles to the Merrimack Estuary! Photo: Eagle on Ice by Bill O'Connor

When winter returns to the lower Merrimack Valley, so do Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls and other exciting winter wildlife. Every year Mass Audubon hosts a grand event marking their return.

This year,Join the celebration in Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury on Saturday, February 17, 2024, for a full day of fun indoor and outdoor activities celebrating the return of the Bald Eagles! Learn more about these magnificent birds, as well as other amazing raptors, and why our local habitat is so important to them. 

Activities

Discover the best eagle viewing locations! Our naturalist guides will be available to inspire and educate you about these magnificent birds of prey. Eagle Festival brochures, location maps, and lots of raptor information and activities are available at Joppa Flats Education Center, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, and Newburyport City Hall.  

Open to all ages. Registration not required for viewing locations and on-site activities, however we have registration-only outdoor programming for families and adults. These additional programs may have a fee per program, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please consider carpooling, parking is limited. Appropriate footwear and clothing are advised, some sites may be snowy or icy.

At Joppa Flats Education Center you'll find family activities, arts, and crafts, information on Bald Eagles and other raptors.. At Parker River National Wildlife Refuge find free family activities and more all day.

Events geared for kids and teens:

*Please note that some events are geared for adult audiences and not intended for children.

Photo By: 

©Bill O'Connor

When: 
Saturday, February 17, 2024 9am-4pm
Prices: 
Prices Vary
Phone: 
978.462.9998
Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

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StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

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Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
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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.
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The Annual Hampton Beach, NH Master Sandsculpting Competition 2025
The fun starts when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 23rd. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. 
7:00 am to 11:00 pm

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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...
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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!
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