Latest Stories, Events, Activities, Camps & Recipes

Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concert in Ipswich and Manchester Massachsusetts
Celebrate the Holidays on Thanksgiving weekend with the Cape Ann Symphony conducted by Yoichi Udagawa. The annual Holiday Pops is a musical celebration of the season. The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus now under the direction of Brittany Betts will join the orchestra for a Holiday Pops series for the whole family. The ever popular audience sing-along concludes the performance.
Location: Ipswich High School, Manchester Essex Regional High School
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5k Race in Middleton Massachusetts
Bringing the Middleton community together on Thanksgiving Morning since 2018! Our 7th Annual Middleton Turkey Trot was a big success! We are hard at work preparing for our 8th Annual Middleton Turkey Trot, which will take place on Thursday, November 27th, 2025.  Register Today!
Location: Flint Public Library
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 35th Annual Newburyport Maudslay 3.1 mile X-Country Run/Walk.  Run with family, friends, and neighbors!  Organized by Turkeys for the 35th straight year.  Parking is FREE to runners on race day.
Location: Maudslay State Park
Winner's Circle Running Club Annual Thanksgiving 5k in Salisbury Massachusetts
Will Run for Pie 5K – Thanksgiving Morning Tradition. Kick off your holiday with speed, smiles, and slices! The Will Run for Pie 5K Turkey Trot is a flat, fast, and festive race along the beautiful Ghost Trail in Salisbury, MA. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just here for the pie, this is the perfect way to start Thanksgiving morning.
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 scrub forest, and beautiful beaches on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex/Castle Neck River estuary sides of the peninsula. These trails take you through Pitch Pine forests, up huge dunes offering stunning views of Choate Island, and by the varied landscapes of Castle Neck, including naturally occurring cranberry bogs.
Location: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
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!
Location: Swampscott High School
The Essex Massachusetts Lions host their annual 5k Turkey Trot!
The Essex Lion's Club hosts the annual turkey trot in beautiful Essex Massachusetts! This year the race is a 5K and a 5k fun walk.  Race starts at 11:00am for runners and 10am for walkers.  Registration is at Woodman’s Restaurant (upstairs), 121 Main Street, Essex, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, or pre-register online.  
Location: Downtown Essex
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 Workshop, and an indoor skating rink. The festival runs weekends through December 7, with additional special event nights throughout the season.
Location: Blue Ocean Music Hall
Stock up for the season on new and consigned clothing and gear for skiing, skating, hockey, snowboarding and horseback riding!
The Ski, Skate, and Board consignment event is the sale of the season! Get new & consigned apparel & equipment for skiing, skating, hockey, snowboarding & winter fun.  
Location: Cutler Elementary School
Wreath Making Workshop at the Trustees of Reservations' Long Hill Garden in Beverly, Massachusetts
SOLD OUT! Learn how to craft a beautiful wreath for the holidays or for the winter season with Iris Weaver! Using fresh greens, foraged dried plant stalks, pine cones, nuts, faux berries and leaves, cinnamon sticks, and more, you’ll create a unique 8″ to 12” wreath during this two-hour workshop. This wreath is a lovely way to bring the energy of the season into your home. All materials will be provided, though we suggest bringing a box to transport your wreath home afterward.
Location: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

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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

Owl Prowl Hike at Appleton Farms

Learn all about owls at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts for kids older than 12
Join us for a very special evening hike to see the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn about wintertime nocturnal animals...
4:15 pm to 5:45 pm

Sunday, January 25

Explore! North Shore: Winter Hike at Moraine Farm

The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at Moraine Farm in Beverly Massachusetts
The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at some lesser explored Trustees properties across the Northeast Region, at the right time of year to see these special places shine. These beginner hikes will not be too strenuous, and will offer frequent stops for learning and...
10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Gloucester's So Salty 2026

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester! This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at IRWS

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Get a close look at some live local birds of prey while keeping warm in our barn! Learn each bird's unique story, discover why raptors play such a vital role in our environment, and explore their amazing adaptations, like keen eyesight and powerful talons, that help them survive in the wild....
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

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 12:30 pm

Amesbury Winter Market

Amesbury Winter Market Daze at Barewolf Brewing January 11-February 8, 2026
Amesbury Market Daze is your friendly local community marketplace. We take pride in curating a marketplace that showcases local art and food from talented local artisans, chefs, farmers, creators and curators of surrounding Amesbury, Massachusetts. Join us throughout the year to curate and foster a...
12:00 pm to 4:00 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 3:30 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

Monday, January 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

Tuesday, January 27

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

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
10:30 am to 11:30 am