Exploration

Trails & Sails

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 cultural experiences of all kinds. Find what makes Essex County like nowhere else during Trails & Sails! It’s all FREE and it’s all located within the 34 cities and towns of Essex County.

When:

Daily, September 14-29, 2024

Read more about Trails & Sails

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts

“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo is the subject of this STORYWALK Series. Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!

When:

Daily during park hours through September 2, 2024

Location:

Read more about StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

Second Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum

Second Saturdays mean free admission for local Families at Cape Ann Museum!

The Museum is free all day for Cape Ann residents* on the second Saturday of every month in 2021! The second Saturday of every month is free for Cape Ann families. Pre-registration and timed tickets are required.

When:

Second Saturday Monthly 10am-6pm

Location:

Read more about Second Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum

The Bridges of Maudslay

Maudslay State Park invites you to join the park interpreter on a walk to see the unique stone bridges of the former Moseley Family Estate. Learn about their construction and historical use, plus interesting stories about the family and their property. For ages 8 & up.

When:

Saturday, August 3, 2024 10-11:30am

Location:

Read more about The Bridges of Maudslay

Healthy Heart Walk at Maudslay State Park

Find the hidden secrets of Maudslay State Park with the park interpreter

Join the park interpreter for a moderate walk designed to improve cardiovascular health, while journeying through the park on one of our many beautiful trails. For ages 6 & up.

When:

Sunday, August 18, 2024 10-11am

Location:

Read more about Healthy Heart Walk at Maudslay State Park

Explore the Pond at Bradley Palmer

Join the park interpreter exploringt he ponds of Bradley Palmer State Park in Massachusetts!

What kinds of fascinating creatures live in or visit the ponds? Come and explore with the Park Interpreter to see if any creatures are stirring, and if any plants are flowering. For all ages. This is a great family activity! Meet at the ponds next to the Main Parking Lot, 40 Asbury Street, Topsfield.

When:

Fridays, June 21-August 30, 2024 10:30am-Noon

Location:

Bradley Palmer State Park

Read more about Explore the Pond at Bradley Palmer

Kidleidoscope

Maudslay State Park has created this program for their youngest crowd! For the young set that loves nature, the park interpreter will lead a three-part preschool aged program that includes a story, craft & walk that involves outdoor exploration. A different nature topic each week so come every week!

When:

Fridays through Summer 2024 11am-Noon

Location:

Read more about Kidleidoscope

Friendship of Salem Open-Ship Hours

Experience 400 Years of Maritime History aboard the Tall Ship Friendship at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!

Presented by the Salem Maritime National Historic Site,explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel. Learn about the voyages of the original FRIENDSHIP and the lives of the crewmembers onboard. The two-decked, three-masted, square-rigged, 342-ton vessel represents New England’s influential role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade.

When:

Saturdays & Sundays thru August 2, 2024 1-4pm

Location:

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Read more about Friendship of Salem Open-Ship Hours

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!

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. Learn about the buildings, bridges, and breakwaters built to last. Touch tools of the trade. Find out how they moved these large, heavy stone pieces, and how they “paved” dirt streets in our Nation’s growing cities—and around the world! Heavy rain/snow cancels.

When:

Saturdays June 1-September 21, 2024 11am-Noon

Location:

Halibut Point State Park

Read more about Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Salem Maritime Festival

Celebrate 400+ Years of Maritime History at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!

Presented by the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the annual Salem Maritime Festival in August hosts an exciting array of free family fun festivities, including live music, traditional craft demonstrations and seaport trade exhibits, story-telling, and family fun! Each year, music, demonstrations, exhibits, and children's activities are available throughout the park and on Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!

When:

Saturday, August 3, 2024 11am-6:30pm

Location:

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Read more about Salem Maritime Festival

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay | Thread

Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the 25th Annual Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay Exhibit September 8-29 featuring 50 site specific sculptures by local artists addressing this year’s theme, ‘Thread' within the magnificence of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Look for the large green trail head...

Where: Maudslay State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

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,...

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:00 am to 10:45 am

♦ Read More →

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....

Where: Downtown Salem

11:45 am to 3:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Drop-in Open House at the Nature Center

Explore the Nature Center at your leisure. The Park Interpreter will be on hand to demonstrate and answer questions. Come see and touch animal furs, replica skulls, animal models, and other natural history materials. For little artists, coloring pages and washable markers will be on hand.

Where: Bradley Palmer State Park

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Beverly Farmers' Market

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

♦ Read More →

Chess Night at Beverly Library

You do not have access to view this node and BevRec are teaming up to offer Chess Nights in the Barnett Gallery in the main Library at 32 Essex St, Beverly. The first Monday of each month through May, come and play the world’s greatest game (if you don’t count Pac Man) with your neighbors. This is...

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

♦ Read More →

Wednesday, September 11

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 →

We Walk the Woods!

Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.

Where: Harold Parker State Forest

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

11:00 am

♦ Read More →

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Where: Downtown Salem

11:45 am to 3:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works Tours

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.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

2:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

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

Where: Mendel Observatory at Merrimack College

7:00 pm

♦ Read More →