Christmas

Santa Comes to Essex

After Santa arrives in Essex, kids will have a chance discuss their wish list with him in person!

Kids of all ages are welcome to come down to Essex Town Landing for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Enjoy Woodman’s chowder and Dunkins’ cocoa and munchkins while we await the arrival, then let the kids take a turn sitting with the big red couple to plead their cases for gifts that breathe and/or are outside of any reasonable budget - you know, all the stuff they can only get from Santa. The arrival itself will happen at 5:00pm and visits will take place on the front porch of the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum. Please bring a mask to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

When: 
Friday, December 1, 2023 4-6pm

Manchester-by-the-Sea Holiday Tree Lighting

Celebrate the start of the Christmas Season in downtown Manchester, Massachusetts!

Beginning at 3:30pm, the MERHS Band and 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. In case of bad weather, the program will be cancelled, but the Tree Lighting will go on at dusk. Lighting of the Friendship Tree and concert are sponsored by the Manchester Woman's Club.

When: 
Sunday, December 3, 2023 2:30-4:30pm

2023 Marblehead Gingerbread Festival

The Marblehead Gingerbread Festival is part of the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Walk, and the proceeds will go to benefit the Marblehead Family Fund and the Marblehead Historical Society.

Come see over 100 locally and professionally made gingerbread creations on display at the historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, MA during this year's Marblehead Christmas Walk. Community members, businesses, and families are building and donating dozens of gingerbread houses, boats and local buildings that will be on display and available for raffle throughout the weekend. Days and times vary so check the times!

When: 
Friday, December 1, 2023 3-6pm
Saturday, December 2, 2023 10am-4 pm
Sunday, December 3, 2023 11am-3pm (Winners drawn at 2 pm)
Entry Drop Off: Thursday, November 30, 2023 10am-Noon & 3-6pm

Sea Festival of Trees (Sundays) in Salisbury

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

Now entering its 11th year, SeaFestival of Trees is a popular seasonal event that attracts 25,000+ people annually. This annual holiday fundraiser presents a magnificent display of Christmas trees donated and decorated by regional businesses, individuals, student groups, families and organizations, all set amongst a backdrop of panoramic ocean views on the ocean at Salisbury Beach.  

When: 
Fridays & Saturdays, November 18-December 2, 2023 11am-8pm
Sundays, November 19-December 3, 2023 11am-5pm
Thursday, November 30, 2023 5-8pm

Holiday Fairs at Essex Churches

Shop three of the best church fairs in New England, in the same neighborhood on the same day!

Holiday Fairs at Essex Churches - The warmth of an old country church fair enlivens the town on a cold, winter’s day when all three of Essex’s downtown churches hold their annual Holiday Fair. All three churches are within walking distance with free on street parking. Gift bargains are served up along with homemade food and hot beverages. A dollar goes a long way at this event.

When: 
Saturday, November 23, 2019 9am-2pm
Location: 

Solstice in the Shipyard

Solstice in the Shipyard celbration at the Essex Shipbuilding Musuem

Come join us for a day of activities and crafts for adults and kids to get you through the long winter, including star carving, log splitting, ditty bag kits, knitting, and a holiday shop! We will be celebrating the solstice in the Waterline Center with warm drinks and baked goods. Activities range from $2 to $20 each and come with a kit for you to do by the fire this winter!

When: 
Monday, December 21, 2019 11am-4pm

Welcome Home Days at the House of Seven Gables

Christmas Tours at the House of Seven Gables run daily through New Years Eve.

The House of the Seven Gables is bringing back our Welcome Home Days this February school vacation. Each day of the week we will be offering free admission to particular local towns’ residents. Tickets should be purchased in person with a valid ID or recent utility bill with appropriate address.

When: 
Daily February 20-24, 2023 10am -4pm

The Nutcracker at the Cabot

North Atlantic Ballet's Nutcracker comes to the Cabot Theater in Beverly Massachusetts.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, North Atlantic Ballet welcomes back their annual telling of The Nutcracker. Artistic Director Lucy Warren-Whitman consistently brings the stage to life with her contemporary twist on Clara’s journey to The Land Of Sweets. Audiences delight each year in new choreography, guest appearances, creative costumes, and of course our local children’s cast dancing alongside NAB’s seasoned company dancers.

When: 
Friday, December 16, 2022 7pm
Saturday, December 17, 2022 Noon & 7pm
Sunday, December 18, 2022 Noon
Location: 

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Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties

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

Reading to a Therapy Dog at NTL

Kids can sign up to read to a therapy dog at the Newbury Town Library in Massachusetts
Children can register to come and read to a certified therapy dog. This program encourages reading confidence and is a fun way for kids to practice literacy. Sessions last for 15-minutes, and we ask that you please arrive for the time slot that you register for.
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Sunday, March 24

Befriend the Barnyard

Befriend the Barnyard is a hands-on barnyard experience at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Discover our special barnyard animals! Our Angora rabbits Violet, Mabel, Oiver and Charles; Nubian goats Maeve, Morgana, and Mordred; dairy cows Gray, Jasmine, their calves Gigi and Joanie and our friendly flock of heritage chickens will take center stage as we learn about what makes them so unique...
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Salisbury Beach Carousel - Sunday Hours

Carousel at Salisbury Beach MA. Parties, Family Reunions, Weddings, Showers, Birthday Parties
Salisbury Beach Carousel Hours: Friday: 4 pm to 8 pm Saturday: 12 pm to 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm to 6 pm Hours of operation are to change.
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Sunday Family Snowy Owl Prowl

Join the Trustees of Reservations at dlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts in search of the Snowy Owl!
Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Sunday STEAM Club for kids in Peabody Massachusetts at the 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 and arts through hands-on projects and experiments. This program is free with admission to the play session.
2:30 pm to 4:00 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...
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Monday, March 25

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Friends of Abbot Library Moving/Book Sale

The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! Image is AI generated
The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! The Friends of Abbot Public Library will be having a moving sale from Monday, March 25 through Saturday, March 30! Stop by the Sail Away Book Shop located in the gym space at Abbot Public Library's interim location...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts
Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. We will plan a chess round-robin tournament in December (winners will receive trophies) to mark our chess learning...
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Youth Umpire Training for Teens

Beverly Recreation Department in Massachusetts is hosting baseball/softball umpire training for teens
BevRec invites teens to learn the basics necessary to umpire Little League and Girls Softball games. Open to anyone who will be 13 years old by March 28th. Training includes rules of the game, on-field situations and umpiring mechanics for youth games. All participants receive a rule book.
7:15 pm to 8:45 pm

Tuesday, March 26

Friends of Abbot Library Moving/Book Sale

The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! Image is AI generated
The Abbot Library is holding a moving & book sale in Marblehead Massachusetts! The Friends of Abbot Public Library will be having a moving sale from Monday, March 25 through Saturday, March 30! Stop by the Sail Away Book Shop located in the gym space at Abbot Public Library's interim location...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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