Outdoor Activity

Friday Night Frights: Hocus Pocus

Free Showing of Hocus Pocus outdoors at Heritage Park in Amesbury Massachusetts!

Join the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce for some spooky family fun Friday, October 13 for our Friday Night Frights outdoor movie series with Hocus Pocus! For Friday nights in October, the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce will be hosting four FREE outdoor movie nights featuring family friendly Halloween movies. Bring your chairs and blankets for this fun fall event being held at Heritage Park in the Lower Millyard.

When: 
Friday, October 13, 2023 5:30pm

Touch a Truck Newburyport

Kids (and adults) can get up close and personal with all kinds of trucks in Newburyport Massachusetts

Newburyport Youth Services will host a 'Touch-a-Truck' Event at Cashman Park in Newburyport! Touch-A-Truck is a FREE community event where families are invited to get up close and personal with police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and all kinds of important vehicles! Kids are welcome to climb on, sit in, and explore the trucks! This event is open to all families.
You do not need to Pre Register for this event, but please stop by the NYS Table to sign in and pick up some goodies!

When: 
Saturday, October 21, 2023 10am-1pm
Location: 

Star Party! Stargazing at Maudslay

Join the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club in a Star party at Maudslay Park

Join the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club for an evening of stargazing at Maudslay State Park. The night sky is spectacular when you can view it from the middle of a state park, where our street lights don’t spoil the view! Maudslay State Park teams up with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club to highlight the spectacular night sky.

When: 
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 7-9pm

History Tour Series at Maudslay

Kids will learn about the sprawling estate that once existed at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts

There are so many stories about this beautiful former family estate. Join the park interpreter for this series of walks to view the house sites, gardens and farm complex to learn more about these areas of the Moseley Family estate. For ages 8 & up.

When: 
Saturdays, September 2, 9 & 16 2023 2-3pm
Saturday, October 7, 2023 2-3:30pm

Hayrides at Appleton Farms

Hayrides at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts are fun for the whole family!

Experience the beautiful scenery, crisp air and changing and vibrant colors of Appleton Farms in the fall as you enjoy a hayride across ths idyllic property. Rides will depart every twenty minutes between 12-4pm on weekends and 4-7pm on Fridays. Space is limited, pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

When: 
Fridays 4-7pm through October 27, 2023 4-7pm
Saturdays & Sundays through October 29, 2023 Noon-4pm
Location: 

Wee Explorers at Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Stevens-Coolidge Place hosts a nature based outdoor programs for toddlers that encourages outdoor play and exploration!

To encourage outdoor play and exploration of the great outdoors, this nature-based toddler playgroup will combine themed guided play with opportunities for free time for children and their caregivers to peek under rocks, inspect tree bark for hiding bugs and explore the gardens. Held at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens every Tuesday morning, join one or all of the sessions and explore the hidden worlds beneath our feet and above our heads.

When: 
Tuesdays through March 28, 2023 9:30-10:30am

Movies on the Common: Jungle Cruise

Come see a free showing of Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' on Salem Commons Massachusetts !

Grab a blanket and the kids and head over to Salem Common at dusk for an outdoor showing of some favorite family-friendly movies under the stars! This week's movie will be Disney's Jungle Cruise. Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his ramshackle boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal -- a discovery that will change the future of medicine.

When: 
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 7:45pm
Location: 

Wetland Wonders at IRWS

Explore the Bunker Meadow Pond at Ipswich river Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts

Wetlands are known for their rich variety of plant and animal life. Come explore Bunker Meadow Pond and the Ipswich River for a close-up look at a place where hundreds of hungry creatures are always on the hunt. Using nets and other collecting equipment, we'll dip into the water, sweep through the weeds, and scoop up some mud to discover the creatures that live there. Wear boots if you have them. For kids ages 3-11.

When: 
Saturday, October 14, 2023 10-11:30am

Fun in the Field at IRWS

Learn about butterflies and other field creatures at the MassAudubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary!

Fields are alive with animal activity on warm, fall days. Spend an early October day chasing butterflies, grasshoppers, and crickets with nets while taking some time to closely observe these amazing insects. We may also encounter predators of the field, such as Blue Birds, Leopard Frogs and Garter Snakes! This will be a hands-on experience the entire family can enjoy.

When: 
Saturday, October 7, 2023 10-11:30am

All Family Field Trips: Visit the Bird Banding Station

Family field Trip to the Banding Station with Mass Audubon Educators at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Massachusetts

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the North Shore. Joppa Flats' engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, September 29, 2023 10am - 12pm

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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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic

The Annual Hampton Beach, NH Master Sandsculpting Competition 2025
The fun starts when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 23rd. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. 
7:00 am to 11:00 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

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

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

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
11:00 am

Saugus Iron Works Tours

Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
2:00 pm

The Backyard Growcery

Join Backyard Growers at Burnham's Field in Gloucester Massachusetts for a weekly Farmer's Market
Stop by Gloucester’s new weekly farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, managed by Backyard Growers. The Backyard Growcery is located at Burnham's Field, an urban park near Gloucester’s thriving waterfront, and features small-scale North Shore farmers, bakers, a seafood vendor, an artisanal pizza...
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Evening Stroll at Maudslay

Enjoy and evening stroll with the park interpreter at Maudlsay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts
This popular hike is back again and has been going for over a decade! Join the park interpreter for a moderately paced walk each week to view different areas of the park and experience the seasonal changes at Maudslay. For Ages 6 & up
6:30 pm to 8:00 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, June 26

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

Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic

The Annual Hampton Beach, NH Master Sandsculpting Competition 2025
The fun starts when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 23rd. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. 
7:00 am to 11:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
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

Amesbury Days Celebration

Amesbury Days is a celebration of the onset of Summer and community.
Amesbury Days is a a 8-day celebration of all things Amesbury that kicks off the summer with fun and exciting community events in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Fireworks, a block party and a 5k walk/run will be just some of the highlights of this years' Amesbury Days celebration. There will be events...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Kidleidoscope

Kidleidoscope at Maudslay State Park is a chance for preschoolers to explore the park, enjoy a story and make a craft!
Maudslay State Park has created this program for their youngest crowd! The park interpreter will lead a weekly nature themed preschool aged program that involves a story time and outdoor exploration of Maudslay trails and gardens! 
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Amesbury Kids Day in the Park

The Amesbury Kids Day in the Park at the Town Park in Amesbury Massachusetts
Hosted by Amesbury Recreation and part of Amesbury Days.  Come with the kids to enjoy face painting, bounce house, games & prizes, music, train rides, and a patriotic teddy bear parade.
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
11:00 am

Saugus Iron Works Tours

Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
2:00 pm
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