Salem

Swim and Fin Race for Salem Sound

Swim for clean water, or swim just for fun at the Race for Salem Sound fundraiser - Swim and Fin

Swim & Fin — a fun tradition for swimmers and the whole family in beautiful historic Salem, MA. Great races geared to all ages! Choose between 500 meters, 1 mile or 5k. All proceeds benefit Salem Sound Coastwatch, a nonprofit environmental organization working to make our coastal waters clean and safe–now and for future generations. Swim for clean water! Register now for reduced rate. Special entry fees for youth 17 and under. Bring the family! We’ll have music, raffles, a marine touch tank and more. Admission to the park has been waived–families can picnic and enjoy the playground, walking paths and incredible views from Forest River Park.

When: 
Sunday, August 20, 2017 9:00am

Salem Cultural Festival

Celebrate the diversity of the North Shore on Salem Common!

The Salem CultureFest 2014  will feature live bands who showcase many cultures and styles, as well as other performers (TBA) who will entertain you while you enjoy exploring the unique arts, crafts, and wares of our areas finest artists and crafters. Over 2000 visitors are expected to attend this fun family-friendly event.

When: 
Saturday, July 19, 2014 10am-8pm
Sunday, July 20, 2014 10am-6pm
Location: 

PEM: School Vacation Week: Art To Wear

School Vacation Week programs for kids in Salem at PEM

Peabody Essex Museum has a tons of interactive art activities for families to enjoy over school vacation week. Explore the World of WearableArt TM exhibition and let the spectacular ensembles on view spark your childs imagination. Meet a Cirque du Soleil costumer, pen a six-word memoir and compete in a design challenge!

When: 
April 18-20, 2017 from 10am - 4pm

Excelsis Percussion Quartet

The Excelsis Percussion Quartet will perform at Salem State University.

From the four corners of the planet, the love of percussion and performance has brought together Marcelina Suchocka (Poland), Aya Kaminaguchi (Japan), Clara Warnaar (Canada-United States), and Mariana Ramirez (Mexico) as the Excelsis Percussion Quartet. These amazing women, hailing from four different countries and speaking four different languages, blend their talents to speak the universal language of rhythm with innovative perception. EXCELSIS invites the world into a celebration of percussion with its pageantry of marimbas, drums, cymbals, xylophones, and vibraphones.

When: 
Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 7:30-9pm

Moving to the Music Mini-Fest at Peabody Essex Museum

Events and things to do in Salem MA

Discover how movement and music can create and tell stories at Peabody Essex Museum. Interact and engage with performers from New Repertory Theatre's Classic Repertory Company. Get to know the string instrument family in a workshop and informal concert. Followed by a string instrument "petting zoo" for budding virtuosos. Create your own star projector to transform any wall into the night sky. Get active and explore sequences of movements to create and tell a story inspired by the moon.

When: 
Saturday, March 11, 2017, from 1pm - 5pm

Children's Halloween Parade & Costume Party

Children's Halloween Parade & Costume Party Salem MA

Phoenix School students in 3rd - 8th grades build non-scary Halloween games as part of their STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math)  curriculum, and create Halloween art activities for kids to play and make at the party. Our party is about giving little kids a good time without being scared of Halloween.

Parade:

• Noon -1 pm
• Register at Salem Common 11:15 - 11:55
• Parade steps off from Salem Common at Noon
• Along Essex Walking Mall to Riley Plaza
• Judging & prizes at Riley Plaza

Party

When: 
Saturday, October 19, 2013 from Noon - 2 p.m.

Pages

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

Boston Bruins Annual Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
The Boston Bruins will be hosting their 19th annual PJ Drive with the goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of pajamas from February 1st - March 15th, 2026. The drive will benefit Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two non-profits that ensure positive living conditions for children. Local businesses...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Read to a Dog at APL

Kids are invited to read to a dog at Amesbury Massachusetts Public Library. Image generated with AI.
The Amesbury Public Library invites kids to come read to a dog at the Library! Read to a dog to help improve reading skills and get comfortable with reading aloud with only a very cuddly dog to hear you! This program will have Gus, a certified reading dog, and his caretaker at the library in our...
3:45 pm to 4:30 pm

Dungeons & Dragons at the G.A.R. Library

Dungeons and Dragons at the GAR Memorial Library in West Newbury Massachusetts
Come to this ongoing campaign using The Dragon of IceSpire Peak. Bring your own character, play one of ours,  or we can help you create one. All are welcome.
4:30 pm to 5:30 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, February 26

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

Afterschool Chess Club at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts
Students in grades 2-5 are welcome to come to this informal chess club to practice by playing with others also interested in developing their skills and sharing an interest in chess. The class will be held on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with facilitator Ben Konoff and his daughter,...
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

LEGO Club at Danvers Library

LEGO club at Danvers Library Massachusetts
Peabody Institute Library - Danvers invites kids to an afternoon of building and fun! Activities will include free build, themes and instructional design. All structures will remain on display in the Children’s Room till the following weeks's session
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Friday, February 27

Boston Bruins Annual Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
The Boston Bruins will be hosting their 19th annual PJ Drive with the goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of pajamas from February 1st - March 15th, 2026. The drive will benefit Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two non-profits that ensure positive living conditions for children. Local businesses...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

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

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Saturday, February 28

Boston Bruins Annual Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
The Boston Bruins will be hosting their 19th annual PJ Drive with the goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of pajamas from February 1st - March 15th, 2026. The drive will benefit Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two non-profits that ensure positive living conditions for children. Local businesses...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

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

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

Maple Stroll at Appleton Farms

Appleton Farms has their own sugar maple syrup production facilities to service their abundant suplly from their many sugar maples
Visit the historic maple stand and sugar shack at Appleton Farms and learn all about maple sugaring, its history at the farm and in New England, and how you can try your hand at it at home!
11:00 am to 2:15 pm
Subscribe to Salem