JFK Library: Presidents Day Week

Things to do in Boston for Children and Families

Download $2 Off Museum Admission Coupon


In celebration of Presidents’ Day Week, the JFK Presidential Library invites the public to download a $2 off coupon, valid February 18-26, 2012, by clicking here. Children age 12 and under are always admitted free. Family-friendly Highlights Tours will be offered throughout the week with paid Museum admission.



“You Be the President” Interactive Museum Activity - February 18-26


Visitors to the Museum are invited to step up to a podium set before the actual scene of JFK’s January 20, 1961 inauguration and deliver some of the most stirring passages of his inaugural address guided by computerized visual prompts. “You Be the President” will be open from February 18 - February 26.



"The Presidency and Civil Rights" - Monday, February 20, 2012


On Monday, February 20th, from 12:30-5:00pm, this conference will examine key moments in the civil rights movement during five American presidencies – from Roosevelt to Johnson – with a final panel examining contemporary civil rights struggles in the years after the signing of the Civil Rights Act. Speakers include: Allida Black, Ernest Green, David Nichols, Carol Anderson, Callie Crossley, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Kenneth Mack, Roger Wilkins, Harris Wofford, and Ray Suarez..Brought to you by special sponsorship from Bingham McCutchen LLP.



The conference will be webcast live at www.jfklibrary.org/webcast.


Make Your Own Sundae Bar – February 20, 21 and 22


On Monday (2/20), Tuesday (2/21), and Wednesday (2/22) from 11:30am-2:30pm, the Café at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will offer a Make-Your-Own Sundae Bar in the Museum’s Pavilion. Kids and adults alike can enjoy chocolate and vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, butterscotch sauce, whipped cream and a variety of toppings for $4.00 each. The café will also be serving family-friendly specials throughout Presidents’ Week.

Presidents’ Family Festival Day – Tuesday, February 21, 2012

In celebration of Presidents’ Day, the Kennedy Library will host its second annual family festival featuring performances, activities, and exhibits that will bring the Library to life in new ways for kids of all ages. From 10:30am-3:00pm, children can make origami sailboats and try out other hands-on activities, interact with featured presidents and first ladies such as Thomas Jefferson and Dollie Madison, and learn the story of PT-109 and how John F. Kennedy became a hero before he was president. Other highlights of the day will be a Jacqueline Kennedy-themed tour led by the Museum curator, an interactive exhibit of 18th-Century life with John and Abigail Adams, and story time with award-winning author Barbara Kerley who will be reading her new book, Those Rebels: John and Tom. Special festival activities are free with paid admission; children age 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Here is the Schedule of Events.



Free Children’s Program – Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Celebrate! presents Djembe dell'Arte - African Dance and Drumming 


On Wednesday, February 22nd, from 10:30-11:30am, Experience the energy and excitement of African Dance with Djembe dell'Arte, accompanied by drumming ensemble Troupe Komee Djosee from Mali, West Africa. The performance features authentic African masks and costumes, folk dances of Mali, and a lively drum circle. The program is free but reservations are required. To make a reservation click here or call 617-514-1644.



JFK Museum Store Special


The JFK Museum Store is celebrating Presidents’ Day by offering a White House Tour DVD free with your purchase, in-store or click here to visit online. This special promotion starts on February 14, 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of Mrs. Kennedy's historic tour, and ends on February 26, 2012. Enjoy shopping the many educational and fun items that are available – from Presidential tee shirts to Presidential keepsakes. The store offers a fabulous assortment of Presidential gifts and a variety of items developed for our 50th Anniversary celebration of the Presidency of John F. Kennedy.

When: 
February 18-26, 2012
Phone: 
617-514-1600
Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

It's Summer by Linda Glaser storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Its Summer by Linda Glaser is the subject of this STORYWALK Series.  Watch the world transform when Spring comes!Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
7:00 am to 8:00 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

Backyard Growers Garden Storytime

Join Backyard Growers at Sawyer Free Library Garden in Gloucester Massachusetts for Garden Storytime
Backyard Growers brings a fun outdoor children's gardening program to the library! Children will plan, plant, water, weed, maintain & harvest a garden at the library all summer in this series of Thursday morning events.
10:00 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 3:59 pm

Kidleidoscope at Bradley Palmer

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Bradley Palmer State Park
Kids ages 3-6 are invited to join this fun, engaging activity session where they will learn about nature through stories, craft and outdoor activitiies. Topics vary by week, so come for them all! Meets at the Nature Center at 40 Asbury Street.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Plankton Safari

Join the team at Maritime Gloucester Massachusetts for a Plankton Safari every Monday and Thursday
Come to Maritime Gloucester and discover what lives near the bottom of the oceanic food chain using digital microscopes!
10:30 am to 3:30 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

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....
11:45 am to 3:00 pm

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 6:00 pm

Salem Farmers' Market

The Salem Farmer's Market bring the goodness of local farm to downtown Salem!
The Salem Farmers' Market brings fresh local produce and other foods from North Shore farms and other local resources to downtown Salem every Thursday at  Bentley Academy Charter School!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Ipswich Homegrown Market

Ipswich Homegrown Market on the Middle Green in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Every Thursday through the Summer, you will find fresh local produce and other foods from local vendors at the Middle Green in Ipswich Massachusetts! Come enjoy this weekly community event featuring local growers, makers, artists, and dreamers.
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Cow Connection at Appleton Farms

Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for Cow Connection in Ipswich Massachusetts
Immerse your family in the heartwarming experience of being up close and personal with one of our favorite farm animals – cows! Cuddle, brush, and sit with our hand-raised cows at Appleton Farms. Visit our scenic and historic farm and enjoy Family Cow Connection session with our two Jersey Dairy...
4:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Salisbury Farmers' Market

Salisbury Farmers Market is a great source of local produce.
The Salisbury Farmers' Market offers a vibrant community experience with a variety of fresh, locally sourced produce, unprocessed honey, farm-fresh eggs, and maple syrup. Enjoy music, local market creations, and engage with local farmers. The market also features monthly craft markets, cooking...
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Summer Concert Series at Lynch Park

Free Summer Concerts hosted by Bev Rec at Lynch Park in Beverly Massachusetts
Enjoy free concerts this Summer at Lynch Park in Beverly, Massachusetts!  Families are encourages to grab a chair and a blank and head to the park for a free concert at Lynch Park's ampitheater.
Where: Lynch Park
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Evening Stroll at Maudslay

Enjoy and evening stroll with the park interpreter at Maudlsay State Park in Newburyport
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.
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Castle Hill Picnic Concert | Fortune

Fortune will fill the grande allee with classic rock n' roll during this Summer picnic Concert at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Looking for a fun family outing on the North Shore of Massachusetts? Don't miss the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich!
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Friday, July 19

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

It's Summer by Linda Glaser storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Its Summer by Linda Glaser is the subject of this STORYWALK Series.  Watch the world transform when Spring comes!Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

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

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

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 3:59 pm

Mike Bent's Eco-Magic at Sawyer Free

Mike Bent Eco-Magic show at Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester Massachusetts
Magician Mike Bent presents Eco-Magic! This environmentally-themed magic show brings unforgettable magic, comedy and fun to our summer reading program! The conservation focused summer reading theme of Read, Renew, Repeat strives to bring attention to our natural world, and caring for the...
10:00 am

Annual National Sand Sculpting Festival

Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting is a free event open to the public and draws crowds from all around the world to Massachusetts.
The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival is a renowned annual event that transforms the shores of Revere Beach into an awe-inspiring boardwalk and open-air festival. Celebrating its 20th year in 2024, this festival gathers world-class sand sculptors who showcase their incredible...
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Meet Beach Creatures and More!

Discover and explore the facts of the creatures you find at the beach at Joppa Flats Education Center Newburyport
Come to Joppa Flats this summer to enjoy some live animal encounters both outdoors in our riverside yard and indoors in our air conditioned lobby! You'll rotate through different live animal stations at your own pace and stay as long as you like!
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Creature of the Week at Maritime Gloucester

Come to Maritime Gloucester for a Creature of the Week Session on Cape Ann Massachusetts! Photo ©Bill O'Connor
Every week, we will highlight a different ocean animal that lives in our aquarium and can be found in and around Gloucester. Learn some interesting fun facts about the creature as you get up and close and personal through a meet and greet and a take-home craft. For kids aged 4-8.
10:30 am to 3:00 pm

Music Together - Friday

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...
10:30 am to 11:15 am