Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts

Come to Hammond Castle for the 5th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of candlelight that will envelop you throughout your tour of the Hammond Castle Museum. Immerse yourself in a bygone era of opulent tranquility and holiday grandeur that promises to be unlike any other experience on the North Shore.

The Castle's experienced tour guides will provide a contextualized history of John Hays Hammond Jr, and his wife, Irene, John’s life work as one of the nation’s most prolific inventors, and the various historical artifacts and architectural elements throughout the museum. Guests should plan 60 minutes to explore the Museum. Your guide will spend about half an hour with you and then you will have the opportunity to explore the Museum on your own. There is no difference in ticket costs between guided and self-guided tours. If you choose a guided tour, we ask that you remain with your group for the duration of the tour. Self-guided tour tickets are only available on-site.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your timed admission to allow enough time to walk from the parking lot down to the Museum for the check-in process. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. If you miss the start of your timed tour, you will not be able to join another tour at another time. Please note: all ticket sales are final, refunds are not offered, and exchanges for other tour times are not permitted. Heavy traffic should be considered when planning your travel time.

When: 
Friday-Sunday, November 17-December 3, 2023 10am-4pm
Daily, December 10-30, 2023 10am-4pm
Location: 
Prices: 
Adult: $20
Senior: $15
Child (5-12): $10
Child (4 & under): Free
Phone: 
978.283.2080

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

Wednesday, March 20

Story Walk |This Is the Nest Robin Built

Kids will enjoy this self-guided story based tour of the Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts! Photo by Bill O'Connor
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise at Halibut Point State Park ! Join us on the grounds of the for a self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book This is the Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. A wonderful story awaits! For...
8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Fiddleheads | Preschool Drop-Off Series

The Fiddlehead program at Appleton Farms encourages kids 3-5 to explore their environment in Ipswich Massachusetts
Spring has sprung! It is an excellent time of year for exploring and learning on the farm. We will be planting and harvesting in our garden, taking care of our animals and finding all the signs of spring that nature divulges. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 12:30PM for a preschool drop...
9:30 am to 12:30 pm

We Walk the Woods!

Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Abbot Library Story Time A-Go-Go

Abbot Library in Marblehead Massachusetts story time for kids aged 1-4.
Children are invited to a weekly Wednesday program with stories and movement led by early childhood educator Debbie Leibowitz. Story Time A-Go-Go is for children ages 1-4 years old in the Program Room, or outside depending on the weather.
10:30 am to 11:00 am

MPL: Mother Goose Storytime

Manchester Public Library Storytime with Miss Audrey Manchester by the Sea Massachusetts
Join Miss Audrey for Storytime for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers! We'll share books, songs, and games. Registration is required each week as space is limited.
10:30 am

Read to Jackson at TOHP Burnham Library

Kids will read stories to Jackson the Reading Dog in Essex Massachusetts!
TOHP Burnham Public Library invites children, kindergarten and older, reserve your 15 minute slot to read aloud to Jackson, our sweet Reading Dog! Bring your own books, or choose from ours. Register for your individual reading time, slots are as follows: 5:00, 5:15, 5:30 or 5:45.
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Thursday, March 21

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

Dungeons & Dragons | Roaming Realms

Table Top Role Playing Games (RPG) at Newburyport Massachusetts Public Library
This program is registration only. Space is limited so register right away! Join the adventure guild and explore the Roaming Realms! All you need is your wit and a level 4 character sheet. Premade character sheets will be provided as well. This D&D club is for new players as well as experienced...
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Read to Keeva at HW Library

Read to Keeva a certified therapy dog at the Hamilton Wenham Public Library in Massachusetts
Read to Keeva the Therapy Dog! Keeva and her trainer, Ms. Fleming, visit the library to help children practice reading! Therapy dogs provide a calm and non-judgemental environment that's perfect for practicing read-aloud skills. Open to children in Grades K - 3. Registration is required. Reading...
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Pokemon Club at Newbury Library

Pokemon Club Newbury Town Public Library in Massachusetts.
Newbury Town Library invites kids of all ages for some Pokemon fun!  Grab your trading cards and come join us for Pokemon Club! Recommended for ages 7+.
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm