Outdoor Activity

Archaeology Day at Maudlsay State Park

Learn about the archaeology of and the first people of Massachusetts of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport.

Maudslay State Park invites you to be an archaeologist for the day! Learn how to think like an archaeologist…excavate a test unit, screen for and identify artifacts, and document and record soil levels. Other activities focus on the extensive and rich peopling of the area dating back thousands of years. Find out why this place was and is so special to the First People of Massachusetts. Learn how to use a bow-drill, grind corn with a mortar and pestle, weave a fishing net, make a ground stone-tool fishing weight, make a ceramic pot in the traditional indigenous way, play the game of Hubhub, bring an artifact for the experts to ID, and even try your hand (arm) at throwing an atlatl!

When:

Saturday, October 6, 2018 10am-2pm

Location:

Read more about Archaeology Day at Maudlsay State Park

International Day of Peace Family Celebration at Glen Urquhart School

Family Friendly, International Day of Peace at Glen Urquhart School in Beverly Massachusetts

Join Glen Urquhart School for this free family-friendly event to celebrate International Day of Peace. The GUS nature trail and grounds will be open for exploration and play, and we will host a number of activities to celebrate peace. Kids of all ages are welcome, with a caregiver, to join.

When:

Saturday, September 21, 2019 10am-Noon

Location:

Read more about International Day of Peace Family Celebration at Glen Urquhart School

A Winter Solstice Celebration at Joppa Flats

Come celebrate the longest night - Winter Solstice - at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport

Come celebrate the longest night and shortest day of the year with Joppa Flats! Miss Mary and Miss Susan offer stories, songs, crafts made of evergreens, and thematic snacks for everyone to enjoy. Learn why we have seasons, and why different cultures around the world created legends and rituals to mark the longest night of the year. Join us for a festival of light to beckon the sun to return!

When:

Friday, December 20, 2019 3:30-5pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about A Winter Solstice Celebration at Joppa Flats

Kidleidoscope at Harold Parker State Forest

Kidleidoscope is a programs designed for preschoolers at Harold Parker State Forest Park

This preschool-aged program includes a story and nature exploration. Children will spend the duration of the program outside. The topic varies each week, so come every week! For children ages 3-5. Meet at Berry Pond Gazebo, 702 Middleton Road, North Andover.

When:

Thursday, August 19, 2021 10:30-11:30am

Location:

Harold Parker State Forest

Read more about Kidleidoscope at Harold Parker State Forest

Old Fashioned Kids Wheels Parade

Bike parade for kids in Salisbury, Massachusetts

Grab those wagons, bikes, doll carriages and push, pull, ride, stroll or walk and DECORATE. Children's wheels of all kinds are invited for an old fashioned bike parade at the Beach Center.

When:

Saturday, September 18, 2021 2pm

Location:

Salisbury Beach Stage

Read more about Old Fashioned Kids Wheels Parade

Apple and Wine Festival

Russel Orcahrds Wine and Apple Festival in Ipswich, MA

Start holiday festivities off early, celebrating the Apples and Wine Festival, the first weekend in November. Enjoy all things apple, try our wine and enjoy live music all weekend. Festivities will include Wine tasting*, Live music, Hands-on cider-pressing demonstrations, Make-Your-Own Apple Pie, Apple samples, Hayrides, as well as loads of apple goodies made fresh in the bakery including hot apple crisp and cider donut caramel sundaes.

When:

Saturday, November 2, 2019 11am-4pm

Sunday, November 3, 2019 11am-4pm

Location:

Read more about Apple and Wine Festival

Nature Walks for Tots: Bird Watching & Mushroom Hunting

Kids will learn about bird watching and mushroom hunting at Moseley Woods in Newburyport

Birds are flying south, winds are coming from the north, and mushrooms are everywhere, so let's look up, down, and all around to see what we can find! As our colder weather arrives and settles in, Miss Lisa wants you to join her for some family friendly nature walks. Let's explore the woods, the salt marsh, and the streams to look for creatures like birds, fish, frogs, and more while we learn, play, and explore. We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and discover wildife together!

When:

Thursday, November 11, 2021 1:30-3pm

Location:

Read more about Nature Walks for Tots: Bird Watching & Mushroom Hunting

Nature Walks for Tots: Leaf Peeping & Fish Trapping

Explore the the varied habitats at Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary with Mass Audubon Naturalist from Joppa Flats Education Center!

As our colder weather arrives and settles in, Miss Lisa wants you to join her for some family friendly nature walks. Let's explore the woods, the salt marsh, and the streams to look for creatures like birds, fish, frogs, and more while we learn, play, and explore. We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and discover wildife together!

When:

Thursday, October 14, 2021 1:30-3pm

Location:

Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary

Read more about Nature Walks for Tots: Leaf Peeping & Fish Trapping

Salem Woods Hike

Join Swampscott Conservancy on a Saturday morning hike in the Salem Woods!

Join at Swampscott Conservancy at Salem High School^* for a Saturday morning Hike! and walk over to Salem Woods which abuts the golf course. The trails in Salem Woods are relatively narrow and are rated as moderate. Hike is about 2.5 miles and should take less than 2 hours. Dogs (on leash) and Children welcome. Please be able to keep up a 2 mph pace (usually not a problem for children). Rain date Saturday 10/16 at the same time and place.

When:

Saturday, October 9, 2021 11am

Location:

Read more about Salem Woods Hike

Family Nature Series - Life Under Logs

Kids and families will learn about the life under logs with ECGA and North Shore Nature Programs in this this fun hike through the forest

Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs present Life Under Logs! Get ready to meet pill bugs, spiders, worms, and more! These cool creatures have a great story to tell about the life cycle of the forest. You can get as close (or stay as far away!) as you want in this fun, interactive walk through the woods for all ages. This event is FREE.

When:

Saturday, October 9, 2021 3-4:30pm

Location:

Echo & Elizabeth How Reservation

Read more about Family Nature Series - Life Under Logs

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Salisbury Tree Lighting

This year's Tree Lighting will celebrate all of the old traditions and has added some new just for YOU! The Tuesday after Thanksgiving will be jam packed with free activities for folks of ALL ages. Come join the fun for some long lasting holiday memories!

Where: Salisbury Town Common

4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Wreath Decorating Workshop

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

♦ Read More →

Friday, December 13

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

♦ Read More →

A Colorful Christmas at Castle Hill

Visiting Castle Hill at Christmas is a time-honored tradition. Don’t miss this year’s Travels with the Cranes. Each room in our 1920s mansion is decorated for the holidays drawing inspiration from Crane travels around the world, including Paris, Japan, Egypt, and New York.

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 8:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Music Together - Friday

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: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:30 am to 11:15 am

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

A Christmas Carol Panto

Bah, humbug! Theater in the Open celebrates the holiday season with this Dickens classic, presented in true TITO style. So be prepared for anything to happen!

Where: Firehouse Center for the Arts

3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Saturday, December 14

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

♦ Read More →

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

♦ Read More →

Middle Street Walk 2024

The Annual Middle Street Walk is a great way to experience Gloucester's Historic District and waterfront while having Holiday fun with the family. An updated schedule of this years walk will be available for download on December 1, 2024 at this link.

Where: Downtown Gloucester

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

♦ Read More →

Outdoor Activity

Pages

Friday, December 13

Saturday, December 14