Salem

Kids Fun Fest on Salem Common

Salem Common Neighborhood Association invites families to the Common for an afternoon of fun for the whole family!

A tradition on Salem Common, the Fun Fest has lots of great family activities for kids of all ages, including slides, rides, games, and fun! There's nothing like October in Salem and the Salem Common Neighborhood Association is thrilled to host two weekends of our annual Kids Fun Fest on the Common including rides, face painting, slides and family fun! There is no admission fee to enter the Fun Fest. Ticket purchase proceeds benefit the Salem Common Neighborhood Association.

When: 
Weekends, October 18-26, 2025 10am-5pm
Location: 
Salem Common
Salem
Games
Rides
Haunted Happenings
Bouncy House

Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Parade | Salem MA

Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Parade, Haunted Halloween Salem Haunted Happenings

Salem is going to the dogs (and cats and lizards and bunnies), and we couldn’t be happier about it!  Salem Main Streets is pleased to announce the return of the annual Howl-o-ween Pet Parade! The pet parade will return to Derby Wharf on Saturday, Oct. 14th at 11 am, with the usual fun, costumes, and contest with prizes.

When: 
Saturday, October 11, 2025 11am
Location: 
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem
Pets
Halloween
Haunted Happenings
Parade
Costumes

Georgia Made This: Scavenger Coin Hunt

Georgia Wrenn was born and is being raised in the Witch City of Salem, Massachusetts, where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year.
Georgia's seventh annual Salem Gold Coin Hunt returns this October, courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum! Each Saturday and Sunday throughout October, Georgia will release special clues at 12 noon through her Instagram page and the PEM's Instagram story. Those clues will help coin hunters narrow down where to search for one of Salem's most exclusive collectibles! 

When: 
Weekends in October 2025 Clues at Noon
Location: 
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem
Scavenger Hunt
Museum

Farmers Markets on the North Shore

You'll find locally grown food and much more at farmers markets on the North Shore, north of Boston Massachusetts.

The North Shore of Massachusetts, renowned for its fertile soil, is home to farms that produce an abundance of fresh, delicious foods. These can be purchased directly from the farms or at the local farmer's markets, where the experience is more than just shopping—it's about community. On a sunny Saturday morning, families can explore these vibrant markets, filled with colorful produce, homemade jams, fresh bread, and artisanal crafts.

Amesbury
Andover
Beverly
Danvers
Gloucester
Ipswich
Magnolia
Marblehead
Newburyport
North Andover
Peabody
Rockport
Rowley
Salem
Swampscott
Haverhill
Locations
Local Food
Health
Health and Wellness
Farmers Market

Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair

The Biz Baz Street Fair in Salem Massachusetts hosts dozens of Chamber members and unique vendors selling handmade art, crafts, gifts, apparel, and more.

Come visit the Biz Baz Street Fair to see over 80 vendors and enjoy the historic Salem Common. Vendor sales include handmade jewelry, art, apparel, crafts, Halloween decor and so much more! The Biz Baz will be in the Salem Common and you can shop on Saturday, October 4, from 10AM-6PM, and Sunday, October 5, from 10AM-6PM. This event brings thousands of visitors, so you do not want to miss out! Hosted by the Salem Chamber of Commerce.

When: 
Saturday, October 5, 2024 10am-6pm
Sunday, October 6, 2024 10am-6pm
Location: 
Salem Common
Salem
Halloween
Crafts
Fair
Shopping
Haunted Happenings

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. Learn about the voyages of the original FRIENDSHIP and the lives of the crewmembers onboard. The two-decked, three-masted, square-rigged, 342-ton vessel represents New England’s influential role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade. Ongoing repair work is taking place on the FRIENDSHIP, so capacity limits are in place on deck.

When: 
Wednesday - Sunday, September 13-28, 2025 1:30-4:30pm
Location: 
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem
Exploration
Demonstration
Presentation
Festival
History
Discovery
Live Music
Maritime
Heritage
Trails & Sails 2025

North Shore Concert Band Maritime Concert

Travel the high seas musically with the North Shore Concert Band at Salem Visitors Center in Massachusetts

The North Shore Concert Band will play a Family Concert “Sea Music” featuring music “from and about” the sea in the historic St. Peter’s Sanctuary. The band narrator will give short intros to the varied selections helping all to better understand the program. Before the music begins, a St. Peter’s Historian will give a brief historical timeline of the founding of this 1733 church and its history up to its service to our community today—the oldest church in Salem still worshipping on the site in which it was founded.

When: 
Saturday, September 13, 2025 1-2:30pm
Location: 
Salem Maritime National Historic Visitor Center
Salem
Concert
Bandstand
Live Music
Entertainment
Live concert
Trails & Sails 2025

Nature’s Myth and Folklore Storytelling Series

Learn about colonial medicine at Pioneer Village in Salem Massachusetts

Come to Pioneer Village for a craft and storytelling event that shares tales of natural folklore and wild wisdom from around the world. These stories inspire an appreciation for different cultures as well as encourage engagement with the natural environment.

When: 
Saturday, September 27, 2025 3:30-4:30pm
Location: 
Pioneer Village
Salem
Hike
Walk
Outdoor Activity
Trails & Sails 2024
History
Demonstration

Pages

Summerquest Camp for kids aed 5-14 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

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
♦ Read More →

Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Massachusetts' retailers have some sweet surprises in store during the Salem's So Sweet Weekend Festival
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to come enjoy the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 24th year, Salem’s So Sweet has become...
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 10:00 pm
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Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
Where: Halibut Point State Park
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Amesbury Winter Market
Amesbury Winter Market Daze at Barewolf Brewing January 11-February 8, 2026
Amesbury Market Daze is your friendly local community marketplace. We take pride in curating a marketplace that showcases local art and food from talented local artisans, chefs, farmers, creators and curators of surrounding Amesbury, Massachusetts. Join us throughout the year to curate and foster a...
Where: Barewolf Brewing
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk
Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
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Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum
Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
Where: North Shore Children's Museum
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Saturday, February 14

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike
CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt
Kids will enjoy this treasure hunt at the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

StoryWalk at Halibut Point
StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming - a self guided reading tour at Halibut Point in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Self-guided reading pages posted along a lovely Park trail near the visitor center. Connect with nature and each other while enjoying the...
Where: Maudslay State Park
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

February Vacation at MIT Museum
Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during February Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities planned for the week of February 14-22, including extended Maker Hub and Learning Lab hours, tours, gallery cart demos and family workshops. With the...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Sunday, February 15

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
♦ Read More →

Wonderful Winter Birding
Beginning winter birding is held on the 3rd Sunday of each Winter month at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts
Halibut Point State Park, along the Atlantic migratory path, is an excellent locale for winter birding species you rarely see anywhere else.Winter brings birds and ducks from frozen ponds up north to our seashore. See Harlequin ducks and loons among the winter visitors at this rocky coastal water’s...
Where: Halibut Point State Park
8:00 am to 10:00 am
♦ Read More →

Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt
Kids will enjoy this treasure hunt at the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

StoryWalk at Halibut Point
StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming - a self guided reading tour at Halibut Point in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Self-guided reading pages posted along a lovely Park trail near the visitor center. Connect with nature and each other while enjoying the...
Where: Maudslay State Park
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
♦ Read More →

February Vacation at MIT Museum
Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during February Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities planned for the week of February 14-22, including extended Maker Hub and Learning Lab hours, tours, gallery cart demos and family workshops. With the...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
Where: Halibut Point State Park
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
♦ Read More →
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