All Ages

Outdoor Games and Projects for Kids and Families

Turn your yard into an outdoor sports venue

Now through Fall, outdoors is the place to be when the weather is right.  Why not create a playful environment in your own yard?  There are plenty of ways to transform your back yard into the go-to destination for the neighborhood and have your children begging to go play outside.  Of course there's the usual swing set, or basketball hoop, but there are plenty of other ways to keep kids and adults entertained in the yard!

New Years Labyrinth: A Winter Walk

Start the New Year with a mindful labyrinth experience in Ipswich Massachusetts

Celebrate the New Year with a Walk in the Winter Labyrinth on New Years Day, 2016 at Strawberry Hill, 56 Jeffrey's Neck Road, on Smith Island, along the Eagle Hill River.  At its most basic the labyrinth is a metaphor for life's journey. The labyrinth is not a maze. There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. It has a single circuitous path that winds its way into the center. The person walking it uses the same path to return from the center and the entrance then becomes the exit. The path is in full view, which allows a person to be quiet and focus internally.

When: 
Friday, January 1, 2016 3-4:20pm
Location: 

BankGloucester Holiday Basketball Tournament

North Shore Teams compete to be the best during the Bank Gloucester Tournament

Bank Gloucester proudly presents their Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament. Come cheer on your favorite team as they compete to be the best! Local teams participating in the tournament include: Gloucester Fishermen, Boston Latin School Wolfpack, Hamilton Wenham Generals and Manchester Essex Hornets.

When: 
Monday, December 28, 2015 5:30-9pm
Tuesday, December 29, 2015 5:30-9pm

Home for Christmas at the Gables

Christmas at the House of Seven Gables in Salem Massachusetts. Holidays

The House of Seven Gables welcomes you to an afternoon of holiday fun! Make a creative craft, enjoy a cup of cider and a sweet treat, and support our Settlement programs by purchasing a decoration from the Settlement Tree. The Living History Lab will be open and offering hands-on history programs. Enjoy holiday shopping in our festive gift shop or give the gift of membership to the history enthusiast in your life.

When: 
Sunday, December 13, 2015 2-4pm

Tea with Mrs. Claus at the Wenham Tea House

Kids will have a holiday tea with Mrs. Claus at the Wenham Tea House!

The Wenham Tea House invites you to a Children's Tea for a great afternoon of family fun, and they are thrilled to host a Tea with Mrs. Claus! Bring your children to see Mrs. Claus and get some tips and tricks that will make Santa feel right at home when he visits on Christmas eve! Register early to save yourself a spot - these two teas will fill up quickly!

When: 
Wednesday, December 2, 2014, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Saturday, December 12, 2015, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Santa at the Swampwalk

Come raise money for 'Toys for Tots' and get your photo with Santa in Danvers!

Come to the beautiful Danvers-Wenham Swampwalk where Santa will be making a special stop to meet you and have his picture taken with you to raise money for Toys For Tots! Photos, downloads, ornaments and Christmas cards can be ordered online later that day and weekend and all proceeds from the sale of these items goes directly to TOYS FOR TOTS! Grab the family, the dogs, and walk off that Thanksgiving turkey - please join us! Please join us in thanking our 2015 Marine, CPL BRENDON LANDRY, for his service and for helping with our #ToysForTots Fundraiser!

When: 
Sunday, November 29, 2015 1-4pm

ECGA Thanksgiving Walk in Dogtown

Hike the trails of Dogtown in Rockport, MA on Thanksgiving Day with ECGA

Hike up an appetite on Thanksgiving Day with the Essex County Greenbelt Association!  Join ECGA's Eric Hutchins for a FREE guided walk on moderate terrain along the trails of Dogtown! All are welcome, incluiding dogs. Meet at the parking lot of You do not have access to view this node in Rockport, Massachusetts.  Dress for the weater and wear shoes appropriate for hiking.

When: 
Thursday, November 26, 2015 8-10am
Location: 

Native American History Month at Sawyer Free

come celebrate Native American History Month at Sawyer Free Library in Glouceste

Sawyer Free Library celebrates native American History Month with 'Fast Hawk', a member of the Micmac Northeast American Tribe! He will be bringing feathers, claws, animal skulls, a talking stick, pipes, stories, and more to this informative celebration!  All ages welcome. No sign-ups required.

When: 
Saturday, November 16, 2013 10:30 - 11:30am

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Sports Camps, Speciality Camps, Day Camps in Danvers MA

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
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...
7:00 am to 10:00 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

Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay | Thread

Artists will install their sculptures at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts for public viewing!
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...
7:00 am to 6:00 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

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 15th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree . The exhibit will open in early September with more than 50 temporary works on display in addition to the 20 pieces in the permanent collection of Pingree School. The exhibit ...
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

Learn about the history of Salem Massachusetts through this unique public art installation self-guided tour!
Discover Salem’s Golden Age of Sail as you uncover clues! Celebrate America’s Maritime History! The Ladies of Salem will have you looking up at whimsical and beautifully designed figureheads gracing lampposts downtown. “What is a figurehead ?” you may ask? It’s a large carved wooden decorative...
8:00 am to 10:00 pm

Tour de Greenbelt

Essex County Greenbelt will host their annual road cycle event to raise funds for conservation efforts on the North Shore!
Essex County Greenbelt Association will host the annual road cycle event to raise funds for conservation efforts on the North Shore! Cycling enthusiasts of all abilities can ride through some of Essex County’s most beautiful landscapes in this annual road cycle event to benefit local land...
9:00 am to 5:00 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

Visit the Saugus Iron Works Museum

Visit the Saugus Iron Works Museum and learn about the history of iron making in Massachusetts
Learn about the history of iron making at the Saugus Iron Works Museum. Exhibits include artifacts excavated during the archaeological dig performed on-site in the 1940s-1950s.
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Haverhill YMCA River Ruckus 5k

Join the fun and help the the YMCA raise funds for a great cause at the River Ruckus 5k in Haverhill Massachusetts!
Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus is an annual city-wide festival celebrating the natural resources and beauty of the Merrimack River and the economic and cultural revitalization of the City of Haverhill, MA. To join the celebration the Haverhill YMCA hosts the River Ruckus 5k.
9:00 am

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

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Corn MAiZE and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers

Corn MAiZE, Maze and Haunted Attractions at Connors Farm - Danvers, Massachusetts
Come to Connors Farm to find your way through this year's maze and enjoy many family fun activities! After completing the maze, stay and have some fun around the farm. Children enjoy apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, and most of all, visiting the barnyard animals.
9:00 am to 6:00 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

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

Music Together - Saturday

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...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Salisbury Days Car Show

Come to Salisbury Beach Massachusetts for a classic car show that lasts all weekend!
Salisbury Days is hosting a classic car & motorcycle show at Salisbury Beach, along and around the Broadway Loop. Hope to see you there! No registration required. FREE for spectators and Exhibitors. Trophies. ALL music - Live streamed from @Tayles & Co Radio / Cool 94.1.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Ocean Views Walk from Ravenswood to Rafe's Chasm

Take a hike along the newly created trail links the southern edge of the Trustees of Reservation's Ravenswood Park with the City of Gloucester's Rafe's Chasm Park.
Join us for a hike across Magnolia Woods to the oceanside cliffs of Rafe’s Chasm! This 3-mile round trip hike takes us through a 300-acre area of woodlands owned by the City of Gloucester (across the street from Ravenswood Park), out to Rafe’s Chasm, which features spectacular views of the ocean...
10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Marini Farm Corn Maze

The 2023 Marini Farm Corn Maze in Ipswich Massachusetts is themed for Alice in Wonderland!
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...
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Kimball Farm Corn Maze

Kimball Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
At the Kimball Farm Corn Maze all are welcome to come and enjoy the challenge of finding your way through the winding corn field maze. Our originally designed CORN MAZE  is full of Crazy angles and is sure to be a fun challenge. Have no fear, there will be clues along the way.  Be daring and try...
10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
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,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Coastal Farming Walking Tour - Essex

Tour Cogswell's Grant Coastal Farm in Essex Massachusetts as part of Trails & Sails
Cogswell’s Grant is a coastal farm of 165 acres located along the banks of the Essex River, just two miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. On this walking tour, explore Cogswell’s Grant’s landscape history, from the presence of indigenous people through the colonial period to the present. Walk...
11:00 am to 12:30 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

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.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Children’s Business Fair in Wenham

Could a Ten Year Old Invent the next Uber? Find out at the Hamilton Wenham Children’s Business Fair in Massachusetts
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Deadline to apply for a booth: September 1st, 5pm. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. **At this time, we cannot accept...
11:00 am to 3:00 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 it’s most known for. In addition to learning about what plants are in bloom as well as the rare and unique species in our collection, you...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Salem Food Truck Festival

Salem Massachusetts Food Truck Festival Haunted Happenings on the Salem Common
Food Truck Festivals of America returns to Salem with the ultimate food truck experience for a two-day festival that will feature some of the area’s most popular food trucks. The vendors will be dishing out fan favorites as well as dozens of regional and national craft breweries.
11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Marbleheaders in the American Revolution

Glovers Regiment in Marblehead Massachusetts is just one stop on this Trails & Sails tour.
Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary and experience an Anglican service at St....
11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Kites & Castles at Salisbury Beach

Kites and Castles at Salisbury Beach is just one event of many for families during Salisbury Days in Massachusetts
Grab your fanciest kite and/or your best shovel and let's enjoy the beautiful beach together! Beginners to experts are invited and encouraged to attend. FREE children's kites (while they last). A Salisbury Days Event.
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
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....
11:45 am to 3:00 pm

Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus

Come celebrate Haverhill's River Front at the River Ruckus in Haverhill Massachusetts!
Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus is an annual festival featuring live music, classic cars, Kids Zone, great local foods, and spectacular fireworks over the Merrimack River. Presented by Team Haverhill, a community-based volunteer organization, the festival attracts over 5,000 visitors and residents...
12:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Lynn Museum Fall Festival

Come to the Lynn Museum for a special family-friendly fall fundraiser to support the mission of the Lynn Museum & Arts Center! Get into the fall spirit with this outdoor event featuring free carnival-style games, facepainting, touch a truck, hands-on activities, youth-friendly museum tours, and...
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Garden Tours at Stevens Coolidge Estate

Come enjoy the fantastic flower display in the gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover!
Enter a world of early 20th-century country elegance and contemporary garden design all in bloom at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. These expansive manicured gardens boast both plentiful European-inspired flower beds as designed in the 1920s, as well as newly installed gardens featuring...
12:00 pm

Drop-in Open House at the Nature Center

Drop-in Open House at the Bradley Palmer State Park Nature Center in Hamilton Ipswich Massachusetts
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.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Stories of the Past at Maudslay

Kids will learn about the history of Maudslay State Park on thes guided tour in Newburyport Massachusetts
Join the Maudslay State Park interpreter on a guided tour for a unique experience to view the mansion and daughter’s picturesque house sites, both have open vistas overlooking the Merrimack River! Additionally, archival photos of the estate will be shared during the walk. For ages 8 years & up...
1:00 pm to 2:00 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

Salisbury Block Party

The Salisbury Block party is a fundraiser for the PTA and the Parks & Recreation Department in Salisbury, Massachusetts
Salisbury Days Block Party - The 10th annual CELEBRATION will be held Saturday, September 21st 2024, at Salisbury Beach.  Say goodbye to the summer in the very best way – relaxing seaside, sipping delicious FULL SIZED beverages in the sunshine, DANCING, listening to live music, playing backyard...
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

A Spiritual Quest Weekend at Hilldale Cemetery

Hilldale Cemetary in Haverhill Massachusetts is one of the North Shore's most active paranormal spots!
Do you believe in Ghosts? If you do then join the Essex County Ghost Project and Witches Wonder fort a spooktacular evening of haunts and fun . The gates open at 6:30 pm and hunt starts at 7pm . We are exploring one of New England’s most Haunted historical sites . There have been reports of full...
6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Friday, September 27

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

A Spiritual Quest Weekend at Hilldale Cemetery

Hilldale Cemetary in Haverhill Massachusetts is one of the North Shore's most active paranormal spots!
Do you believe in Ghosts? If you do then join the Essex County Ghost Project and Witches Wonder fort a spooktacular evening of haunts and fun . The gates open at 6:30 pm and hunt starts at 7pm . We are exploring one of New England’s most Haunted historical sites . There have been reports of full...
6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Saturday, September 28

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
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...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay | Thread

Artists will install their sculptures at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts for public viewing!
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...
7:00 am to 6:00 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

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

Carriagetown Car Show

Hundred of Classic Cars will be at the Carriagetown Car Show in downtown Amesbury Massachusetts, a Trails and Sails Event
Come to Downtown Amesbury to look at hundreds of collector cars. All the downtown streets will be closed to regular traffic while the Hot Rods, muscle cars and antique vehicles take over the streets.
7:00 am to 2:00 pm

The Lady of Salem: Maritime Art

Learn about the history of Salem Massachusetts through this unique public art installation self-guided tour!
Discover Salem’s Golden Age of Sail as you uncover clues! Celebrate America’s Maritime History! The Ladies of Salem will have you looking up at whimsical and beautifully designed figureheads gracing lampposts downtown. “What is a figurehead ?” you may ask? It’s a large carved wooden decorative...
8:00 am to 10:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 15th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree . The exhibit will open in early September with more than 50 temporary works on display in addition to the 20 pieces in the permanent collection of Pingree School. The exhibit ...
8:00 am to 6:00 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
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