Holiday

Ipswich Jingle Bell Walk

Join friends and family for a day of holiday festivities and cheer! Sing carols with Buddy the Elf while waiting for Santa’s arrival.

Greet Santa as he arrives at Town Wharf on East Street, at the north end end of Water Street, in Ipswich!  Come sing carols with Buddy the Elf as we await Santa’s arrival.  Jingle Bells will be available for purchase.  Jingle your bells and follow our honored guest and Buddy the Elf on a festive “Jingle Bell Walk” along Water Street to the Ipswich Town Hall at 45 Green Street.  Keep a sharp eye out for the “Grinch”! 

When: 
Saturday, December 14, 2024 11-1:30pm

Free Holiday Concert in Hamilton

The Musary performs A Charlie Brown Christmas at the The Community House in Hamilton Massachusetts

The Musary brings Charlie Brown's Christmas to The Community House! The Aidan Scrimgeour Trio will bring to life and perform a LIVE version of the Vince Guaraldi holiday masterpiece (John's favorite!).  This year they will be joined by members of the HW Elementary School Chorus!  The event is FREE, although we kindly encourage attendees to make a suggested donation of $25 to support The Musary. We warmly invite you to join us at the event! As space is limited, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: 
Saturday, December 14, 2024 3pm

Polar Express at the Cabot

Join Santa for a Polar Express themed Christmas Party at the Cabot Theater in Beverly Massachusetts

Join us Sunday, December 8, for this cherished holiday tradition. Bring the family to meet Santa, play games, and relish the timeless Christmas tale, “The Polar Express,” on the big screen. This event is in support of The Isabella Marino Charitable Fund. Don’t forget to wear your coziest PJs! Grab your tickets today before this popular event sells out! A special thank you to Josie and Rich Marino for bringing this magical day to our community!

When: 
Sunday, December 8, 2024 Noon-3:30pm
Location: 

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

Santa at the Phillips House

Join Santa for some traditional holiday fun at the Phillips House in Salem Massachusetts

Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Phillips House! Take a photo with Santa and see the elegant Chestnut Street mansion aglow with holiday cheer. Before or after meeting Santa, join us for stories with Mrs. Claus, cookies, cider, and a drop-in Christmas craft workshop, where you can make festive creations to take home and even write your letter to Santa! Craft activities are recommended for families with children ages 4 to 10. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive shortly after 12pm.

When: 
Saturday, December 17, 2024 Noon-2pm
Location: 

Wreath Decorating Workshop

Annual Wreath Making Workshop at the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum

Join us at the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum as Susie Talbot guides the group through decorating a 20" wreath. Susie is an extraordinarily talented individual who not only designed, but takes care of our front gardens. Amongst her many talents is decorating Holiday greens.

When: 
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 5-7pm
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 5-7pm

Night Tree Celebration at Appleton Farms

Come to Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts to celebrate the holiday tradition of the Night Tree

Join the Trustees of Reservations at Appleton for this holiday tradition to feed the animals of the forest from your own handcrafted edible ornament. We will begin the night in our historic carriage barn where we will cozy in with hot cocoa and popcorn to read the holiday classic tale “Night Tree” by Eve Bunting alongside of our barnyard friends. After our story, you will make your own edible ornament and garland which will decorate our tree and feed our forest friends. We will walk a wintery lantern-lit path to our “Night Tree” to hang our ornaments and celebrate the season.

When: 
Sunday, December 14, 2024 6-7:30pm
Location: 

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Brookwood School Summer Program for kids Pre-K through 9 in Manchester Massachusetts

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

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Fundraiser

Eat ice cream for breakfast at Putnam Pantry in Danvers Massachusetts to raise funds for a local charity!
Our annual ice cream for breakfast event is also a fundraiser! For $10 you will get 2 scoops of ice cream between a Belgian waffle, and, in Putnam Pantry fashion, you can top your own sundae.
7:30 am to 12:00 pm

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 day of the year! It’s Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! Celebrate our 'Sweet 16' in person at Cherry Farm Creamery on Saturday, February 1st. We will open early that day at 8am.
8:00 am to 12:00 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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 am to 11:30 am

Winterfest Weekend in Amesbury

Winterfest is a 5 day family celebration in the heart of downtown Amesbury Massachusetts!
For Five Days in February, Amesbury's beautiful and historic Downtown, Market Square and Upper Millyard will be the center of a winter celebration! Enjoy crafting, cocoa, kid's cookie decorating, a winter obstacle course, a Valentine Makers Market, a dance party, live music, a winter market and a...
10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Befriend the Barnyard

Befriend the Barnyard is a hands-on barnyard experience at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Discover our special barnyard animals! Our Angora rabbits Violet, Mabel, Oiver and Charles; Nubian goats Maeve, Morgana, and Mordred; dairy cows Gray, Jasmine, their calves Gigi and Joanie and our friendly flock of heritage chickens will take center stage as we learn about what makes them so unique...
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
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 12:30 pm

STEM Club at MPL

Stem Club for kids in grades 3-6 at the public library in Manchester Public Library
Have some fun and learn a little science too at STEM Club! This group meets every third Thursday from 4-5 and is for grades 4-6. 
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Pajama Story Time at Manchester Public Library

Kids are invited to the pajama time book reading at the Public Library in Manchester by the Sea Massachusetts.
Join Miss Audrey for a cozy pajama storytime and craft the first Thursday of every month from 6-7. This program is for kids ages 4 and up and their families. 
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, February 8

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

Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Massachusetts' retailers have some sweet surprises in store during the Salem's So Sweet Weekend Festival
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to come enjoy the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 23rd year, the signature elements of...
9:00 am to 10:00 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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 am to 11:30 am

CraneExplorer: Valentine's Coastal Craft

Make Valentines crafts from materials that we find along the shore at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts
The Trustees of Reservations invites ages 12 and up to a valentine craft making workshop! This Valentine’s Day, give a gift from the sea! From seaweed pressings to shell collages, beach treasures make beautiful greetings and keepsakes. Join this workshop to learn fun craft ideas and make marine art...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

All Family Field Trips - Coastal Winter Wildlife

Joppa Flats Education Center host an outing at the Salisbury Beach State Reservation in search of coastal wildlife.
Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the north shore. Our 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 outdoors....
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

First Aid, CPR & AED Training at ESM

Get First Aid, CPR or AED Certified in this workshop at Essex Shipbuilding Museum in Massachusetts
Take a CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification Course hosted by the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum at the charming Museum School House. Gain essential life-saving skills and the confidence to handle emergencies with ease.
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms

Visit Appleton Farms' sugaring operation and learn about making maple sugar syrup!
Maple Season is here! This special program for ages 3-11 & their families will focus on the magic of maple from start to finish. We will discover this tradition by observing trees, tasting sap, learning the tools involved, and finally, tasting the sweet product. We will make sure to have time...
10:45 am to 3:00 pm

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
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 12:30 pm

Family Owl Prowl

Join a Family Owl Prowl Campout at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Santino
People of all ages love owls, and many species of owls can be found right here in Massachusetts year-round. Experience the excitement of an owl prowl as we take a night hike to look and listen for Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owls. Before we head out on our nocturnal...
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
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