Science

CraneExplorer: Secret Life of Trees

Families are invited to join us for a celebration of all things arboreal, on a guided hike through the Castle hill grounds in Ipswich Massachusetts

Take a deep breath and thank the trees! Families are invited to join us for a celebration of all things arboreal, on a guided hike through the Castle hill grounds, woodland trails, and pine grove, while learning all about both the natural and non-native/introduced trees living here. Participants will use all five senses to meet a tree; learn to ID trees via their leaves, bark, and seeds; discover unique adaptations for survival; and gain an expanded appreciation for all the benefits and ecosystem services that trees provide.

When: 
Monday, April 17, 2023 10am-Noon
.

CraneExplorer: Shifting Sands

CraneExplorer events are designed to appeal to families with children ages 5-12 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich MA

The beach is much more than just sand! On this family education program, participants will learn about the diverse habitats of the sandy beach and dunes. Learners discover shells, seaweed, plants, animal tracks, and other signs of life on the beach and in the dunes, get an up-close look at sand to explore its composition and how it formed, and use scientific tools to measure the ever-changing shape of the beach. Learn how The Trustees are managing and protecting our ever-changing coast, and how you can play a role!

When: 
Saturday, May 7, 2023 1-3pm
.

About Garden Explorers: Beautiful Birds

Long Hill Gardens in Beverly Massachusetts is a great place to learn about the nattural world and the creatures that live in it!

 

Activate the young explorer within your child on the Trustees' Garden Explorers programs, a series of drop-in activities held each month on different themes. These programs are a great way for children to learn more about the natural world around us. Join us anytime between 11AM and 1PM and stay for as long as you’d like.

When: 
Saturday, May 20, 2023 11am-1pm

YWCA Engaging Communities Luncheon

YWCA Engaging Communities Luncheon at the Riverwalk Brewing Company in Newburyport Massachusetts

The YWCA Greater Newburyport enters its 140th year serving the community, we invite you to join us once again for our annual Engaging Communities Luncheon on Wednesday, April 26th from 12:00 – 1:30 pm. Our theme this year is “Our Children, Our Future” as we showcase the childcare programs that have been a critical factor in allowing women to return to the workforce and help support their families through affordable housing, preschool and school age child care, health and welfare and racial justice.

When: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 Noon -1:30pm

Celebrate Earth Day & Planting with Ms. Frizzle!

Celebrate Poetry Month and Earth Day at Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester!

Spring has sprung! Celebrate Earth Day with Sawyer Free Library Children's Services and Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus! Ms. Frizzle presents an interactive & fun program about planting, gardening, and saving the beautiful planet Earth! This morning of fun is ideal for young children ages 3 and up and their families. This event will be held at 70 Middle Street, Trinity Church, right behind the library & no registration is needed.

When: 
Saturday, April 22, 2023 11:30am-12:15pm

Animal Skull ID for Kids

Peabody Institute Library in Danvers Massachusetts host a great session about animal skull identification for kids!!

Endicott Park's Erika Moretti presents a fascinating Animal Skull Identification program for kids! Budding scientists and nature lovers will really enjoy this presentation! Kids will get to see and touch real skulls from animals and will learn how to identify the animal based off the size and shape of the skull and certain key features. The skulls are all native mammals, but they'll see a bird and reptile skull for comparison. The lesson is very interactive, with lots of audience participation! 

When: 
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 2-3pm

Winter Birding Boat Trip

Learn about sea birds With 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester, Massachusetts!

Cape Ann is known worldwide for its exciting concentrations of winter seabirds. Thousands of birders visit the rugged coast of Cape Ann and scan the adjacent waters hoping to spot some of the unusual and highly sought-after seabirds that spend the winter months just offshore. The best way to get to see these birds and experience them up close is to visit them in their natural habitat- on the ocean!

When: 
Saturday, March 25, 2023 8am-1pm

Science Fridays at HWPL

Science Fridays with Ms. Katie at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library

Join Ms. Julie of Early Childhood Partners CFCE to enjoy a story and fun activities that explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math (STEAM). Designed for children ages 2-8 years and their caregiver. This program will be held on Fridays January 13 - March 24 from 1:30 - 2:30pm (no group on 2/24). Science Fridays will take place in the Children's Program Room. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

When: 
Fridays March 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2023 1:30-2:30pm
No sessions during school vacation

Pages

Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

Salem Heritage Days Festival

Salem Heritage Days is a week long celebration of Salem's history and tradition.
Celebrate the past and the present with neighbors, friends and visitors at the Annual Salem Heritage Days Festival. Events are scheduled around Salem throughout the week, kicking off with the annual Salem Maritime Festival and concluding with the Essex Street Fair, produced by the Salem Chamber of...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
7:00 am to 8:00 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

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

Rockport Farmers' Market

The Rockport Farmers' Market runs every Saturday at Rockport Music in Downtown Rockport!
The Rockport Farmers Market offers a variety of locally-grown produce, hand-crafted products, baked goods, and live music. It provides a community space to support local farmers and artisans.
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Haverhill Farmers' Market

Haverhill Farmers Market, North Shore Farmers Market, Cape Ann Farmers Marke
The vibrant, colorful Haverhill Farmers Market is where local farmers and food producers meet to sell directly to the community. Established in 1978, the Haverhill Farmers Market mission is to provide access to farm-fresh products and promote local agriculture, as well as serve as a social...
9:00 am to 1:00 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

Andover Farmers' Market

Find Fresh Local Produce at the Andover Massachusetts Farmers Market North of Boston
The Andover Farmers Market is a vibrant hub connecting local farmers, artisans and the community through the joy of local food. Whether you come for carrots or conversation, it is a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit.
9:00 am to 1:00 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

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

Yankee Homecoming Family Day

Newburyport Yankee Homecoming's Family Fun Day has a lot to offer in events and activities - Massachusettts.
Come to Nock Middle School as we start off our Super Saturday with good family fun!  Many local businesses, organizations and non-profits take part in our Family Day fun offering free crafts, games, activities and handouts.  Sit down for some lunch and listen to the band playing on the main stage...
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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

Festival-by-the-Sea

Manchester Festival by the Sea celebrates art on Cape Ann and the local bounty of Artistry.
The Festival by the Sea is an annual event hosted by the Manchester Division of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, this all-day extravaganza taps into the long-line of local talent with musical and artistic performers alike. Festival by the Sea is a celebration of the things that are synonymous with...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Newburyport Yankee Homecoming Marketplace

Shop to your heart’s content in our open air bazaar-like market place right in the heart of historic Newburyport’s center. Covering two square blocks, this extravaganza of food and great finds is sure to tantalize all your senses.
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Kids Sail Free on the Schooner Lannon

Kids ride free on the 10:30am an Noon Saturday Cruise on the Schooner Lannon through Summer
Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a fixture on the Gloucester Harbor vista throughout the day in the warm months, but to really experience the Lannon, you need to come aboard and go for a cruise!  Sail and see lighthouses, castles, scenic beaches, and magnificent waterfront homes.
10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Boat Tour to Misery Island

Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound Massachusetts
Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound. Along the way, hear stories about the rich history of the harbor and how the Misery Islands acquired their unique name. When you arrive, you’ll have 2 hours to explore the trails, open meadows, rocky shoreline...
11:00 am to 2:00 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

Circus Smirkus | 2025 Big Top Tour

Theater in the Open proudly hosts Circus Smirkus' 2025 Big Top Tour in Newbury Massachusetts!
Theater in the Open proudly hosts Circus Smirkus' 2025 Big Top Tour! Every summer, a freshly auditioned company of Smirkus Troupers, ages 10 to 18, take to the road in traditional mud show fashion for a two-month performance tour of New England. Backed by professional coaches, cooks, musicians and...
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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

Waterfront Concert: The Salem Boyz

Join The Salem Boyz on the Newburyport Waterfront at Cashman Park during Yankee Homecoming week!
The Yankee Homecoming Waterfront Concert Series invites you to enjoy a varierty of music with Way to the River at Cashman Park. The Salem Boyz is a nostalgia-rich, 12-piece classic rock and dance band with horn section, made up of reunited high school friends from Salem, New Hampshire. Our passion...
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Fireworks and Beach Concerts at Salisbury Beach

Fourth of July Fireworks at Salisbury Beach include a campfire and marshmallow roast on the beach.
Join us at Salisbury Beach for an unforgettable family night out! Every Saturday through the summer, enjoy spectacular fireworks (weather permitting) that light up the sky. Before the fireworks, there's a live concert starting at 7:30 PM on the Salisbury Oceanfront Stage, perfect for families with...
7:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Yankee Homecoming Fireworks

Yankee Homecoming will once again hold its traditional grand finale fireworks.
Display performed Pyrotechnico.  Co-sponsored by various local merchants, banks and the citizens of Newburyport. Bring your blanket or chair, sit and relax, listen to the concert and get ready for the oohs and aahhhs. A spectacular fireworks display is being planned for your enjoyment. Come early...
9:15 pm

Saturday, August 9

Salem Maritime Festival

Celebrate 400+ Years of Maritime History at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Join us for the annual Salem Maritime Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Salem Maritime National Historical Park on Derby Street. This event is free and open to the public. Salem Maritime Festival will feature a cardboard boat race, free tours and programs at historic buildings and the...
11:00 am to 6:30 pm

Hospital Point Lighthouse Open House

Take a tour of this historic Beverly landmark thats usually closed to the public as part of Trials and Sails!
One of Beverly's most familiar landmarks, this lighthouse commands a spectacular view of Salem Sound, and 3 other lighthouses. An enduring monument to Beverly's nautical heritage, it is one of 5 Massachusetts lighthouses that still retains its original Fresnel lens.
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Rockport Illumination & Fireworks

Rockport Massachusetts lights up the night with a mid-Summer fireworks show!
Come to Rockport Massachusetts for a day of family fun! After a day of events including a lobster dinner fundraiser, childrens activities, live music, art demos, printmaking and an art walk, a fireworks display will light up the sky over Rockport Massachusetts! The Show begins at 9pm, and will be...
11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Boat Tour to Misery Island

Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound Massachusetts
Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound. Along the way, hear stories about the rich history of the harbor and how the Misery Islands acquired their unique name. When you arrive, you’ll have 2 hours to explore the trails, open meadows, rocky shoreline...
11:00 am to 2:00 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

Tiny Tots Day at Beverly Homecoming

Kids will enjoy an afternoon of fun activities at Beverly Homecoming Tiny Tots Day.
Tiny Tots Day 2025 is a fun, free, family event put on by the fantastic Bev Rec Staff at beautiful Lynch Park! Bring your children ages 1-5 for all sorts of cool activities and crafts.
Where: Lynch Park
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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

Rockport Lobster Fundraiser for the Fireworks

Enjoy lobster at in Rockport Massachusetts to help fund the annual fireworks show!
What could be better than enjoying a lobster dinner in downtown Rockport with your family while helping a worthy cause? Rockport Lobstafest is a great way to get a taste of the freshest lobster possible while helping raise funds for the Annual Rockport Fireworks Show!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Subscribe to Science