All Ages

Little Woods Walk: Forest Walk for Families

Join Mass Audubon naturalists on a hike at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield!

Join a Mass Audubon teacher on a child-friendly walk to learn about the people and wildlife who call these forests home. Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy a hike with family and give thanks for the resources and beauty that nature provides for wild animals and people, too. The hike is set at a leisurely pace with stops to explore for birds, mammals, insects, and other interesting creature we'll see along the way.

When:

Saturday, October 31, 2020 10am-11:30am

Saturday, October 31, 2020 1-2:30pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Hay Rides at Appleton Farms

Explore Appleton Farms on a hay ride tour! Undoubtedly the best way to experience our 350+ year old farm and all of its spectacular grounds and animals. Rides will take place every twenty minutes during our Pizza Picnics, Fridays from 4pm to 6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12-4.

When:

Fridays through November 20, 2020 4-6pm

Saturdays & Sundays through November 22, 2020 12-4pm

Location:

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Patriot's Day in Danvers

Danvers Alarm List Coy celebrates Patriot's Day

The Danvers Alarm List Coy is a group of 18th century living history reeanactors that portray the militia, minute and alarm companies of Danvers and surrounding communities, as they existed in the 1774-1775 timeframe. Join them in Danvers for a unique celebration of Patriot's Day!

When:

 Monday, April 20, 2020 7am-3pm

Danvers

Patriots Day

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Sense of Wonder Walk: Who's Awakening? Who's Returning?

Come to IRWS to find out how wildlife recover from Winter and migrate!

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a hike to Waterfowl Pond. Along the way, we'll look for ducks and red-winged blackbirds in the wetlands, listen for the call of the phoebe, and search for signs that the animals that slept away the winter are emerging and those that went south are returning.

When:

Sunday, March 29, 2020 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Duckling Day Parade - Mother's Day 2020

Mothers Day Duckling Day Parade at Boston Public Garden

This Mother’s Day, Celebrate Spring in Boston's most beautiful parks at the Duckling Day celebration and parade on Sunday, May 10th. A beloved tradition for over 30 years, the event celebrates the children’s classic book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Every year, hundreds of children parade through Boston’s most picturesque parks, dressed like characters from the story. Led by the Harvard University Marching Band, the parade will begin in the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and end in the Public Garden near the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculptures.

When:

Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2020

Location:

Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

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Grandparents Raising Grandkids

NYS hosts a meeting for grandparents who find themselves in the role of parenting their grandchildren.

Join Newburyport Youth Services in a "Judgment Free Zone" to discuss the how grandparents are handling the stress of parenting again. These sessions are meant to provide a time and a place to share feelings, experiences and resources to support each other together. This program is hosted by NYS and facilitated by Kathleen Shaw, LicSW. Free childcare and activities for kids are provided during this meeting - and a FREE light dinner is served!

When:

Second Wednesday Monthly Through June 10, 2020 5:30-7pm

Location:

Newburyport Youth Services

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Family STEAM

Sawyer Free Library STEAM for Families and Children ages 3-6. Dwarf Galaxy Image by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

Sawyer Free Library offers a S.T.E.A.M. experience for families! Come to the library for a fun after school Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics activity for ages 3 and up with parental participation. Please register each child.

When:

Thursday, March 19, 2020 4-5pm

Location:

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Celebrate the Sea Open House

Stop by at Joppa Flats Education Center to learn how we can all take responsibility for sustaining the natural beauty and resources of our oceans and coastline.

A fun-filled day for the whole family about everything from our ocean giants (whales, sharks, sea turtles) to deep sea creatures (octopuses, jellies)! For age 2-6, there are take-home crafts, an under the sea play zone, stuffies, coloring books and simple table-top science. For ages 7 and older, there are displays and interactives about overfishing, microplastics, sea level rise and climate change. Indoors and out. Rain or shine.

When:

Sunday, March 22, 2020 10am-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team presents Critters at MPL

Albino Milk Snake being held by a child at Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team presentation. ©Bill O'Connor

Families are invited to get acquainted with some of the creatures that will help us welcome springtime at Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team. Rick Roth of the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team will introduce animals from our local area that you may have never seen up close. After the presentation, there will be an optional walk to an easily accessible vernal pond in our own Powder House Hill Reservation which will soon come alive with the sounds of spring!

When:

Sunday, March 15, 2020 2pm

Location:

Manchester Public Library

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Flapjack Fling & Sugaring Tours

Flapjack Fling isn't about pancakes, it's about the syrup!

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary wraps up the maple sugaring season this year with our the annual Flapjack Fling. Bring your family and friends for this special breakfast at the sanctuary and enjoy the fruit (OK, sap!) of our labor and our maple trees on some delicious pancakes.

When:

Saturday, March 21, 2020 8:15am-1pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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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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Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

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...

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead

10:00 am to 10:45 am

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Gingerbread Contest at Wenham Museum

Everyone's invited to enter Wenham Museum’s gingerbread contest! Individuals, families, groups, teams–all are encouraged to create a Gingerbread House for this friendly community competition.

Where: Wenham Museum

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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Santa at the Phillips House

Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Phillips House! Take a photo with Santa and see the elegant Chestnut Street mansion aglow with holiday cheer. Before or after meeting Santa, join us for stories with Mrs. Claus, cookies, cider, and a drop-in Christmas craft workshop, where you can make festive...

Where: Phillips House

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

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Community Game Night at MPL

Do you know that the library has lots of games in our new board game collection? Come on by with your game face on! Drop In. All ages welcome! Snacks provided.

Where: Manchester Public Library

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

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Saturday, January 4

Trustees Winterlights at Stevens Coolidge Place

Winterlights is back! Join the Trustees for a magical outdoor experience at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, and see the gardens aglow with your favorite light installations as well as marveling at new components. Bring the whole family for a fun and safe outdoor experience. Winterlights runs...

Where: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

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Monday, January 6

Lego Time at MPL

Drop-in, unstructured Lego building fun! Come with friends or come to make new ones, this program is for kids ages six and up.

Where: Manchester Public Library

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

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Tuesday, January 7

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead

10:00 am to 10:45 am

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Wednesday, January 8

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

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