Outdoor Activity

Drop in Station | Explore the Pond at Bradley Palmer

Here is your chance to go inside the Willowdale Mansion (willowdaleestate.com) for a unique guided tour. Now an event and wedding venue, this over 100 years-old Arts and Crafts style home has been beautifully restored. The second floor is not accessible. Best for ages 8 years & up.

What kinds of fascinating creatures live in or visit the ponds? Come and visit with the Park Interpreter to see if any creatures are stirring, and if any plants are flowering. Best for ages pre-K and up. This is a great family activity. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

When: 
Fridays through October 6, 2023 9-11am

Paddle the Great Marsh

Paddle the waters of the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on this ranger guided tour.

 What’s the secret to exploring the magic of the Great Marsh? Getting out on the water! Join park rangers from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and paddling guides along the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge water trail to experience this unique habitat and the species that call it home. This program is free and all gear will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own equipment!

When: 
Saturday, September 16, 2023 Noon-2:30pm

Middleton Food Truck Festival

Middleton Food Truck Festival Fundraiser for the Middleton Food Pantry and the Middleton Council on Aging

Prepare your taste buds for a day filled with delectable treats, music, and a vibrant atmosphere. Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a fun day out, this event is perfect for everyone. A portion of the proceeds from this festival go to benefit community organizations, the Middleton Food Pantry and the Middleton Council on Aging. 

When: 
Saturday, September 9, 2023 11:30am–5:30pm

Plum Island 'Drive-In' | The Secret Life of Pets

Come see The Secret Life of Pets at the Plum Island Beach parking lot in Newburyport Massachusetts!

Enjoy a beautiful night on at the ocean's edge at the Plum Island Beach parking lot converted into a 'Drive-in'. Grab your friends or family, jump in the car and head over to Plum Island for a weekend of drive-in movies! All proceeds to benefit the Newburyport Youth Services scholarship funds. Saturday's feature - The Secret Life of Pets!

When: 
Saturday, September 9, 2023 9am

Castle Hill Picnic Concert - Big Ol' Dirty Bucket

Big Ol' Dirty Bucket will perform at the Trustees of Reservations' Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts.

Part of the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is a great way to get together and have fun with the whole family in an exclusive setting. Castle Hill Picnic Concerts are back! Pack a picnic supper and enjoy an evening of live music on the magnificent Grand Allee. Stroll the grounds and explore the newly restored gardens while you enjoy a night out on the estate. Gates open at 5PM for picnicking. Advance ticket reservations are recommended but not required.

When: 
Thursday, August 24, 2023 6:30-8:30pm

Moonlight Movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Join us for fun under the stars at Patton Homestead in Hamilton Massachusetts for an outdoor showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Join us for fun under the stars at Patton Homestead on the fourth fairweather Friday May 26 - August 25, 2023. Gates open at 6:30, and you can buy food on site or bring a picnic dinner before the show. The movie for July is Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark!  Join the adventure as Archeologist Indiana Jones searches for the Lost Ark of the Covenant!

When: 
Friday, August 25, 2023 6:30-10pm
Location: 

Annual Gloucester Rotary Pancake Breakfast

Annual Gloucester Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Stage Frot Park

The Rotary Club of Gloucester MA will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA.  This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 19-20, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.

When: 
Saturday, August 19, 2023 7:30-11:30am
Location: 

Slightly Spooky Salem Tours for Kids & Families

Kids will love this slightly spooky walking tour in Downtown Salem, Massachusetts!

This tour combines true tales from Salem’s past with some mild ghost stories just for kids.  Our aim is not to scare the heck out of your kids, but to provide a little shiver and bit of mystery for kids who like ghost stories.  This tour follows a route that is near the downtown, but it’s a little off the beaten path, very picturesque, and you’ll feel as if you stepped back in time.  The tour ends at our historic and creepy Broad Street Cemetery, which was established in 1655.  Meets at 316 Essex Street.

When: 
Thursdays-Saturdays through August 2023 Times Vary
Location: 

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

Superbowl of Birding 2026

The Superbowl of Birding 2026 is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, Massachusetts
The Superbowl of Birding is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, MA. During a 12-hour period, teams of birders of all ages and abilities seek to amass the greatest number of avian species, to earn the most points based on the rarity of the birds recorded. Teams...
5:00 am to 5:00 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

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 am to 11:30 am

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Animal Tracks | Family Nature Series

Essex County Greenbelt teams up with North Shore Nature Programs for a wildlife hike in Ipswich Massachusetts!
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This event with North Shore Nature Programs is geared toward families of all ages who would like to learn about the signs and tracks that animals leave behind!  We will explore outdoors and look at tracks, chewed sticks, scat, nests, beaver constructions and more! Waterproof and warm...
10:00 am to 11:30 am

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...
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Tuesday, March 3

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
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