Festival

Castle Hill Christmas by the Sea | Sunday

Chirstmas at Castle Hill is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts

Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition for many New England families. Don't miss this year's spectacular "Christmas by the Sea". Each room in our 1920s mansion is festively decorated by florists, designers, garden clubs, or volunteers. You'll find live music and dance, fresh baked cookies and cider, a treasure hunt, family activities, and a visit with Santa.

When: 
Saturday, December 1, 2018 10am-4pm
Sunday, December 2, 2018 12-4pm

New England Chocolate Festival

Bring the kids to the New England Chocolate Festival to taste, learn, and interact.

Come for a unique opportunity at the Boston Center for Adult Education to discover some of the world's best chocolate and confections, become a more conscious consumer, and meet farmers and makers. The New England Chocolate Festival brings you together with 16 New England chocolate companies to taste, learn, and interact. The companies invited to participate in the Festival have all been hand-selected for their focus on quality and ethics. They prize craftsmanship and flavor excellence while sourcing ingredients in a transparent manner. Also attending are several cacao and chocolate producers from countries including Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

When: 
Saturday, October 13, 2018 10am-6pm

Newburyport Summer ArtWalk Sunday

Newburyport ArtWalk 2012 Art Galleries in Newburyport MA

The group of seventeen galleries that participate in this popular art-focused event have expanded the schedule to a full weekend of gallery activities in 2012. The increased interest in the 2011 ArtWalk led to this positive change. Also new this year will be bright new ArtWalk banners and location signs...Enjoy!

When: 
Saturday June 23, 2012 3-7pm
Sunday June 24, 2012 1-5pm

Spring Newburyport ArtWalk Sunday

Newburyport ArtWalk 2012 Art Galleries in Newburyport MA

The group of seventeen galleries that participate in this popular art-focused event have expanded the schedule to a full weekend of gallery activities in 2012. The increased interest in the 2011 ArtWalk led to this positive change. Also new this year will be bright new ArtWalk banners and location signs...Enjoy!

When: 
Saturday April 21, 2012 3-7pm
Sunday April 22, 2012 1-5pm

What the Fluff Festival in Somerville

Fluff Festival in Somerville Union Square

Now in its 13th year, “What the Fluff? A Tribute to Union Square Invention” is a madcap festival honoring the invention of Marshmallow Fluff. This fun-filled event draws over 20,000 people and is cited as one of the reasons why Lonely Planet named Somerville in the top 10 “Best In The US” travel destinations for 2016.

When: 
Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 3:00 to 7:00
Rain Date: Sunday, September 23, 2018

Gloucester Country Fest

Gloucester Country Fest brings fun and live country music to Gloucester Massachusetts in the beautiful setting of Stage Fort Park by the sea. Featuring headliner Kristen Merlin!

The Gloucester Country Fest brings the fun of live country music to Gloucester Massachusetts in the beautiful setting of Stage Fort Park by the sea. Kristen Merlin, Timmy Brown & Black Diamond, Annie Brobst and Tim Charron perform at waterfront Stage Fort Park for an afternoon of live music and good times! Don't miss your chance to see these national and regional country artists perform right here in Gloucester! Gates open at 11 am, music starts at noon.

When: 
Saturday, August 4, 2018 Gates Open at 11am
Location: 

Ice Cream Scoop-Ahhh Bowl

The annual Scoop-Ahhh Bowl will present flavors from local ice cream parlors for sampling.

The annual Ice Cream Scoop-Ahhh-bowl will present flavors from local ice cream parlors for sampling. A $5.00 ticket allows you to sample various flavors from all of our ice cream sponsors: Goodies, Cherry Farm Creamery, Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream, Putnam Pantry, Richardson’s Dairy, and Treadwells. There will be games, and other fun activities so come on down and enjoy.

When: 
Saturday, June 30, 2018 11am - 2pm
Location: 

Danvers Field Day

Danvers Family Festival Field Day

Pack up the gang for a day of exciting attractions and competitive and silly sporting events for the entire family. Our 3rd Annual Field Day and Scoop-Ah-Bowl will bring back our Red Sox Mobile unit, High Flying Dogs Frisbee show, World Class magician, plenty of food trucks, fantastic music and many more surprises.  The younger kids will love our obstacle course and all the classic summertime favorites like dizzy bat, three legged and other fun races, watermelon eating contests, face painting, a balloon artist extraordinaire, and a wiffleball tourney for all skill levels!

When: 
Saturday, June 30, 2018 11am - 2pm
Rain Date: July 1
Location: 

Strawberry Festival at Connors Farm

Come join the fun at Connors Farm in Danvers for their strawberry festival

Come join the fun at Connors Farm in Danvers as they celebrate Strawberry Season. The price of admission includes a lot of fun family activities that will keep the troops entertained for the day!

When: 
Saturday, June 23, 2018 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Rain Date: Sunday, June 24, 2018 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: 

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Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts offers farm-based Summer Programs for kids ages 5-15

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...
7:00 am to 10:00 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

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

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Touch Tank Time

You can look at and touch the creatures in Joppa Flats Educations Center touch tank in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Spend some quality time at our touch tank where you can see and hold hermit crabs, moon snails, sea urchins and more!
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Lowell's Boat Shop: Boatbuilding in the New Nation

Learn about Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury Massachusetts on this guided Trails and Sails Tour
Step back in time with a visit to Lowell’s Boat Shop  in Amesbury Massachusetts during Trails & Sails! Established in 1793, Lowell’s was one of The New Nation’s many boat shops, and is the oldest continuously operating boat shop in the country. Simeon Lowell founded his own business after...
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

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:30 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

“The Ghosts We Work With” Exhibit Opening and Ghost Story Open Mic

An evening of local ghost stories in Historic Salem Massachusetts. “The Ghosts We Work With: Preservation in the Historic Witch City”
Join Salem Maritime National Historical Park at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center for an evening of local ghost stories to celebrate the opening of our newest exhibit, “The Ghosts We Work With: Preservation in the Historic Witch City”.  The new photography exhibit is a celebration of the...
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

A Spiritual Quest Weekend at Hilldale Cemetery

Hilldale Cemetary in Haverhill Massachusetts is one of the North Shore's most active paranormal spots!
Do you believe in Ghosts? If you do then join the Essex County Ghost Project and Witches Wonder fort a spooktacular evening of haunts and fun . The gates open at 6:30 pm and hunt starts at 7pm . We are exploring one of New England’s most Haunted historical sites . There have been reports of full...
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Star Party with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club

Join the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club in a free star party at Battis Farm as part of Trails and Sails!
Come see the night skies through one of our volunteer’s telescopes! In addition to the moon (9/14 only) and Saturn we’ll be showing off an assortment of binary and multi-star systems (imagine having 4 suns in your sky!), nebula, clusters, and galaxies, some of which are millions of light years away...
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Thursday, September 25

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Kidleidoscope

Kidleidoscope at Maudslay State Park is a chance for preschoolers to explore the park, enjoy a story and make a craft!
Maudslay State Park has created this program for their youngest crowd! The park interpreter will lead a weekly nature themed preschool aged program that involves a story time and outdoor exploration of Maudslay trails and gardens! 
10:00 am to 11:00 am

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

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:30 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

Salem Farmers' Market

The Salem Farmer's Market bring the goodness of local farm to downtown Salem!
The Salem Farmers' Market brings fresh local produce and other foods from North Shore farms and other local resources to downtown Salem every Thursday at  Bentley Academy Charter School!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Friday, September 26

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...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm
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