Festival

Annual Sheepshearing Festival

Gore Place Sheep Shearing Festival Waltham MA for North Shore Children Families

Since 1987, this annual event has entertained guests with music, 100+ craft and fiber artists, demonstrations of traditional shearing and herding dogs, and historic re-enactors on the beautiful grounds of this historic, 50-acre estate. People often tell us that spring doesn't begin until the Sheepshearing Festival! According to Director of Farm and Landscape Operations, Scott Clarke, "We're bringing back our visitors' Festival favorites, like seeing traditional shearing techniques and dog herding demonstrations, and simply enjoying a great time outdoors with family and friends."

When: 
Saturday, April 27, 2024 10am-5pm
Location: 

Gloucester Zinefest at SFL

Come the the Gloucester Zinefest at Sawyer Free Library in Massachusetts

 come to the the Sawyer Free Library (21 Main Street) and our event space across the street (20 Main Street) for a day that celebrates the library’s new zine collection, zine-making, and zine culture! Enjoy: Zine Marketplace | Music | Speakers | Make your own zine | Holy Cow Ice Cream | Free stuff for the first 200 attendees | And much more!

When: 
Saturday, April 27, 2024 11am-3pm

Essex Arts & Culture Festival

Come join in this vibrant celebration of Essex Massachusetts' culture, heritage and artistic spirit.

Celebrate creativity at the Essex Arts and Culture Festival, brought to you by the Essex River Cultural District and hosted at the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum. Enjoy a day of art, culture and family fun! Come join in this vibrant celebration of Essex's culture, heritage and artistic spirit.

You'll find:

  • Artist Demos
  • Shipbuilding
  • Kid's Fun
  • Exhibitions
  • Food
  • Music
When: 
Saturday, June 22, 2024 11am-6pm

Essex Clam Fest 2024

Enjoy food, live music and all kinds of family fun at the Essex Clam Fest! Photo: An order of steamed clams from Woodman's of Essex

Join us for the 39th Annual Essex ClamFest and Arts & Crafts Festival, from 11 am to 4 pm in Shepard Memorial Park in Essex. Although the highlight of the day is the Chowder Tasting Competition (Come taste Cape Ann’s finest chowders from Noon to 1 pm and vote for your favorite!) there is also a great variety of family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, live reptile and kid's games, live Police K-9 Demo (11am) and plenty of food vendors on-site! 

When: 
Saturday, October 26, 2024 11am - 4pm
Chowder Tasting Noon-1pm

Winterfest at Glen Urquhart School

Winterfest at Glen Urquhart School in Beverly Massachusetts

Glen Urquhart School is hosting a Winterfest to celebrate the season! Bring the whole family for fun, games, and so much more! Enjoy a variety of activities, including trivia, an escape-the-room challenge, and karaoke. Snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there! Please RSVP.

When: 
Friday, February 9, 2024 6-8pm

Holiday Printmaking with IRWA

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen.

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen. Participants will be repurposing real fish (shad, originally used for scientific research) and making beautiful and unique prints which can be used for gifts, decorations, cards, or anything your heart desires!

When: 
Saturday, December 16, 2023 1-3pm

Holiday Santa Skate

Get ready to lace up your skates and embrace the Holiday spirit. Skate with Santa in Gloucester Massachusetts

Mark your calendars, skaters ! Cape Ann Skating Club invites you to join us for a festive event - our annual Santa Holiday Skate followed by a free show! Get ready to lace up your skates and embrace the Holiday spirit. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned skater, this event is designed to welcome skaters of all ages and skill levels.

When: 
Saturday, December 16, 2023 12 pm

Sippin' Santa at Sea Festival of Trees in Salisbury

Experience the joy and excitement of Salisbury’s most popular holiday tradition with glittering trees, indoor ice skating, Santa visits and more,

Get ready for an enchanting coastal evening at our Sippin' Santa Girls Night Out, nestled amidst the spectacular holiday excitement of the SeaFestival of Trees with glittering trees, panoramic ocean views, the man in red himself, holiday photo ops, and more!

Sip and savor complimentary holiday cocktail samplers like the spirited Tito's Handmade Vodka Holiday Sparkler or the alluring Atomic Espresso Martini Liqueur.

When: 
Thursday, November 30, from 5-8 pm

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Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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

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

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

Turkey Trot at Breakheart Reservation

Come to Breakheart Reservation for a pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Saugus Massachusetts!
Breakheart Reservation invites you to a Thanksgiving run/walk! Join us for the annual Breakheart Turkey Trot, a fun-filled event for runners and walkers of all ages! Lace up your sneakers and get ready to hit the scenic trails of Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, Massachusetts. Whether you're a...
9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Essex Turkey Trot 5K Race & Fun Walk

The Essex Massachusetts Lions host their annual 5k Turkey Trot!
The Essex Lion's Club hosts the annual turkey trot in beautiful Essex Massachusetts!
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Family & Friends CPR Course

Learn about infant and child cpr and choke saving skills at Beath Israel Lahey Health's Beverly Hospital in Massachusetts!
It is only a matter of a few short minutes before it is too late to save a life … learning what to do provides you precious minutes and gives someone a chance to survive.  The Family & Friends CPR Course teaches the lifesaving skills of child CPR with breaths, child AED use, infant CPR, and m
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Swampscott Thanksgiving Farmer's Market

The Swampscott Farmers Market hosts a special Thanksgiving market in Massachusetts
The outdoor markets are done for the season but we will have one last indoor Thanksgiving Market on Sunday, November 19th at Swampscott High School Cafe. Stock up with fresh produce for your Thanksgiving table and get your Christmas shopping started early with our crafters!
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

SeaFestival of Trees | Sundays

Browse our maze of festively decorated trees and enjoy a little holiday sparkleat the SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury Massachusetts
The Seacoast’s most magical holiday tradition is back! The 13th Annual SeaFestival of Trees opens Saturday, November 22 at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, transforming the oceanfront venue into a sparkling winter wonderland of more than 145 themed trees, a giant sand sculpture, Santa’s...
11:00 am to 5:00 pm

DIY Holiday Centerpieces | Camp Kent

DIY Holiday Centerpiece Workshop at Camp Kent in Amesbury Massachusetts
Join us at Camp Kent for a DIY holiday centerpiece event! We will be collecting materials from our gardens and the forest, as we prepare for the festivities to come. Each family will receive a beautiful glass jar, as well as a chopped and stained, wooden disk to accent the arrangement. There will...
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Castle Neck Hike in the Dunes

Hiking the Dunes at the Crane Wildlife refuge with the Trustees of Reservations.
While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime...
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

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

Wednesday, December 3

Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum

Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
3:30 pm to 6:00 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, December 4

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

Marblehead Christmas Walk

The Marblehead Christmas Walk is several days of local Holiday events in Marblehead Massachusetts
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce invites you to Marblehead to enjoy several days of holiday festivities, family events and activities!  Come for one or all days with highlights that include Santa's arrival by lobster boat,Festive shopping, Tree Lightings, a holiday parade, Artisan Markets,...
9:00 am to 9:00 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

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm
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