Exploration

Hike & Seek: Magic in the Winter Forest

Kids will learn about the winter survival skills of animals at the Stevens Coolidge Place in North Andover Massachusetts!

Have you ever wondered what happens in nature during the winter months? Do you have questions like, “where do certain animals go” or “why does it snow”? Join us this February school vacation for this self-guided winter themed family-friendly bundle for use along the Stevens-to-Stevens trail in North Andover to discover the magic within the Winter forest.

When: 
Daily, February 16-March 1, 2025 9am-5pm

Eagle Festival: Everything Eagles

Kids will learn about eagles, their migrations and varied habitat at Joppa Flats. Image ©David Morris

During Eagle Festival Week, join North Shore Field Teachers at a popular viewing area to spot Bald Eagles along the Merrimack River and learn about behaviors such as soaring, fishing, and showing courtship displays. Using sound effects, props, and group role play, you'll stay active and warm outdoors as you and your family learn together. Three date and time choices!

When: 
Friday, February 14, 2025 1-3pm
Saturday, February 15, 2025 10am-Noon

Eagle Festival: Bald Eagle Viewing for Teens

Teens are invited to Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts to learn about eagles and their behaviors. Photo: Bill O'Connor

This youth program will take place at a popular viewing area to see Bald Eagles along the Merrimack River. You'll learn how to spot an eagle in flight, observe their behaviors, and learn how to identify Bald Eagles at their different stages of life. We will use binoculars, field scopes, and bird guides. You'll stay warm as you participate in group games and challenges.

When: 
Saturday, February 15, 2025 1-3:30pm

Family Owl Prowl

Join a Family Owl Prowl Campout at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Santino

People of all ages love owls, and many species of owls can be found right here in Massachusetts year-round. Experience the excitement of an owl prowl as we take a night hike to look and listen for Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owls. Before we head out on our nocturnal adventure, we'll learn fun owl facts in our cozy Barn using real owl mounts, feathers, talons, and a brief slide show. We'll end our evening with an owl-hooting lesson.

When: 
Saturday, February 8, 2025 5:30-7:30pm

Family Open House: Winter Wildlife Wonders

Stop by as part of Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport for a family oriented open house! Photo: Eastern Bluebirds © Cheryl Rose

Drop in to learn what mammals, birds, insects and sea creatures do in the winter! Test your knowledge and skills at a science station, examine natural objects with our new bioscope, and take home a fun nature craft or two. Family presentations with Miss Lisa at 11am and 2pm. Great for families and kids aged 3-14!

When: 
Saturday, January 18, 2025 10am-3pm

Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms

The spirit of Octoberfest is taking over Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts

The spirit of Oktoberfest is taking over Appleton Farms for one very special Saturday! We’ll have unique food offerings from Revelry Food Truck, Whoopie Pie Wagon, and our own wood-fired pizza from the Appleton Culinary Team! There will be lawn games, traditional German Hammerschlagen, a stein-holding competition, local breweries on site, and live music from artists Wunder Kapelle (a traditional German oompah band) and Marina Evans.

When: 
Saturday, October 12, 2024 12-5pm
Location: 

Cambridge Science Festival 2024

The Cambridge Science Festival makes science accessible, interactive and fun in Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge Science Festival, the first of its kind in the United States, is a city-wide celebration showcasing the leading edge in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Comprising hundreds of events, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, multidisciplinary collaborations, family-friendly exhibitions and interactive experiences, CSF is a STEAM-themed extravaganza highlighting Cambridge’s diverse innovative community.

When: 
Daily, September 23-29, 2024

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.

Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in cultural experiences of all kinds. Find what makes Essex County like nowhere else during Trails & Sails! It’s all FREE and it’s all located within the 34 cities and towns of Essex County.

When: 
Daily, September 14-29, 2024

Choate Island Day

The annual Choate Island Day celebration hosted by The Trustees at The Crane Estate is coming up on Saturday, September 28th! With a ticket to this family-friendly event, you can access Choate Island, the crown jewel of the Crane Wildlife Refuge located behind Crane Beach in Essex Bay. Hop on the bus at Crane Beach, and then take the Essex River Cruises riverboat over to the island. Enjoy guided or self-guided tours allow you to explore the island and tour three historic buildings, with a kid's scavenger hunt, light refreshments, and history & wildlife stations and talks along the way.

When: 
Saturday, September 28, 2024 10AM-3PM
Last Admission at 1pm

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Shore School in Beverly Massachusetts offers a host of Summer programs for kids aged 5-12

Salem Heritage Days Festival

Salem Heritage Days is a week long celebration of Salem's history and tradition.
Celebrate the past and the present with neighbors, friends and visitors at the Annual Salem Heritage Days Festival. Events are scheduled around Salem throughout the week, kicking off with the annual Salem Maritime Festival and concluding with the Essex Street Fair, produced by the Salem Chamber of...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

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...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 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

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
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...
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Haverhill Farmers' Market

Haverhill Farmers Market, North Shore Farmers Market, Cape Ann Farmers Marke
The vibrant, colorful Haverhill Farmers Market is where local farmers and food producers meet to sell directly to the community. Established in 1978, the Haverhill Farmers Market mission is to provide access to farm-fresh products and promote local agriculture, as well as serve as a social...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Rockport Farmers' Market

The Rockport Farmers' Market runs every Saturday at Rockport Music in Downtown Rockport!
The Rockport Farmers Market offers a variety of locally-grown produce, hand-crafted products, baked goods, and live music. It provides a community space to support local farmers and artisans.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Andover Farmers' Market

Find Fresh Local Produce at the Andover Massachusetts Farmers Market North of Boston
The Andover Farmers Market is a vibrant hub connecting local farmers, artisans and the community through the joy of local food. Whether you come for carrots or conversation, it is a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Beverly Homecoming Dog Party

Join fellow animal lovers at the Beverly Homecoming Dog Party in Massachusetts
Come to a furry fun-filled morning at the Beverly Dog Park! Bring your  four-legged friends for a delightful time featuring exciting raffles, adorable on-site painted pet portraits ($), and more. Don’t miss out on the chance to make new friends—both two-legged and four-legged!
9:00 am to 11:00 am

Family Fun Day at Clay Dreaming Pottery Studios

Family Fun day at clay dreaming studios.  Part of Beverly Massachusetts Homecoming
Looking for an indoor Homecoming activity? In the spirit of Beverly Homecoming you can enjoy 1/2 price Studio Fees for Paint Your Own Pottery - all day at Clay Dreaming, 186 Cabot Street. Tour the studio and gallery. Pottery for sale. For more information contact the studio at 978-927-1414.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

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.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Kids Sail Free on the Schooner Lannon

Kids ride free on the 10:30am an Noon Saturday Cruise on the Schooner Lannon through Summer
Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a fixture on the Gloucester Harbor vista throughout the day in the warm months, but to really experience the Lannon, you need to come aboard and go for a cruise!  Sail and see lighthouses, castles, scenic beaches, and magnificent waterfront homes.
10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Boat Tour to Misery Island

Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound Massachusetts
Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound. Along the way, hear stories about the rich history of the harbor and how the Misery Islands acquired their unique name. When you arrive, you’ll have 2 hours to explore the trails, open meadows, rocky shoreline...
11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
11:00 am

Long Hill Garden Tours

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. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Rockport Illumination & Fireworks

Rockport Massachusetts lights up the night with a mid-Summer fireworks show!
Come to Rockport Massachusetts for a day of family fun! After a day of events including a lobster dinner fundraiser, childrens activities, live music, art demos, printmaking and an art walk, a fireworks display will light up the sky over Rockport Massachusetts! The Show begins at 9pm, and will be...
11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Hospital Point Lighthouse Open House

Take a tour of this historic Beverly landmark thats usually closed to the public as part of Trials and Sails!
One of Beverly's most familiar landmarks, this lighthouse commands a spectacular view of Salem Sound, and 3 other lighthouses. An enduring monument to Beverly's nautical heritage, it is one of 5 Massachusetts lighthouses that still retains its original Fresnel lens.
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Salem Maritime Festival

Celebrate 400+ Years of Maritime History at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Join us for the annual Salem Maritime Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Salem Maritime National Historical Park on Derby Street. This event is free and open to the public. Salem Maritime Festival will feature a cardboard boat race, free tours and programs at historic buildings and the...
11:00 am to 6:30 pm

Tiny Tots Day at Beverly Homecoming

Kids will enjoy an afternoon of fun activities at Beverly Homecoming Tiny Tots Day.
Tiny Tots Day 2025 is a fun, free, family event put on by the fantastic Bev Rec Staff at beautiful Lynch Park! Bring your children ages 1-5 for all sorts of cool activities and crafts.
Where: Lynch Park
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Saugus Iron Works Tours

Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
2:00 pm

Rockport Lobster Fundraiser for the Fireworks

Enjoy lobster at in Rockport Massachusetts to help fund the annual fireworks show!
What could be better than enjoying a lobster dinner in downtown Rockport with your family while helping a worthy cause? Rockport Lobstafest is a great way to get a taste of the freshest lobster possible while helping raise funds for the Annual Rockport Fireworks Show!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Downtown Gloucester Block Party

Food, music, live entertainment, dance, craft and fun come together for a great
Main Street, Downtown Gloucester Massachusetts comes alive when the Street is closed off to allow live music, street performers, kid activities, non-profits, food vendors and more! Many of shops and businesses on Main Street will be open for business and will welcome partygoers. Other Gloucester...
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Fireworks and Beach Concerts at Salisbury Beach

Fourth of July Fireworks at Salisbury Beach include a campfire and marshmallow roast on the beach.
Join us at Salisbury Beach for an unforgettable family night out! Every Saturday through the summer, enjoy spectacular fireworks (weather permitting) that light up the sky. Before the fireworks, there's a live concert starting at 7:30 PM on the Salisbury Oceanfront Stage, perfect for families with...
7:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Beverly Commons Walking Tour

Learn about the area once called the "witches' woods" while enjoying forrested greenery in Beverly Massachusetts.
Beverly Commons, once part of a colonial-era common land, was known as Sheep Pasture. This area holds great stories of the past. Join us for a walk into history as we explore this wooded area and discover the stories hidden inside including that of an early 20th century immigrant settlement and the...
9:30 pm to 11:30 pm

Sunday, August 10

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

S.C.E.N.E.'s Sunset HANG 2025

Enjoy an evening of fun, art & Music at the Salem Willows to wrap up Salem Heritage Days!
Wrap up Heritage Days with music in the park! S.C.E.N.E Annual Sunset Hang at Salem Willows is an event combining the skills of local vj's, dj's & live electronic musicians. The extravaganza’s purpose is: “to showcase talent right here in Salem, the North Shore & Boston Massachusetts. To...
3:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Mack Park Farm Festival

Support the Mack Park Farm's mission to provide fresh, local, food to the community in Salem Massachusetts
Come to Mack Park in Salem, Massachusetts for food, drinks, music, and fun to support the Mack Park Farm!
Where: Mack Park
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Sundays in Patton Park

North Shore Free Concerts for North Shore Families at Patton Park in Hamilton Massachusetts
Come enjoy community and music each Sunday in Patton Park! Dust off your lawn chairs and bring your picnic down to the park on Sunday evenings. We have a fantastic line up of bands this summer ---presented by Institution for Savings Bank and sponsored by The Community House, Town of Hamilton, HW...
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Summer Concert Series at Lynch Park

Free Summer Concerts hosted by Bev Rec at Lynch Park in Beverly Massachusetts
Enjoy free concerts this Summer at Lynch Park in Beverly, Massachusetts!  Families are encourages to grab a chair and a blank and head to the park for a free concert at Lynch Park's ampitheater.
Where: Lynch Park
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Summer Concert Series at Stage Fort Park

Compaq Big Band is just one of the perfromers in the Summer Concert Series at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester Massachusetts!
Come enjoy a Summer evening sea-side concert at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester Massachusetts! The Cape Ann Community Band under the direction of David Benjamin, plays their annual summer concerts Sundays at the at the Antonio Gentile Bandstand, Stage Fort Park, Hough Avenue, Gloucester MA.
6:30 pm

Beverly Homecoming Fireworks

Come celebrate the Grande Finale to an awesome Beverly Homecoming Week!
Beverly Homecoming Grand Finale of Fireworks. Enjoy the fireworks by boat, or on your favorite Beverly Beach with your neighbors, friends, and family. Thank you for celebrating Beverly with us this week! We look forward to many more years of “Celebrating Beverly’s spirit”!
Where: Lynch Park
8:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Monday, August 11

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
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...
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
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