Salem

Wild Turkey 5 Mile Road Race

Join the fun for the annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run in downtown Salem Massachusetts Thanksgiving morning and raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem! This is the largest race on the North Shore, now in its 22^nd year, with 2,000 anticipated participants. The first 1600 entries will receive long sleeve shirts. We give out awards in 5-year age groups. The pre and post-race meeting place will be in the Peabody Essex Museum Atrium. The race benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

When:

Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025 8am

Location:

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CraneExplorer: Owls Up Close!

Trustees of Reservations features live owl demonstration with Eyes on Owls at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

Join us for a special event with Marcia and Mark Wilson from Eyes on Owls, to meet 6 live owls up close and personal! By sharing photos, stories, and live owl demonstrations, the Wilsons highlight our local owls’ unique adaptations, habitats and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look and listen for owls yourself. And everyone gets to practice the owls’ calls during the hooting lessons!

When:

Saturday, November 1, 2025 1-2pm or 4-5:15pm

Location:

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

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Salem Witches' Magic Circle

Join the Witches of Salem on the Salem Common to celebrate the Magic Circle - a Halloween tradition!

Halloween is the night when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead thins and magicla things happen! Join Christian Day and Brian Cain with drumming by the Dragon Ritual Drummers as Witches from around the globe gather for the sacred and magical ritual of Halloween! This event is free and open to all who wish to attend with an open heart and a love for their dead. There is also no limit on the number of participants.

When:

Friday, October 31, 2025 5-8pm

Location:

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Halloween Finale Drone Show

Celebrate the end of another fantastic Salem Haunted Happenings festival with a drone show over the North River

After your trick or treating is over, head over to Salem for the free fireworks show over the North River that will close out another great October of Halloween fun brought to you by Haunted Happenings!

When:

Thursday, October 31, 2025 9:30-10:30pm

Location:

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Wicked Wednesdays at the Phillips House

Wicked Wednesdays at Historic New England's Phillips House in Salem Massachsuetts part of Haunted Happenings

Join Historic New England for Wicked Wednesdays! Get wicked at Phillips House as part of Haunted Happenings family-friendly events. Ticket includes historic games, fall crafts, and a family- themed tour of the house. Coxstumes Welcome! This is a drop-in event. Tours are offered every half-hour. Last tour departs at 5:00 p.m.

When:

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 3-6pm

Location:

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Kids Fun Fest on Salem Common

Salem Common Neighborhood Association invites families to the Common for an afternoon of fun for the whole family!

A tradition on Salem Common, the Fun Fest has lots of great family activities for kids of all ages, including slides, rides, games, and fun! There's nothing like October in Salem and the Salem Common Neighborhood Association is thrilled to host two weekends of our annual Kids Fun Fest on the Common including rides, face painting, slides and family fun! There is no admission fee to enter the Fun Fest. Ticket purchase proceeds benefit the Salem Common Neighborhood Association.

When:

Weekends, October 18-26, 2025 10am-5pm

Location:

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Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Parade | Salem MA

Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Parade, Haunted Halloween Salem Haunted Happenings

Salem is going to the dogs (and cats and lizards and bunnies), and we couldn’t be happier about it! Salem Main Streets is pleased to announce the return of the annual Howl-o-ween Pet Parade! The pet parade will return to Derby Wharf on Saturday, Oct. 14th at 11 am, with the usual fun, costumes, and contest with prizes.

When:

Saturday, October 11, 2025 11am

Location:

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

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Georgia Made This: Scavenger Coin Hunt

Georgia Wrenn was born and is being raised in the Witch City of Salem, Massachusetts, where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year.

Georgia's seventh annual Salem Gold Coin Hunt returns this October, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum! Each Saturday and Sunday throughout October, Georgia will release special clues at 12 noon through her Instagram page and the PEM's Instagram story. Those clues will help coin hunters narrow down where to search for one of Salem's most exclusive collectibles!

When:

Weekends in October 2025 Clues at Noon

Location:

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Haunted Happenings Marketplace

The Haunted Happenings Merchant Marketplace is coming this October! Get ready for a one-of-a-kind shopping extravaganza throughout Historic (and some say haunted) Downtown Salem!

When:

Weekends, September 27-October 26, 2025 10am-6pm

Halloween: October 31, 2025 10am-9:45pm

No Market on Salem Common October 4 & 5

Location:

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Farmers Markets on the North Shore

The North Shore of Massachusetts, renowned for its fertile soil, is home to farms that produce an abundance of fresh, delicious foods. These can be purchased directly from the farms or at the local farmer's markets, where the experience is more than just shopping—it's about community. On a sunny Saturday morning, families can explore these vibrant markets, filled with colorful produce, homemade jams, fresh bread, and artisanal crafts.

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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

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…

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Birds, Bees & Butterflies | Family Nature Series

Essex County Greenbelt Association invites families to Cox Reservation for a show-and-tell that introduces children of all ages to the importance of bees and other pollinators.

Where: Cox Reservation

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

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The Legacies of Long Hill: House & Garden Tour

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...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

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Low-Sensory Play at North Shore Children's Museum

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...

Where: North Shore Children's Museum

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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Friday, May 22

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Saturday, May 23

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Family Day at the Bird Banding Station

There's nothing like a visit to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for wonderful family nature experiences, and seeing the bird banding station in operation is at the top of the list. See Mass Audubon scientists evaluate, examine, and release migrating songbirds while you learn about migration...

Where: Joppa Flats Education Center

9:00 am to 11:30 am

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Turtle Time at IRWS

Explore our wetlands in search of these fascinating reptiles. Walk about a half mile to visit areas where turtles like to nest and bask in the sun, look at and touch real turtle shells, and, with a little luck, get an up-close look at a painted turtle. Conclude with a trip to the Rockery to see if...

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

10:00 am to 2:30 pm

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CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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4th Saturday at Lynn Museum

Come to the Lynn Museum and Historical Society for FREE family fun. Join us on the second and fourth Saturday of each month for FREE admission to the Museum from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.! You can view our latest exhibitions, purchase Lynn-themed goods in our shop, check out books in our free library, and...

Where: Lynn Museum and Historical Society

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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The Legacies of Long Hill: House & Garden Tour

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

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Family Dusk Paddles

Have you ever seen a muskrat swimming or a beaver slapping its tail in alarm? We'll look for these elusive mammals while canoeing along the Ipswich River at dusk. Discover some of the clues—such as chewed trees, lodges, or burrows on the riverbank--that they leave behind as we paddle.

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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