COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup

CoastSweep encourages families to volunteer and help preserve some of the nicest coastal properties on the planet!

Living on the North Shore has a lot of benefits, and one of the best is our proximity to the beach.  Wherever you might be living or visiting on the North Shore, you are never more than a half-hour car ride from the nearest spot to bury your toes in the sand.  We have miles and miles of beautiful beach available to us, and it's our obligation to help keep it clean. Each September through November, thousands of volunteers throughout Massachusetts turn out for COASTSWEEP—the statewide coastal cleanup sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Our list of 2024 North Shore Coastsweep Cleanups 

COASTSWEEP - The Annual Statewide Coastal Cleanup

COASTSWEEP, organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, is part of an annual campaign to raise awareness of marine debris and clean beaches on the coasts of oceans, rivers, lakes, marshes and ponds.  It relies on volunteers from local communities to step up and provide the man power to clean debris and litter from the shoreline of their local bodies of water. 

In Massachusetts, volunteer rates have consistently increased since 1987. The annual cleanup has grown over the years, resulting in 160 miles of coastline, river bank, marsh, seafloor, and lakeshore in eastern Massachusetts, 2856 volunteers and 18,197 pounds of debris from 148 locations in 2022 alone.

Most of the trash comes from from nearby roads, parking lots and fields that is blown into the water. Some of the trash is directly from marine activities and unfortunately some is left right on the beach by the very people who use it. What's in that giant pile of trash?  All kinds of stuff that doesn't belong on our beaches like toilet bowls, rubber boots, pieces of fishing net, truck tires, industrial tubing, milk crates, vinyl siding, cigarette butts, furniture, and mountains of paper and plastic debris.

COASTSWEEP isn't just another  beach clean up either.  Participants are encouraged to quantify what they find and collect on data cards during the cleanup and handed over to organizers.  This data is then sent to the Ocean Conservancy in Washington DC, where its kept in a massive database of the International Coastal Cleanup program.  The data is then analyzed, and used to identify patterns of marine debris and its source, which helps in developing comprehensive coastal management policies.

Take part in COASTSWEEP this year, and bring your kids to show them conservation by example! You'll learn a lot, have a great time and give back to your community in a way that will really make a difference. Your kids will be able to see their contribution to the cleanup as part of the whole - which make a lasting impact on how your child will value their own effort.  You'll be cleaning up today's trash and helping to eliminate the same kind of trash ever making it to the beach in the future. Last but not least, you'll also have the chance to spend another great day at the beach!

Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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

Marblehead Christmas Walk

The Marblehead Christmas Walk is several days of local Holiday events in Marblehead Massachusetts
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce invites you to Marblehead to enjoy several days of holiday festivities, family events and activities!  Come for one or all days with highlights that include Santa's arrival by lobster boat,Festive shopping, Tree Lightings, a holiday parade, Artisan Markets,...
9:00 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

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...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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...
4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Pajama Story Time at Manchester Public Library

Kids are invited to the pajama time book reading at the Public Library in Manchester by the Sea Massachusetts.
Join Miss Audrey for a cozy pajama storytime and craft the first Thursday of every month from 6-7. This program is for kids ages 4 and up and their families. 
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury

Experience the joy and excitement of Salisbury’s most popular holiday tradition with glittering trees, indoor ice skating, Santa visits and more by the beach in Massachusetts
As one of New England’s must-see holiday traditions, the 12th Annual SeaFestival of Trees fundraiser opens Saturday, November 23, at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, MA. With over 135 extravagantly themed trees, a full-size indoor skating rink, a spectacular giant sand sculpture, and Santa...
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friday, December 6

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

Marblehead Christmas Walk

The Marblehead Christmas Walk is several days of local Holiday events in Marblehead Massachusetts
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce invites you to Marblehead to enjoy several days of holiday festivities, family events and activities!  Come for one or all days with highlights that include Santa's arrival by lobster boat,Festive shopping, Tree Lightings, a holiday parade, Artisan Markets,...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

A Colorful Christmas at Castle Hill

A Colorful Christmas by the Sea is a weekend of festivities hosted by the Trustees of Reservations at Castle Hill in Ipswich Massachusetts
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.
10:00 am to 8:00 pm

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...
10:00 am

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...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Music Together - Friday

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...
10:30 am to 11:15 am

SeaFestival of Trees in Salisbury | Saturdays

Experience the joy and excitement of Salisbury’s most popular holiday tradition with glittering trees, indoor ice skating, Santa visits and more,
As one of New England’s must-see holiday traditions, the 12th Annual SeaFestival of Trees fundraiser opens Saturday, November 23, at the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, MA. With over 135 extravagantly themed trees, a full-size indoor skating rink, a spectacular giant sand sculpture, and Santa...
11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Hamilton-Wenham Holly Days Farmers' Market

Hamilton-Wenham Community House hosts a Thanksgiving and Holiday farmers market
The Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham is pleased to offer a holiday farmers market just in time for the holidays, to provide you with the very best ingredients and treats for your holiday feasts! Vendors are required to offer goods grown, produces, raised or harvested within 100 miles of...
3:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Santa by Boat in the Shipyard

After Santa arrives in Essex, kids will have a chance discuss their wish list with him in person!
Kids of all ages are welcome to come down to Essex Town Landing for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm