Holiday

Gloucester Stage Holiday Delights Matinee

Students participating in the Gloucester Stage Youth Acting Program perform in this wonderful seasonal show about the importance of family and friends.

Gloucester Stage Company Youth Acting Workshops proudly presents Holiday Delights! Students participating in the Gloucester Stage Youth Acting Program perform in this wonderful seasonal show about the importance of family and friends. The show features a cast of 35-40 student actors and a crew of 6-8 student technical interns whose ages range from 6 to 19 years old. Any student who completed a class session during the calendar year of the production is invited to join the cast. Holiday Delights affords the YAW students an opportunity to collaborate harmoniously on a professionally-run, large-scale theater project resulting in a three-performance run at the Gorton Theater, home of the Gloucester Stage Company.

When: 
Friday, December 11, 2016 7:30pm
Saturday, December 10, 2015 2pm
Sunday, December 11, 2016 2pm

Phillips Academy presents Handel's Messiah

The Phillips Academy Music Department will sponsor its annual holiday concert featuring excerpts from Handel's oratorio. a Fundraiser for Neighbors in Need and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The Phillips Academy Music Department will sponsor its 28th annual holiday concert presenting excerpts from Handel's Oratorio, Messiah featuring the Phillips Academy Community Chorus and the Academy Chamber Players under the direction of Christopher Walter. Soloists will be Shannon Canavin, PA '91, soprano; Krista River, mezzo-soprano; Eric Christopher Perry, tenor; and Donald Wilkinson, bass.

When: 
Saturday, December 3, 2016 7:30PM

Holiday Candy Making Demonstrations

Come to Tuck's Candy in Rockport and see how they make candy canes by hand!

Ever wonder how ribbon candy is made, or how candy canes get their stripes? Tuck's Candy Factory is having free candy making demonstrations of candy-cane, ribbon candy, and satin stick making. Visit, watch and sample! Bring the whole family for an old-fashioned holiday treat, and don't forget to enter the drawing for a 6-foot candy-cane!  No demonstrations on Christmas Eve!

When: 
Every Saturday between Thanksgiving and December 17, 2016 9:30am-4pm
Friday after Thanksgiving 9:30am-4:30pm

Strings in the Parlor

Celebrate hearth and home on a candlelit tour of this colonial salt water farm in Ipswich Massachusetts

Step back in time and be inspired by the nightscape at a 17th century saltwater farm. Stroll through the house, lit by candlelight, and imagine life in colonial days. This Open House is offered in conjunction with Ipswich is First...Period, a community celebration of 17th century architecture, and an homage to hearth, home and the celebration of Thanksgiving. A quartet will fill the halls with period music.

When: 
Friday, November 18, 2016 5:30-7pm
Location: 

Make & Take Your Own Pie!

Make your own pie at Russell Orchard, then bring it home to enjoy.

Russell Orchards in Ipswich invites you to come make a pie and take it with you!  As part of Ipswich is First...Period, celebrate the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with this fun hands-on activitiy.  The farm will provide the fixins and you'll make your own apple pie. Bake at home now or later (freezes great up to a year!).

When: 
Weekends, November 12-20, 2016 11am-3pm
Location: 

Beverly Holiday Fair Saturday

Four Holiday Fairs in one day in Beverly MA!

Attend four church fairs on the same day and help support Family Promise of the North Shore, an organization working to bring area families out of homelessness. Obtain a "Passport" raffle ticket at any of the four fairs (suggested donation $2.00,) and have it stamped at each Fair. At the end of the day, turn in your ticket with stamps from all four churches to be entered into a raffle for great prizes, including tickets to the North Shore Music Theater's Christmas Carol, tickets to The Cabot Theater, restaurant gift certificates and more! Participating churches are all in Beverly: Dane Street Church, First Baptist Church, First Parish Church and Second Congregational Church. Visit here for more information.

When: 
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Location: 

Veteran's Day at Cape Ann Museum

 Cape Ann Museum hosts a family friendly concert based on Katy and the Big Snow!

The Museum will have an ongoing video program in the auditorium featuring images from the Civil War to Vietnam with a voice-over of letters written home by soldiers. Also offered on Veteran’s Day is will be a special military-themed tour at 2:00 pm looking at items from the museum collection like a cannon ball that was fired into the facade of the First Parish Unitarian Church of Gloucester in 1775.

When: 
Friday, November 11, 2016 10am-5pm
Location: 

Gardens Aglow

Heritage Museums and Gardens Gardens Aglow

Gardens Aglow

The grounds will be transformed by more than ten miles of holiday lights into a twinkling wonderland with holiday displays, family-friendly activities including a marshmallow-roast, a reindeer scavenger hunt, live performances, a visit with Santa Claus in the Model T, and children can get up close to baby animals, take carousel rides, and more.

When: 
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 25 - December 18, 2016, from 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm

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

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

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!
8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Salem Arts Festival 2025

The Salem Arts Festival is a joint project of Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective in Salem Massachusetts
For three days, this annual family friendly art festival transforms downtown Salem into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase their talents. The popular free event will feature many artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. The family...
9:00 am to 5:00 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

Music and Movement at North Shore Children's Museum

North Shore, North Shore Childrens Museum in Peabody MA
Music and Movement with Marybeth Maes is an engaging music and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Marybeth brings her guitar and instruments for the children to use while they sing, dance, and play.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Turtle Time at IRWS

Kids and families will explore IRWS wetland in search of painted and snapping turtles.
As late spring transitions to early summer, one thing is for sure: it's turtle time! Join us to explore our wetlands in search of these fascinating reptiles.
10:00 am to 11:30 am

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Explore! North Shore – Trails Day Hike at Ravenswood

Giant boulders can be found all over Ravenswood Park. How'd they get there?
Join the Trustees to celebrate National Trails Day with a guided hike of Ravenswood Park in Gloucester. On this intermediate hike, you will enjoy a ~3 mile loop with moderate elevation gain, as you are guided up the rocky and narrow Ledge Trail up to a scenic overlook of the harbor and then descend...
10:00 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

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

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
1:00 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

Monday, June 16

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 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

Beverly Farmers' Market

Get fresh local produce at the Beverly Farmers Market in downtown Beverly Massac
The Beverly Farmers’ Market supports local agriculture while making healthy food available to all members of the Beverly community at affordable prices; the market promotes sustainable living practices and fosters community connections through our vendors, free activities and events. The market...
Where: Odell Park
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tuesday, June 17

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

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

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

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® 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...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

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

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
10:30 am to 11:30 am
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