Latest Stories, Events, Activities, Camps & Recipes

Come to Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts to celebrate the holiday tradition of the Night Tree
Join the Trustees of Reservations at Appleton for this holiday tradition to feed the animals of the forest from your own handcrafted edible ornament. We will begin the night in our historic carriage barn where we will cozy in with hot cocoa and popcorn to read the holiday classic tale “Night Tree” by Eve Bunting alongside of our barnyard friends. After our story, you will make your own edible ornament and garland which will decorate our tree and feed our forest friends. We will walk a wintery lantern-lit path to our “Night Tree” to hang our ornaments and celebrate the season.
Location: Appleton Farms
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Children's Holiday Party with the Snow Sisters at the Ipswich Public Library in Massachusetts!
Join IPL children’s librarians for a fun-filled morning to get you in the holiday spirit with a visit from the Snow Sisters along with crafts and refreshments!
Location: Ipswich Public Library
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Beverly Downtown Winter Market is a weekend full of holiday fun, music, food and shopping in Beverly Massachusetts
Come to Beverly Massachusetts for two festive evenings of holiday cheer during Cabot Night (Friday, 12/13) and Rantoul Night (Saturday, 12/14)! Both nights are packed with activities for all ages, including local shopping, live music, and delicious treats. Don’t miss the Beverly Memory Tree lighting ceremony on Saturday at Odell Park, a heartwarming event to kick off the season. Families can enjoy special shopping deals, craft markets, and performances by local artists, including Victorian carolers and the North Atlantic Ballet’s Nutcracker youth cast. For parents looking for a night out, the First Baptist Church is offering free childcare with dinner and activities.
Location: Downtown Beverly
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Downtown Newburyport Massachusetts is the place to shop during the invitation nights!
Come to Downtown Newburyport, Tannery Marketplace  and the Merrimac Placefor Newburyport’s Holiday Invitation Nights and shop for the holidays in style! Mark your calendars, book a babysitter, and call your friends to make plans for three great nights in Newburyport! Enjoy merchant hospitality, live entertainment, shopping, and dining. Spend your evening strolling from shop to shop as you stock up on holiday gifts while enjoying munchies and beverages offered by local merchants. These Newburyport Invitation Nights will get you in the holiday spirit and will turn any Scrooge into Kris Kringle.
Location: Downtown Newburyport, Tannery Marketplace
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Celebrate the season with a Holiday Tea at the Phillips House in Salem Massachusetts
Celebrate the season with Christmas Tea at Phillips House! Enjoy a festive tea with tea sandwiches and sweet treats in beautiful Samuel McIntire-designed rooms.
Location: Phillips House
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Newburyport Choral Society Winter Concert featuring Contemporary Norwegian Christmas music.
Luminous Night includes a contemporary Norwegian piece on the beauty and mystery of a winter night, Christmas carols arranged with rich textures by Alice Parker, "A Jubilant Song" by Norman Dello Joio, and Latin American, Chanuka, and seasonal favorites.
Location: Rupert A. Nock Middle School
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Come visit Santa at Salem Common in Massachusetts for a free photoshoot with your phone or camera!
Santa will be visiting the Salem Common Gazebo on Saturday, December 9th from 9:00am -12:00pm.  This event will give families the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa and pre-bagged treats will be available for the kids.
Location: Salem Common
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Kids will enjoy breakfast with Santa at the Hamilton Wenham Community House
Come and enjoy a continental style breakfast and get your picture taken with Santa. We will also have a letter writing station and music entertainment. Following the event at 3 pm, the Musary will be sponsoring a FREE Holiday concert! Donations to The Musary will be welcome. We hope to see you! Please Register!
Location: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham
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Hike Thompson Street Reservation in Gloucester Massachusetts with your dog and the ECGA!
An adventurous outing for you and your pup! Tompson Street has a little of everything: wooded trails, bridges across the swamp, rocky outcroppings…! The dogs and humans have a blast! Social dogs very, very welcome!
Location: Thompson Street Reservation
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Make holiday gifts with beach treasures from the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts
This holiday season, give a gift from the sea! Beach treasures make beautiful holiday ornaments, jewelry, and keepsakes. Join this workshop to take a beach walk to collect coastal treasures and then make some coastal crafts with our educators. Bring your own shells and beach treasures and we will provide the craft supplies and inspiration!
Location: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
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Sea Festival of Trees family fun by the beach at Blue Ocean Event Center Salisbury Massachusetts

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
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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!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
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Music Together - Wednesday
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...
Where: St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms
9:30 am to 11:15 am
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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle
A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
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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We Walk the Woods!
Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
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
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Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum
Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
Where: North Shore Children's Museum
10:00 am to 11:00 am
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Trustees Winterlights at Stevens Coolidge Place
The Trustees of Reservations Winterlights at the Stevents-Coolidge Place North Andover North Andover.
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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Wreath Decorating Workshop
Annual Wreath Making Workshop at the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum
Join us at the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum as Susie Talbot guides the group through decorating a 20" wreath. Susie is an extraordinarily talented individual who not only designed, but takes care of our front gardens. Amongst her many talents is decorating Holiday greens.
Where: Essex Shipbuilding Museum
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
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Stargazing at Mendel Observatory
Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
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
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Saturday, December 7

2024 Marblehead Gingerbread Festival
The Marblehead Gingerbread Festival is part of the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Walk, and the proceeds will go to benefit the Marblehead Family Fund and the Marblehead Historical Society.
Come see over 100 locally and professionally made gingerbread creations on display at the historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, MA during this year's Marblehead Christmas Walk. Community members, businesses, and families are building and donating dozens of gingerbread houses, boats and local...
Where: Jeremiah Lee Mansion
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Marblehead Artisan's Holiday Marketplace
Find unique hand made gifts at Abbot Hall in Marblehead, Massachusetts - MFoA Artisans Holiday Market
The Marblehead Festival of Arts invites families to their holiday arts-and-crafts show at Marblehead Arts Association the first weekend in December. The market place is held in conjunction with the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce Marblehead Christmas Walk, a town-wide event. Each year the market...
Where: Marblehead Arts Association
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
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Tree Jubilee at Marini Farm
The Tree Jubilee hosted by Marini Farm in Ipswich MA is a fun and unique charity event!!
Come to Marini Farm for the Tree Jubilee fundraiser to benefit The Ipswich Humane Group.  Tour the gallery of beautifully decorated trees and wreaths donated by local organizations, families, and businesses then choose the ones you want a chance to win! More than 50 spectacularly decorated trees...
Where: Marini Farm
10:00 am
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Children's Holiday Party with the Snow Sisters at IPL
Children's Holiday Party with the Snow Sisters at the Ipswich Public Library in Massachusetts!
Join IPL children’s librarians for a fun-filled morning to get you in the holiday spirit with a visit from the Snow Sisters along with crafts and refreshments!
Where: Ipswich Public Library
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Natural Wreath Making Workshop | Appleton Farms
Come to Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts to make your own Holiday Wreath!
Decorate your door with a gorgeous holiday wreath, created from a variety of textural evergreen boughs all foraged from our historic farm property! Join us in our historic barn where we will demonstrate a simple technique for making your wreath. You will then have the opportunity to make your...
Where: Appleton Farms
10:00 am to 1:30 pm
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Reindeer Run 5k
The Reindeer Run 5k Road Race is hosted by the YMCA of Beverly Massachusetts
Get your best reindeer on and join us as we run, walk or prance through Beverly's coastal roads and historic downtown! You may see Santa, his elves and others in festive costume…
Where: First Baptist Church Beverly
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle
A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
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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CraneOutdoors: Family Snowy Owl Prowl
Join the Trustees of Reservations at the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts in search of the Snowy Owl!
Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, these owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Winter Wreath Making Workshop at Long Hill
Wreath Making Workshop at the Trustees of Reservations' Long Hill Garden in Beverly, Massachusetts
SOLD OUT! Learn how to craft a beautiful wreath for the holidays or for the winter season with Iris Weaver!
Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Fishtown Horribles Parade of Trees
Fishtown Horribles Parade Trees, a holiday fundraiser in Gloucester Massachusetts
Gloucester's Fishtown Parade of of Trees is a community holiday fundraiser for the annual Fishtown Horribles Parade in July! Take a stroll the the Parade of Trees and find your favorites! All trees are donated and decorated by community members, businesses and organizations.
Where: First Baptist Church of Gloucester
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
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