Gloucester

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th 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.

When:

Daily November 21 - Decemeber 28, 2024 10am-4pm

Location:

Hammond Castle Museum

Read more about Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Santa at Sea Cruise

Sail with Santa aboard the Beauport Princess on the water of Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts

Enjoy a holiday harbor cruise aboard Beauport Cruiselines with Santa! Take in the beautiful views of Gloucester Harbor, all while singing holiday carols with elves, enjoying hot cocoa and cookies, and listening to a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” Plus, a visit from Santa himself! Tickets include hot cocoa, cookies, and a picture with Santa. A Cash bar will be available. Two 90 Minute cruises are offered.

When:

Sunday, December 15, 2024 11am or 2pm

Location:

Cruiseport Gloucester

Read more about Santa at Sea Cruise

Deck the Docks at Maritime Gloucester

Deck the Docks at on the Gloucester Massachusetts Waterfront and join the holiday cheer!

Come to Maritime Gloucester for fun holiday happenings on the waterfront in Gloucester Massachusetts! Find unique maritime themed gifts and stick around for kids events including kids holiday crafts with Cape Ann Art Haven, free hot cocoa, story time in the classroom, Musical Performance by The Gloucester Student Band, Santa's arrival by schooner and more during Gloucester's Middle Street Walk 2024.

When:

Saturday, December 14, 2024 10am-7pm

Location:

Read more about Deck the Docks at Maritime Gloucester

Middle Street Walk 2024

The lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree is part of Middle Street Walk's finale in Gloucester Massachusetts.

The Annual Middle Street Walk is a great way to experience Gloucester's Historic District and waterfront while having Holiday fun with the family. An updated schedule of this years walk will be available for download on December 1, 2024 at this link.

When:

Saturday, December 14, 2024 9am - 5pm

Location:

Read more about Middle Street Walk 2024

Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest 2024

Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest entries can take any shape.

Everybody is invited to enter the Gingerbread Contest for the Middle Street Walk in Gloucester this year! Groups and individuals are encouraged to get creative and come up with entries that can take any shape. All entries will be judged during the Middle Street walk with winners being announced at 1pm in Gloucester City Hall.

When:

Saturday, December 14, 2024 10am - 3pm

Location:

Read more about Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest 2024

ECGA Mutt Strut

Hike Thompson Street Reservation in Gloucester Massachusetts with your dog and the ECGA!

An adventurous outing for you and your pup! Tompson Street has a little of everything: wooded trails, bridges across the swamp, rocky outcroppings…! The dogs and humans have a blast! Social dogs very, very welcome!

When:

Sunday, December 8, 2024 1:30-3:30pm

Location:

Thompson Street Reservation

Read more about ECGA Mutt Strut

Cape Ann Makers Holiday Market

Come to Cruiseport Gloucester to the Cape Ann Makers Holiday Market. Support your local economy and makers by shopping local. Saturday, November 24, 2023, is Small Business Saturday. When shopping local please come by to Cruiseport Gloucester for the Holiday Sip and Shop Market.

When:

Sunday, December 1, 2024 10am-4pm

Location:

Cruiseport Gloucester

Read more about Cape Ann Makers Holiday Market

Renaissance Faire Day

Return to the Renaissance on the oceanside lawn at Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts

Step back in time at our Renaissance Faire Day! Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of medieval and Renaissance culture with live performances by The Harper & The Minstrel and the L.I.A.R.S. (Ladies of Integrity, Aristocracy, Repute, and Society), offering a mesmerizing blend of medieval, Renaissance, and Celtic music as they stroll through the Museum and grounds.

When:

Saturday, November 9, 2024 10am-6pm

Location:

Hammond Castle Museum

Read more about Renaissance Faire Day

Fishtown Horribles Parade of Trees

Fishtown Horribles Parade Trees, a holiday fundraiser in Gloucester Massachusetts

Gloucester's Fishtown Parade of of Trees is a community holiday fundraiser for the annual Fishtown Horribles Parade in July! Take a stroll the the Parade of Trees and find your favorites! All trees are donated and decorated by community members, businesses and organizations.

When:

Saturday, December 7, 2024 10am-8pm

Sunday, December 8, 2024 11am-5pm

Location:

First Baptist Church of Gloucester

Read more about Fishtown Horribles Parade of Trees

Gloucester's Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Santa will come to Gloucester to launch the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting -

Gloucester's Holiday Parade is a great tradition to kick off the holidays! Come enjoy the parade, Santa, and the tree lighting at Kent Circle! Volunteers will line up parade participants at the State Fish Pier on Parker Street at 2:00 PM and will guide them through downtown Gloucester and on to Kent Circle for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

When:

Sunday, December 1, 2024 3pm

Parade participants line up at 2pm on the State Fish Pier

Location:

Read more about Gloucester's Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Lego Time at MPL

Drop-in, unstructured Lego building fun! Come with friends or come to make new ones, this program is for kids ages six and up.

Where: Manchester Public Library

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P....

Where: Abbot Public Library

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Tuesday, January 7

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead

10:00 am to 10:45 am

♦ Read More →

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

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.

Where: Halibut Point State Park

11:00 am to 12:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Wednesday, January 8

Music Together - Wednesday

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...

Where: St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms

9:30 am to 11:15 am

♦ Read More →

Thursday, January 9

LEGO Club at Danvers Library

Peabody Institute Library - Danvers invites kids to an afternoon of building and fun! Activities will include free build, themes and instructional design. All structures will remain on display in the Children’s Room till the following weeks's session

Where: Peabody Institute Library - Danvers

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Read to a Dog at APL

The Amesbury Public Library invites kids to come read to a dog at the Library! Gus, a mixed lab and certified reading partner dog, would love to hear you read aloud!

Where: Amesbury Public Library

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Friday, January 10

Music Together - Friday

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:30 am to 11:15 am

♦ Read More →

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.

Where: Breakheart Reservation

10:30 am to 11:30 am

♦ Read More →