Essex

Essex Firemen's Spaghetti Supper

Come to the Essex Massachusetts Fire Deaprtment for the annual spaghetti fundraiser!

The Annual Essex Fire Department Company Spaghetti Supper is A great night to enjoy a home-cooked meal with neighbors and friends while supporting a great cause! The town’s volunteer firefighters put out quite a spread of all-you-can-eat homemade spaghetti and meatballs accompanied by salad, beverage and dessert.  Everyone welcome! Donations accepted at the door. Winter boots and coats will be collected to help those in need. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.

When: 
Saturday, November 22, 2025 4-7pm
Location: 
Essex Fire Department
Essex
Fundraiser
Dinner
Charity

Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Take a guided tour of the Essex Massachusetts Marshes with Essex River Cruises this Autumn

Essex River Cruises hosts a narrated sightseeing tour that winds down the beautiful Essex River aboard Essex River Queen, a pontoon boat. We’ll cruise up close to Hog/Choate Island to get a view of the area's magnificent dark spruce forest. See the leaves change into brilliant hues of yellow and orange. Enjoy complimentary hot cider and donuts from Russell Orchard of Ipswich. Don’t miss this magnificent opportunity to view some of New England’s most spectacular fall foliage.

When: 
Saturdays & Sundays through October 2025 1-3 pm
Monday, October 13, 2025 1-3pm
Location: 
Essex River Cruises & Charters
Essex
Tour
Boat Ride
Cruise
Foliage

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! 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.  

When: 
Sunday, November 23, 2025 10am
Location: 
Downtown Essex
Essex
Walk
Fair
Race
Health
Wellness
Run
Fun Run
5k
Holiday
Thanksgiving

Overlooking the Essex River Tour

Tour Cogswell's Grant Coastal Farm in Essex Massachusetts as part of Trails & Sails

On this walking tour, explore the landscape history at Cogswell’s Grant in Essex, Massachusetts, from the presence of indigenous people through the colonial period to the present. Walk through hayfields down to the salt marsh and the Essex River, discover the rich history of the people and families who lived and farmed here, and learn how coastal farming has evolved over the centuries. Part of Trails & Sails. Reservations Required

When: 
Saturday, September 27, 2025 11am-12:30pm
Location: 
Cogswell's Grant
Essex
Hike
Tour
Walk
Historic House
Historic NE
Trails & Sails 2025

Kite Day at Cogswell's Grant

Kite Day at Cogswell Grant is a wonderful fall afternoon event for North Shore families

Come fly a kite at Cogswell's Grant in Essex Massachusetts! Bring your own kite or build one of your own, and watch professional kite flyers from Kites Over New England. Kite-building workshops will be held with all materials included, where kids and adults can make their own kites and learn how to fly them.

When: 
Saturday, September 13, 2025 10am-4pm
Rain Date, September 14, 2025
Location: 
Cogswell's Grant
Essex
Farm
Crafts
Kite
Outdoor Activity
Trails & Sails 2025
Historic NE

Happy as a Clam 5k & Kid Fun Run

The Happy as a Clam Road Race invites children and families to race in Essex

The 15th Happy as a Clam 5k Race, Walk and Fun Dashes - powered by Great Marsh Brew Co, our exclusive Flagship Sponsor - is Friday, September 15, 2023!  This event is open to anyone who wants to support a community school and all the wonderful enrichment programs the students hope to enjoy throughout the year.  The 5K route meanders through the beautiful back roads of Essex.  The Kids' Fun Dashes are always a hit, with even the littlest ones smiling from start to finish.  Come out, lace up, and pound the pavement for the students of EES.  It's sure to be another fun race this year!

When: 
Friday, September 12, 2025 5pm
Location: 
Essex Elementary School
Essex
Walk
Fair
Race
Health
Wellness
Run
Kids Fun Run

July 4th Boat Parade in Essex

The Chebacco Boat Parade is a great Fourth of July tradition in Essex MA

The Chebacco Lake and Watershed Association will sponsor its annual Fourth of July Boat Parade on at 10am Sunday, July 4th.  All boats will meet at Gregory Island Cove on the South Side of Gregory Island (small cove) and proceed around the lake counterclockwise. Prizes will be awarded for Most Patriotic, Most Creative and best costume or costumes.

When: 
Friday, July 4, 2025 10am
Location: 
Centennial Grove
Essex
July 4th
Parade
Boat

Essex River Day

Essex River Day was created to celebrate one of our most valued resources - the Essex River Massachusetts

Essex River Day 2025 is CANCELED - No Rain Date! Essex River Day was created to celebrate one of our most valued resources - the Essex River. This simple idea has grown into an annual event to kick-off the start of summer! Head down to Memorial Park at 24 Martin Street next to Essex Town Hall on Saturday, June 17th from 5pm-9pm (Rain Date: Sunday, June 18th) for live music by Brick House, games by Ipswich Family YMCA, 5 Star Phresh Phood truck, brews from our own Great Marsh Brewery and a bonfire lit at dusk. Special thanks to Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Essex Lions Club for their event support.

When: 
Wednesday, June 14, 2025 5-9pm
Location: 
Memorial Park (Essex)
Downtown Essex
Essex
Race
Music
Festival
Bonfire
Softball
Cook Out

Magical Beginnings Learning Centers

Magical Beginnings has numerous learning center locations on the North Shore of Massachusetts

At Magical Beginnings Inc., we provide a nurturing, high-quality childcare experience designed for the North Shore families who demand excellence. Our innovative environment encourages children to explore their creativity, build social skills, and achieve key developmental milestones through play and interactive learning. We foster an inclusive community where infants, toddlers, and preschoolers enjoy individualized schedules and multi-age classroom settings, promoting peer learning and long-lasting relationships. With a strong focus on safety—including a strict nut-free policy—and active parent engagement through platforms like Class Dojo, we ensure that every day is both enriching and secure for your child.

Beverly
Essex
South Hamilton
Medford
Wakefield
Infants
Toddlers
Pre-School
Education
Learning
Child Care
Day Care
Daycare
Preschool
Early Learning
Learning Center
Education
Preschool

Essex Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day parades, ceremonies and events in Essex in Massachusetts. Photo ©2023 Bill O'Connor

The Essex Veterans Association and American Legion Essex Post 231 will conduct the 2025 Essex Memorial Day service at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 26th at Shepard Memorial Park next to Town Hall on Martin Street. In addition to our local Essex Veterans Honor Guard, participants will include the Manchester Essex Regional High School Band as well as the Essex Police and Fire Departments. Our guest speaker this year will be US Army Major Morgan Jaffray, decorated combat nurse and medical officer, and Iraq veteran.

When: 
Monday, May 26, 2025 11am-Noon
Location: 
Downtown Essex
Essex
Memorial Day
Parade

Pages

Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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 .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm
The Tree Jubilee hosted by Marini Farm in Ipswich Massachusetts is a fun and unique charity event!
Come to Marini Farm for the Tree Jubilee fundraiser to benefit The Ipswich Humane Group.  Tour the gallery of uniquely decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! OVER 100 spectacularly decorated trees and...
Where: Marini Farm
10:00 am
♦ Read More →

SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury | Saturdays
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...
Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall
11:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury
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...
Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall
11:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Greet Santa at the Hawthorne Hotel
Salem Main Streets, SalemMainStreets.org, Visit Salem MA for the holidays
Join Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as we celebrate two of our most beloved annual traditions – Santa’s Arrival and the lighting of Salem’s Holiday Tree – all in one evening. Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square W) promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Friday...
Where: Hawthorne Hotel, Where: Lappin Park
5:45 pm to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Salem Holiday Tree Lighting

Come to the Holiday Tree Lighting in Salem to kick off the holiday season!
Join Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as we combine two of our most beloved annual traditions – Greet Santa at the Hawthorne Hotel and the lighting of Salem’s Holiday Tree – into one evening. Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square W) promptly at 6:00...
Where: Lappin Park
5:45 pm to 6:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Beverly Tree Lighting
Beverly Massachusetts holiday tree lighting on the Common is a favorite community event!
Come to the Beverly Tree Lighting!  Gather with your neighbors and enjoy cocoa, cookies, music and Santa, as we light the town Holiday Tree!
Where: Downtown Beverly, Where: Beverly Common
7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Saturday, November 29

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Thanks for the Trails 5k
ECGA's Thanks for the Trails 5k Race on the Friday after Thanksgiving in Patton Park
ECTA is holding its 8th Annual Thanks for the Trails 5k and Kids Fun Run the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Patton Park in Hamilton (November 29, 2025).  The Kids' Run will begin at 9:30AM and the 5k will start at 10AM.  Using a scenic and challenging course and offering great prizes, this will be...
Where: Patton Park
7:30 am to 11:30 am
♦ Read More →

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 .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm
The Tree Jubilee hosted by Marini Farm in Ipswich Massachusetts is a fun and unique charity event!
Come to Marini Farm for the Tree Jubilee fundraiser to benefit The Ipswich Humane Group.  Tour the gallery of uniquely decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! OVER 100 spectacularly decorated trees and...
Where: Marini Farm
10:00 am
♦ Read More →

Bevrec Toy Drive
Beverly Massachusetts Recreation Department hosts a holiday toy drive at Lynch Park!
The BevRec will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive at Lynch Park to benefit the great work that Beverly Bootstraps does for our community. We’re collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages to help make this season brighter for everyone in our community.
Where: Lynch Park
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury | Saturdays
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...
Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall
11:00 am to 8:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Salem Trolley
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm
♦ Read More →
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