HWPL | One World: Story, Song, Hands, & a Musical Instument Experience

John Porcino performs a FREE show ar the Hamilton Wenham Public Library in Massachusetts during February Vaction Week!

Families of all ages are invited to join acclaimed storyteller & musician, John Porcino, for a mix of stories and songs from around the world that come to life with warmth, humor, and audience participation. Includes a 40-instrument "Musical Instrument Petting Zoo" that will enthrall and entertain!

When: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 3-4pm

Boston City Singers at Shalin Liu

The Boston City Singers will perform a FREE Concert at the Shalin Liu Center for Performing Arts in Rockport Massachusetts.

Boston City Singers serves 500 extraordinary singers aged 4 – 18 in 15 different programs, most of whom live in the Boston’s urban neighborhoods. Our music and creative youth development programs are located in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and North Cambridge. Admission is need-blind. Tuition is based on a sliding scale and no child is denied access to our programs for lack of family resources.

When: 
Sunday, March 10, 2024 3pm

Ice Cream Breakfast Fundraiser | Cherry Farm

Eat ice cream for breakfast at Cherry Farm in Danvers Massachusetts to raise funds for a local charity!

It’s the most WONDERFUL time of the year! It’s Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! Celebrate (in person) once again with Cherry Farm Creamery on Saturday, February 3rd. We will open early that day at 8:30am. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support the Danvers People to People Food Pantry.

When: 
Saturday, February 3, 2024 8:30am-Noon

Hike Trustees Meet Up: Old Town Hill

Join the Trustees for a free hike up Old Town Hill in Newbury Massachusetts

Join fellow Trustees Hikers for a morning of exploration and community bonding on the scenic landscapes of Old Town Hill. Share your passion for the outdoors, exchange hiking stories, and make new friends along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a novice trail enthusiast, everyone is welcome to be part of this inclusive gathering.

When: 
Saturday, January 27, 2024 8:30-10am
Location: 

Owl Prowl Hike at Appleton Farms

Learn all about owls at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts for kids older than 12

Join us for a very special evening hike to see the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn about wintertime nocturnal animals and what to listen for on your journey. Then, we’ll embark on a 45-60 minute hike as we follow some of Appleton Farms’ most beautiful trails to see what we can hear.

When: 
Thursday, January 25, 2024 5:30-7PM
Thursday, February 8, 2024 5:30-7PM
Location: 

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 pre-K-age 7 with adult.

When: 
Daily February 17-25, 2024 8am-4pm

Curious Creatures at IPL

Curious Creatures live animal presentation at Ipswich Public Library in Massachusetts

Ipswich Public Library hosts Curious Creatures, New England's original ​interactive and educational ​live animal program. Their staff of experienced and professional exhibitors teach respect and appreciation for exotic and unusual animals. The  presentation is hands-on, interactive and can be tailored to meet your individual needs. We include interesting facts and stories about our creatures in an educational and entertaining environment.

When: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 10-11:45am

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Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras Summer Sessions

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

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

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

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Rockport Farmers' Market

The Rockport Farmers' Market runs every Saturday at Rockport Music in Downtown Rockport!
The Rockport Farmers Market offers a variety of locally-grown produce, hand-crafted products, baked goods, and live music. It provides a community space to support local farmers and artisans.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Andover Farmers' Market

Find Fresh Local Produce at the Andover Massachusetts Farmers Market North of Boston
The Andover Farmers Market is a vibrant hub connecting local farmers, artisans and the community through the joy of local food. Whether you come for carrots or conversation, it is a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Music Together - Saturday

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...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Fathers Day Jet Rally Plum Island

The Fathers Day Jet Rally is hosted by Plum Island Airport RC Club in Newburyport Massachusetts!
Come to Plum Island during Fathers Day Weekend full of RC fun and flying! Spectators always welcome! This is a great opportunity to see some cool models!
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Arts Fest Beverly

Arts Fest Beverly is a free outdoor festival that's fun for the whole family in the heart of downtown Beverly Massachusetts
Beverly Main Streets will be hosting their 21st annual Arts Fest Beverly in downtown Beverly . This community event is free and open to the public, and will bring thousands of people to Cabot St for a day of shopping, live music, local food, and activities for the whole family. Over 125+ juried...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Let's Go Outside!

Head to Parker River Wildlife Refuge for a full day of FREE family fun that's focused on outdoor activity!
Join park staff from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a full day of FREE family fun that's focused on outdoor activity! The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge hosts a free family event, "Let's Go Outside." The event features various outdoor activities such as archery, surf fishing,...
10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Annual Art in the Barn Exhibit and Sale

Art in the Barn is a fundraiser for the Essex County Greenbelt Association Essex Mass
Art in the Barn is recognized as one of the North Shore’s premier art events, featuring the most talented artists in the region. An annual event for over 30 years, the show normally takes place at Greenbelt's headquarters, Cox Reservation in Essex, and this year we will bring the fine art paintings...
10:00 am to 5:00 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

Ipswich RiverFest

Ipswich River Watershed Association Paddle-a-thon is a fun day on the Ipswich River for the whole family!
RiverFest is a family-friendly event celebrating the Ipswich River with activities like canoeing, fishing, live music, and educational exhibits. Enjoy food from local vendors and participate in fun games and crafts.
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

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

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

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Tide Pool Exploration at Halibut Point

The tide pools at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts are some of the best in New England!
Halibut Point State Park invites families to join them on a tide pool adventure! See a great diversity of life at the rocky shore.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants it’s most known for. In addition to learning about what plants are in bloom as well as the rare and unique species in our collection, you...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Father’s Day at Appleton Farms

Fathers Day Weekend Bash | BBQ, Beer and Bluegrass at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Bring Dad to Appleton Farms on Father’s Day weekend for our own seasonal wood-fired pizza, local beer, local BBQ, and live music! We’ll have Notch, and Rockport Brewing Co. on-site serving up some cold suds, and barbecue from Fat Belly Food Truck and Sweet Treats from the Whoopie Pie Wagon 
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Garden Tours at Stevens Coolidge Estate

Come enjoy the fantastic flower display in the gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover!
Enter a world of early 20th-century country elegance and contemporary garden design all in bloom at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. These expansive manicured gardens boast both plentiful European-inspired flower beds as designed in the 1920s, as well as newly installed gardens featuring...
12:00 pm

Drop-in Open House at the Nature Center

Drop-in Open House at the Bradley Palmer State Park Nature Center in Hamilton Ipswich Massachusetts
Explore the Nature Center at your leisure. The Park Interpreter will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions. Come see and touch animal furs, replica skulls, animal models, and other natural history materials. For little artists, coloring pages and washable markers will be on hand.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon?  Circumnavigating an island is one of the great rewards of kayaking and reaching the summit of a hill that offers a great view is one of the payoffs of a good hike. This adventure in the Crane...
1:00 pm to 4:30 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

Low-Sensory Play at North Shore Children's Museum

Low-Sensory Play at NorthShore Children's Museum in Peabody Massachusetts
Join us for a low-sensory play session. For some children, visiting places like NSCM can be over-stimulating. This special play session will have reduced noise, crowds, and stimulation. While medical diagnosis is not required, we encourage that these limited tickets be used for families with a...
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Derek Hines Flag Day 5k

Run the Flag Day 5k and raise funds for Massachusetts Veterans who have sustained serious injury in the line of duty
The 1st LT Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund is excited to return to Cashman Park for the 13th Annual Flag Day 5K road race. The 5K walk or run will be hosted on June 15th, 2024 at Cashman Park in Newburyport, MA. We look forward to gathering in person this year as we continue to honor 1st LT...
4:00 pm

Friday, June 21

Drop-in Open House at the Nature Center

Drop-in Open House at the Bradley Palmer State Park Nature Center in Hamilton Ipswich Massachusetts
Explore the Nature Center at your leisure. The Park Interpreter will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions. Come see and touch animal furs, replica skulls, animal models, and other natural history materials. For little artists, coloring pages and washable markers will be on hand.
1:00 pm to 4:00 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

Family Solstice Full Moon Beach Hike

Walk the beach under the full moon with naturalists from Joppa Flats Education Center
Have you ever gone tide pooling as the sun is setting or explored a a sandy beach under the light of a full moon? Engage in on-the-beach nocturnal experiments about night vision, bioluminescence and more. Attract live minnows with your flashlight and watch barnacles open up to feed. For kids ages 4...
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Schooner Ardelle Date Night

Schooner Ardelle turns into the love boat for date night sailing out of Gloucester Massachusetts!
Maritime Gloucester and  Schooner Ardelle have teamed up to create Date Night! Schooner Ardelle becomes the 'Love Boat' for moms and dads, while kids (ages 5-11) enjoy the care of the staff at Maritime Gloucester, the aquarium and lots of fun activities. You'll have a nice romantic sail around...
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

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...
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Full Moon Hike at Ward Reservation

Join the Trustees on a journey up Holt Hill under the light of the full moon at Ward Reservation in Andover!
Join Within Wildlight in a mindful journey up Holt Hill under the light of the full moon. Together, we will gather for a meditative hike up the trail as night falls, and circle for a gentle guided meditation beneath the moon & stars. Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and unique tastes of...
8:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Saturday, June 22

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 Master Sandsculpting Competition Viewing 2022 Winner Melineige Beauregard
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 26. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. View all entries online on...
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
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