Latest Stories, Events, Activities, Camps & Recipes

Wenham Museum Gingerbread Contest is free to enter and open to all!
Everyone's invited to enter Wenham Museum’s gingerbread contest! Individuals, families, groups, teams–all are encouraged to create a Gingerbread House for this friendly community competition. Visit the 2024 Gingerbread House Contest page for contest details, rules and registration.  There is no fee to participate.
Location: Wenham Museum
Holiday Tree Lightring Celebration at the Hastings House in Beverly Farms Massachusetts
Come and Ring in the Holiday Season with Kids Activities, a visit from Santa Claus, Hay Rides (weather permitting), Hastings House Outdoor Tree Lighting, Snacks, Beer & Wine. All ages are welcome. Come join your neighbors for some fun!
Location: Hastings House
Tour some of Salem Massachusetts' historic houses all done up for the Holiday and raise funds for a worthy local cause
Historic Salem, Inc. hosts its annual holiday house tour in downtown Salem Massachusetts! Few communities have the rich legacy of historic houses that Salem, Massachusetts boasts. These homes, spanning four centuries, help define the character as well as the appearance of the city.  Every year Christmas In Salem focuses on a different neighborhood, and some of the homeowners invite visitors into their homes fully decked out in holiday regalia, and to explore a series of unique histories and architectural tales.
Location: Downtown Salem, Salem Common, House of Seven Gables
Visit Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury Massachusetts for their annual holiday open house!
Visit Lowell’s Boat Shop during their Annual Holiday Open House is a two day family event during the first weekend in December. See the shop transformed with beautiful trees, an art show, silent auction, Nautical Gift Shop, Lowell’s gear to wear, books, glassware, and more. Make it a day! Live music, and lots of other treats in every part of the shop. Don’t miss this beautiful shindig, and be sure to tell your friends.
Location: Lowell’s Boat Shop
Experience the joy and excitement of Salisbury’s most popular holiday tradition with glittering trees, Elves, Santa, Candy Canes and more!
Don't be a cotton headed ninny muggins! Join us this Sunday for ELF Day at SeaFestival of Trees and spread some Christmas cheer with Buddy the Elf, have a snowball fight, paper snowflake making, visit Mr. Narwhal and more! FREE with Festival admission.
Location: Blue Ocean Music Hall
Turkey Trot at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day
Begin Thanksgiving Day running in one of Massachusett's most picturesque state parks by running the 34th Annual Newburyport Maudslay 3.1 mile X-Country Run/Walk.  Run with family, friends, and neighbors!  Organized by Turkeys for the 34th straight year.  Parking is FREE to runners on race day.
Location: Maudslay State Park
Come to Salisbury Massachusetts for the Annual Tree lighting an lots of community holiday fun!
This year's Tree Lighting will celebrate all of the old traditions and has added some new just for YOU! The Tuesday after Thanksgiving will be jam packed with free activities for folks of ALL ages. Come join the fun for some long lasting holiday memories!
Location: Salisbury Town Common
Shop downtown merchants, win prizes and have fun in Manchester Massachusetts!
Support Manchester Merchants, shop around town & collect stamps in your Holiday Passbook and you will have a chance to win some great prizes! Turn in your completed Passbook at Bravo by the Sea by 8:15 pm for a chance to win one of two prizes. This traditional passport shopping event will give participants an opportunity to see unique array of merchants in town, take advantage of holiday discounts, and maybe even win a great prize!
Location: Downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea
Celebrate the start of the Christmas Season in downtown Manchester, Massachusetts!
Beginning at 3:30pm, the MERHS Band, Chorus and Sound Waves and the Manchester-Essex Elementary School Chorus will perform an outdoor concert at Manchester Town Green. The Students from the Ballet de Mar will also perform four dances. The Manchester Woman's Club will serve hot chocolate donated by the Masons and Mrs. Claus and her elf will hand out Candy Canes. The tree lighting will go on at dusk regardless of the weather. Sponsored by the Manchester Woman's Club | Hot Chocolate donated by the Masons.
Location: Downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea, First Parish Church , Manchester Town Green
Santa will arrive at Masconomo Park by lobster boat at 1 pm on December 2, 2017
Come to the the annual Jingle Bell Walk in Manchester! Santa will arrive at Masconomo Park by boat and lead the children in a parade around the park and then be available for pictures. There will also be a petting zoo, crafts, face painting, a candy cane hunt, refreshments and a visit from Mrs. Claus!  Sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Community Center, Manchester Mothers' Club and the Parks and Recreation Department.
Location: Downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea, Masconomo Park, Manchester Community Center

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Brookwood School Summer Program for kids Pre-K through 9 in Manchester Massachusetts

Music Together - Wednesday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:30 am to 11:15 am

Dungeons & Dragons Club at Essex Library

The Essex Massachusetts Library hosts a Dungeons and Dragons club for local kids.
Enjoy a the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons on Mondays, 5:30-7pm with Student Dungeon Master, Gus Hall. Spaces are limited, register early!
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Saturday, February 8

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 pm to 11:30 pm

Sunday, February 9

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Tuesday, February 11

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Wednesday, February 12

Music Together - Wednesday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:30 am to 11:15 am

Friday, February 14

Valentine's Day

12:00 am to 11:59 pm

Music Together - Friday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
10:30 am to 11:15 am

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Bradley Palmer State Park
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 15

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am