Give the Gift of Membership

There are a lot of alternatives for gift memberships on the North Shore Massachusetts!

Giving the gift of membership to one of your favorite organizations is a perfect way to tell somebody that you want them to share your interests and spend some time together. It's extending a hand of friendship and inviting the recipient to join you in a common experience - not just at the time of giving the gift, but throughout the year and beyond.

We belong to quite a few museums and local organizations that offer annual memberships as a way to show our support and enjoy the benefits of being a contributing member. Memberships most often include a discounted rate or free admission to events and other activities, and this is reflected in our Events Calendar. Many of the events we list will show pricing tiers for members and non-members, or are listed as 'Free with the price of admission' (translation = "Free to members").

Gift Memberships are great because they benefit the giver, the receiver and the organization. It's a true win, win, win situation, with lots of additional benefits:

  • The giver can feel good because they are giving a meaningful gift to a person they care for while supporting a cause or organization that is important to them.
  • The recipient is not just receiving a gift, they are being invited to share in the givers life, and are hopefully being exposed to something new and fun that will enrich their own.
  • The organization is benefiting from having a new member that will hopefully enjoy their membership so much that they become a longtime supporter, and better yet invite more people to join.
  • There is a new avenue for both the giver and receiver to spend time with each other and develop a common interest.
  • Membership giving is 'green' - i.e. less packaging, less time shopping and using fuel to find gifts
  • Gift memberships help support local community resources
  • A membership lasts all year, so each time it is used, it's like getting the gift all over again.
  • Some gift memberships offer a 'sponsorship' or similar tier that make membership a tax deduction.
  • You can break a lot of gifts, but it's pretty hard to break a membership!
  • Your gift membership more than likely will not need batteries!

Of course the only downfall of gifting memberships is that the recipient will probably renew their membership on their own if they enjoy it enough, so you'll have trouble finding a better gift for them next year.

Here's a great list of recommended organizations and museums (and direct links to their membership pages) around Massachusetts' North Shore that will sure to please almost anybody on your list this year. Some offer special services for gift memberships, and others will accommodate gift memberships if you specify that you would like to purchase the membership as a gift during checkout.

Another great gift idea for the person in your life who likes to explore the outdoors would be an annual DCR Parkpass - which waives parking fees at many state resources including many gems right here on the North Shore like Maudslay State Park and Halibut Point State Park!

Sports Camps, Speciality Camps, Day Camps in Danvers MA

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

Cambridge Science Festival 2023

The Cambridge Science Festival makes science accessible, interactive and fun in Cambridge Massachusetts
Cambridge Science Festival, the first of its kind in the United States, is a city-wide celebration showcasing the leading edge in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Sculpture at Maudslay | Fracture

Artists will install their sculptures at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport for public viewing!
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the 24th Annual Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay Exhibit September 10 through October 1 featuring 50 site specific sculptures by local artists addressing this year’s theme, ‘Fracture' within the magnificence of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Look for the large...
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

The Flying Horse outdoor sculpture exhibit features works by José Criollo and many others at Pingree School in Hamilton Massachusetts
Pingree School hosts the 14th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree will display more than 50 temporary works by artists from as nearby as Hamilton and as far away as the state of Washington, including 20 works that are now in the school’s...
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Corn MAiZE and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers

Corn MAiZE, Maze and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers, Massachusetts
Come to Connors Farm to find your way through this year's maze and enjoy many family fun activities! After completing the maze, stay and have some fun around the farm. Children enjoy apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, and most of all, visiting the barnyard animals.
9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Children's Drop and Shop Consignment Event

Massive Fall and Winter Children's Consignment Event. Children's Drop and Shop
Don't miss the Children's Drop and Shop Fall and Winter consignment sales event at Danvers Indoor Sports, for name brand children’s clothing, toys, gear and furniture. Shop for the best bargains on new & gently used Fall and Winter children's clothing, brand name toys and gear, furniture,...
10:00 am to 8:00 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

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! Due to COVID-19, the market has needed to make some adjustments please read their new COVID-19 guidelines and...
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Salisbury Farmers' Market

Salisbury Farmers Market is a great source of local produce.
Shake your Farmer's hand, tap your feet to the music, taste our local market creations, and make old friends. At the market you can savor produce at the peak of freshness and meet the people who grow your food. Enjoy & support our local farmers market!
5:00 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...
5:45 pm to 7:45 pm

Friday, September 29

Cambridge Science Festival 2023

The Cambridge Science Festival makes science accessible, interactive and fun in Cambridge Massachusetts
Cambridge Science Festival, the first of its kind in the United States, is a city-wide celebration showcasing the leading edge in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Sculpture at Maudslay | Fracture

Artists will install their sculptures at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport for public viewing!
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the 24th Annual Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay Exhibit September 10 through October 1 featuring 50 site specific sculptures by local artists addressing this year’s theme, ‘Fracture' within the magnificence of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Look for the large...
7:00 am to 6:00 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

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

The Flying Horse outdoor sculpture exhibit features works by José Criollo and many others at Pingree School in Hamilton Massachusetts
Pingree School hosts the 14th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree will display more than 50 temporary works by artists from as nearby as Hamilton and as far away as the state of Washington, including 20 works that are now in the school’s...
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Corn MAiZE and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers

Corn MAiZE, Maze and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers, Massachusetts
Come to Connors Farm to find your way through this year's maze and enjoy many family fun activities! After completing the maze, stay and have some fun around the farm. Children enjoy apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, and most of all, visiting the barnyard animals.
9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

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...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Children's Drop and Shop Consignment Event

Massive Fall and Winter Children's Consignment Event. Children's Drop and Shop
Don't miss the Children's Drop and Shop Fall and Winter consignment sales event at Danvers Indoor Sports, for name brand children’s clothing, toys, gear and furniture. Shop for the best bargains on new & gently used Fall and Winter children's clothing, brand name toys and gear, furniture,...
10:00 am to 8:00 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

Hayrides at Appleton Farms | Fridays

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...
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm