Holiday

Winter Lights on Cape Ann

Celebrate the season with holiday light displays in Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport.

The Annual Winter Lights on Cape Ann is a festive event celebrating the holiday season, running from late November through New Year's Day. Over 100 local businesses in Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport are participating by decorating their storefronts with lights and creative displays. A decorating contest is back by popular demand, allowing visitors to vote for their favorite decorated business in each of the five communities.

When: 
Daily through New Years Day 2024

Cinderella in December | A TitO Panto

Come enjoy a Cinderella Panto performed by Theater in the Open at the Firehouse Center for the Arts!

Edward Speck and Joshua Shack bring back a favorite TITO Holiday Panto. We’ve updated our version of this classic fairy tale, added a holiday spin, plenty of adorable mice and even a few playful clowns to lead audiences on an enchanted adventure. It’s everything that you loved the first time you saw Cinderella, with some new surprises, just for fun!

When: 
Fridays & Saturdays, December 8-23, 2023 3pm or 7pm
Sundays, December 10 & 17, 2023 3 pm

Holiday Printmaking with IRWA

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen.

Ipswich River Watershed Association hosts a fish printing craft session during Ipswich Evergreen. Participants will be repurposing real fish (shad, originally used for scientific research) and making beautiful and unique prints which can be used for gifts, decorations, cards, or anything your heart desires!

When: 
Saturday, December 16, 2023 1-3pm

Danvers Library Holiday Open House

Join the Friends of the Peabody Instute Library for their Holiday Open House in Danvers Massachusetts!

Friends of the Peabody Institute Library - Danvers will be hosting their annual Holiday Open House from 2pm to 4pm on the ground floor of the library. Live music with the band Classic Groove, crafts for all ages, door prizes and refreshments galore! All ages are invited to drop by and enjoy some holiday cheer.

When: 
Sunday, December 9, 2023 2-4pm

Winter Wonder Neverland at the Firehouse

Winter Wonder Neverland by Joppa Dance Company at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport Massachusetts

Firehouse Center for the Arts hosts Joppa Dance Company for their performance of Winter Wonder Neverland! This dance-theater production follows Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinker Bell and friends as they try to rescue Christmas back from Captain Hook. It’s full of Pirates, Lost Boys and Fairies.

When: 
Friday, December 1, 2023 7:30pm
Saturday, December 2, 2023 2 & 7:30pm
Sunday, December 3, 2023 2pm

Danvers YMCA Holiday Gift Market

Northshore YMCA Danvers invites you to a Holiday Gift Market just in time for the Holiday Season.

Northshore YMCA Danvers invites you to a Holiday Gift Market just in time for the Holiday Season. You'll finda special collection of local crafters, jewelry designers, artists, & more! More than 30 vendors will be joining us for a holiday tradition of shopping, raffles, and holiday treats. Free entry- our special raffle this year supports Rosie's Place.

When: 
Saturday, December 2, 2023 10am-2pm

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Landmark Summer Experience at Landmark School in Beverly 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

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

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

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

Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum

Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 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...
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

Saturday, December 13

The Nutcracker Panto

Come enjoy a Nutcracker Panto performed by Theater in the Open at the Firehouse Center for the Arts!
Theater in the Open is happy to be back at the Firehouse for our production of A Nutcracker Panto, written by Edward F. Speck and adapted from the classic holiday ballet. Presented in the traditional British panto style, this holiday send-up is a family friendly romp through Clara’s adventure with...
7:00 pm

Sunday, December 14

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!
1:00 am to 3:00 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

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

Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature

Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts
Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s event celebrating the beauty of the natural world. You’ll see birds, flowers, snowflakes, and more as you view 18 spaces decorated for the holidays.
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its...
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Santa's Workshop

Santa's Workshop in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Visit Newburyport MA during the holidays
Newburyport is a favorite local town to shop - especially during the holidays. Bring the family to Newburyport to visit Santa in his traditional workshop, share your wish list, and snap a photo with Mr. Claus!
11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, Fun Holiday Events north of Boston, Trolley Ride with Scrooge
Join Scrooge on the Salem Trolley as you ride through Salem Massachusetts in this rolling production performed by the Griffen Theater . Now entering into it's 39th Season, this humorous & whimsical interactive performance reanimates Dickens’ timeless seasonal holiday classic. Experience...
2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
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