Story Telling

Popsicles on Perkins Island

Spend the afternoon on the Ipswich River and Perkins Island with Mass Audubon!

Bring your young naturalist to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary to enjoy an afternoon on the Ipswich River! As the summer starts to heat up, cool down with us on a leisurely canoe paddle to Perkins Island. We'll look for sunbathing turtles and other river creatures on the banks and in the backwaters of the beautiful Ipswich River. Once we get to the island, we'll stretch our legs and enjoy some popsicles.

When: 
Saturday, June 11, 2016 1-3:30pm

Hayrides at Maudslay

Come Explore Maudslay State Park on a FREE hayride!

Enjoy a hayride as you journey thru the park and along the river, to appreciate the rosebay rhododendrons as they exhibit their beauty. All programs sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Meet in the field across from the parking lot. For all ages. An adult must accompany children 12 & under.

When: 
Sunday, June 26, 2016 10am-2pm

Wish Upon A Star: A Princess Fundraiser!

come meet your favorite princesses and superheroes while raising funds for Boston Children's Hospital!

Ice Queen Cosplay Princess Parties & Breanna's Princess Parties are co-hosting a fundraiser, because we want to help Boston Children’s continue its amazing work for kids. Stop by and visit Disney Princesses for a Meet & Greet, story times, sing-a-longs, and more!  There are expected to be about 20 characters in attendance including Iron Man, Wonder Woamn and Spider Man! 100% of the profit from this event will be donated to Boston Children's Hospital! Tickets will be $10 at the door. There will also be a silent auction.

When: 
Saturday, July 16, 2016 12-2pm

Playtime Stories at Gloucester Stage

Playtime Stories offers young children the unique opportunity to experience the fun and magic of live theatre at the Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester Massachusetts

Gloucester Stage Company invites kids ages 2 and up to Playtime Stories. Playtime Stories offers young children the unique opportunity to experience the fun and magic of live theatre as they watch their favorite books come to life onstage. Following the performance audience members will be invited to join the Playtime Stories Company in fun and interactive workshops relating to the story.

When: 
Saturdays through July 30, 2016 at 10am

Story Trails at PEM: The Moon Rocks!

Peabody Essex Museum programs for children and families

Peabody Essex Museum invites kids to take a journey into space as we read Tanner Turbeyfill and the Moon Rocks by Anna Browning. View a real moon rock collected by NASA in our exhibition Lunar Attraction. Join others to make a moon rock through clay marbling and design a rock sample box to take home. 

When: 
Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 2pm - 3pm

Merry-Time at Maritime Gloucester

The Children's Room Maritime Gloucester is a great place to play and read!

Children 2-5 and their parents, grandparents, or guardians are invited to play in our Children's Room. The children's room depicts Gloucester Harbor and includes 14 wooden buildings, 6 piers, 5 schooners, a dory, Ten Pound Island Lighthouse and various wooden people. Not surprisingly, a 3-5 year old can play in this room for hours.  One of our educators will also read a seafaring children's book during this weekly event. We hope you can join us.

When: 
Fridays 10:30-11:30am

February Vacation Drop-In Family Day

Addison Family of American Art hosts a day of family activities during February vacation in Andover Massachusetts

Are you looking for something to do with your family during February vacation? You’re invited to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at the Addison Gallery of American Art and how exhibitions come together through demonstrations and hands-on activities. Those of all ages are welcome, and children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is free and open to the public.

When: 
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 10am-Noon

Sense of Wonder Walk: Red Fox and Friends

Sense of Wonder Walk: Red Fox and Friends at IRWS. Image of Public Domain painting by Wilhelm Kuhnert

The red fox is a clever and attractive mammal that is active during winter, stalking rabbits, mice, meadow voles, and birds. We will read [amazon 0399214550 inline] by Keizabur Tejima. Then we will wander along the trails to look for tracks or signs left by foxes and other mammals. Perhaps we will be lucky enough to track the red fox back to its den.

When: 
Sunday, February 12, 2017 1:30-3pm

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Summerquest Camp for kids aed 5-14 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

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

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 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

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
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

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle

Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Sunday, September 21

Marbleheaders in the American Revolution

Glovers Regiment in Marblehead Massachusetts is just one stop on this Trails & Sails tour.
Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary and experience an Anglican service at St....
11:00 am to 4:00 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. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 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

Vintage BaseBall at Spencer-Peirce Little Farm

Come see how baseball used to be played at Spencer Pierce Little Farm. Photo: Matthew Muise Photography
It’s Base Ball, 1864 style at Spencer Peirce Little Farm! These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching and no gloves are allowed. A ball bounced once and caught is an out! Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Come and see for yourself how this game was...
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Fireman's Muster in Salisbury

Join the fun of the Fireman's Muster in the heart of Salisbury Massachusetts as part of Salisbury Days
The Town of Salisbury hosts a fireman's muster as part of Salisbury Days! Come join the fun with your family and watch the teamwork involved in this New England Tradition! As Part of Salisbury Days Celebration, on Sunday, in addition to the Muster event attendees can enjoy:
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Salisbury Days: Touch a Truck

Kids (and adults) can get up close and personal with all kinds of trucks in Salisbury Massachusetts
Salisbury Days are hosting a Touch-A-Truck event! Get up close and personal with all the trucks/unique vehicles you see on the road. Meet the people who drive them and learn about what they do!
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Brocklebank Museum Open House

Explore the Brocklebank Museum in Georgetown Massachusetts as part of Trails and Sails!
Visit the Brocklebank Museum, built in the late 1600s, with ties to the abolitionist movement and the famous Beecher family. tep back in time to the birth of our Nation. The Revolutionary War era in Essex County. Stop by and visit the Georgetown Historical Society in our tavern room at the...
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:30 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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Maudslay State Park

Take a nice n' easy stroll at Muadslay State Park with your family in Newburyport Massachusetts!
Take a nice n' easy stroll at Bradley Palmer State Park with your family! Join the park interpreter for a basic recreational hike to explore the diverse landscape on a variety of trails through different areas of the park. For all ages.
2:00 pm
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