All Ages

Salem Holiday Tree Lighting

Come to the Holiday Tree Lighting in Salem to kick off the holiday season!

Join Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as we combine two of our most beloved annual traditions – Greet Santa at the Hawthorne Hotel and the lighting of Salem’s Holiday Tree – into one evening. Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square W) promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2025, with assistance from the Salem Fire Department, of course. Bring the whole family out for carols, festivities, and fun!

When:

Friday, November 28, 2025 6:30pm

Location:

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Lowell's Boat Shop Holiday Open House

Visit Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury Massachusetts for their annual holiday open house!

Visit Lowell’s Boat Shop during their Annual Holiday Open House is a two day family event during the first weekend in December. See the shop transformed with beautiful trees, an art show, silent auction, Nautical Gift Shop, Lowell’s gear to wear, books, glassware, and more. Make it a day! Live music, and lots of other treats in every part of the shop. Don’t miss this beautiful shindig, and be sure to tell your friends.

When:

December 7 & 8, 2024 11am-4pm

Santa Visits 12-1

Location:

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Beverly Tree Lighting

Beverly Massachusetts holiday tree lighting on the Common is a favorite community event!

Come to the Beverly Tree Lighting! Gather with your neighbors and enjoy cocoa, cookies, music and Santa, as we light the town Holiday Tree!

When:

Friday, November 28, 2025 7pm

Location:

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Turkey Trot at Breakheart Reservation

Come to Breakheart Reservation for a pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Saugus Massachusetts!

Breakheart Reservation invites you to a Thanksgiving run/walk! Join us for the annual Breakheart Turkey Trot, a fun-filled event for runners and walkers of all ages! Lace up your sneakers and get ready to hit the scenic trails of Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, Massachusetts. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just looking for a leisurely stroll, this event has something for everyone.

When:

Sunday, November 23, 2025 9:30am-Noon

Location:

Breakheart Reservation

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Marini Farm Corn Maze

Come to Marini Farm for a fun journey through our corn maze! The Maze Park, corn maze, farm stand, bakery and other attractions provide a great destination for kids birthday parties, school trips, corporate team building, scout outings, and family activities. Marini Farm is located in beautiful Ipswich, Massachusetts - a pleasant drive from Boston.

When:

Weekends, September 6-October 26, 2025 Times Vary

Fridays in October, 2025 4-10pm

Columbus Day, October 10, 2025 10am-6pm

Location:

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Middle Street Walk Gingerbread Contest 2025

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 prior to the start of the Middle Street at 10am.

When:

Saturday, December 13, 2025 10am - 3pm

Location:

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Fall Foliage Cider & Donut Cruises

Take a guided tour of the Essex Massachusetts Marshes with Essex River Cruises this Autumn

Essex River Cruises hosts a narrated sightseeing tour that winds down the beautiful Essex River aboard Essex River Queen, a pontoon boat. We’ll cruise up close to Hog/Choate Island to get a view of the area's magnificent dark spruce forest. See the leaves change into brilliant hues of yellow and orange. Enjoy complimentary hot cider and donuts from Russell Orchard of Ipswich. Don’t miss this magnificent opportunity to view some of New England’s most spectacular fall foliage.

When:

Saturdays & Sundays through October 2025 1-3 pm

Monday, October 13, 2025 1-3pm

Location:

Essex River Cruises & Charters

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Trick or Treating Hayrides at Marini Farm

Trick or Treating by hayride at Marini Farm in Ipswich Massachusetts is Safe and Fun!

Come to Marini Farm for our most popular event of the year. Take a Hayride around our 7 acre corn maze. Your hayride driver will make some special stops along the way. Favorite costumed characters await the wagon to hand out Tricks and Treats. Hayrides run continuously from 10am to 4pm. Riders are welcome to wear costumes. Also includes admission to the Maze Park/Corn Maze area.

When:

Saturday, October 18, 2025 10am-4pm

Sunday, October 19, 2025 10am-4pm

Location:

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Swampscott Thanksgiving Farmer's Market

The Swampscott Farmers Market hosts a special Thanksgiving market in Massachusetts

The outdoor markets are done for the season but we will have one last indoor Thanksgiving Market on Sunday, November 19th at Swampscott High School Cafe. Stock up with fresh produce for your Thanksgiving table and get your Christmas shopping started early with our crafters!

When:

Sunday, November 23, 2025 10am-1pm

Location:

Swampscott High School

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Essex Turkey Trot 5K Race & Fun Walk

The Essex Massachusetts Lions host their annual 5k Turkey Trot!

The Essex Lion's Club hosts the annual turkey trot in beautiful Essex Massachusetts! This year the race is a 5K and a 5k fun walk. Race starts at 11:00am for runners and 10am for walkers. Registration is at Woodman’s Restaurant (upstairs), 121 Main Street, Essex, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, or pre-register online.

When:

Sunday, November 23, 2025 10am

Location:

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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

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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

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Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

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....

Where: Downtown Salem

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

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...

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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Take a 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...

Where: Salem Trolley

2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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Friday, December 5

Christmas at Castle Hill | A Nod to Nature

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.

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm

Come to Marini Farm for the Tree Jubilee fundraiser to benefit The Ipswich Humane Group. Tour the gallery of uniquely decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! OVER 100 spectacularly decorated trees and...

Where: Marini Farm

10:00 am

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury

The Seacoast’s most magical holiday tradition is back! The 13th Annual SeaFestival of Trees opens Saturday, November 22 at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, transforming the oceanfront venue into a sparkling winter wonderland of more than 145 themed trees, a giant sand sculpture, Santa’s...

Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall

11:00 am to 8:00 pm

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SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury | Saturdays

Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall

11:00 am to 8:00 pm

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Take a Trolley Ride with Scrooge!

Where: Salem Trolley

2:00 pm to 9:30 pm

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Tree Lighting in Marblehead

The Tree Lighting will take place at the new National Grand Bank Parking Lot on Pleasant Street in Downtown Marblehead this year! Enjoy the festive atmosphere and live music as the town lights the yearly Christmas tree! Festivities begin at 5:30pm with the tree lighting at 7pm.

Where: Downtown Marblehead

5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

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SeaFestival of Trees | Blades Night

Come tho the SeaFestival of Tree for a special Bruins themed night! Wear your Bruins apparel, meet the Bruins mascot and skate on the Seaaside Ice indoor rink! Enjoy a scavenger hunt through a maze of sparkling trees, visit Santa, and enjoy the candy cane forest. Skate rentals available.

Where: Blue Ocean Music Hall

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

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Hamilton-Wenham Carol Sing & Tree Lighting

The Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham invites children to join us for a jolly evening of carol singing and holiday cheer, led by Kimberly Robertson, Music Director for Stage 284! Santa will be arriving in style at about 7:15pm. Free to attend!

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

6:30 pm

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