All Ages

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. Learn about the buildings, bridges, and breakwaters built to last. Touch tools of the trade. Find out how they moved these large, heavy stone pieces, and how they “paved” dirt streets in our Nation’s growing cities—and around the world! Heavy rain/snow cancels.

When: 
Saturdays June 1-September 21, 2024 11am-Noon
Location: 
Halibut Point State Park
Rockport
Exploration
Discovery
Geology
History
Walk
Hike
Tour
Trails & Sails 2023

Mike Bent's Eco-Magic at Sawyer Free

Mike Bent Eco-Magic show at Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester Massachusetts

Magician Mike Bent presents Eco-Magic! This environmentally-themed magic show brings unforgettable magic, comedy and fun to our summer reading program! The conservation focused summer reading theme of Read, Renew, Repeat strives to bring attention to our natural world, and caring for the environment as well as the living creatures that call it home.  This event will be held in the City Hall auditorium, 9 Dale Avenue.

When: 
Friday, July 19, 2024 10am
Location: 
Gloucester City Hall
Gloucester
Library
Magic

Snakes of Massachusetts and the World at Halibut Point

Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team 'Snakes of Massachusetts' presentation at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!

Come to a Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team presentation of  'Snakes of Massachusetts and the World' at Halibut Point State Park! Afraid of snakes? You won’t be after learning about and seeing a variety of local snakes and a few exotic ones! Snake fans will enjoy safe handling. Rick Roth, herpetologist, and Executive Director of the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team will bring some of his favorite snakes to Halibut Point State Park.

When: 
Sunday, August 4, 2024 11am-1pm
Location: 
Halibut Point State Park
Rockport
Demonstration
Live Animals
Presentation
DCR

Lyme Disease & Babesiosis: Dangerous Tick Borne Diseases

After a walk in the woods, check for ticks before getting in the car!

When enjoying the outdoors on the North Shore, it's crucial to understand ticks, their habitats, feeding habits, and how to handle tick bites. While infection rates overall are considered relatively low1, the threat of infection is serious, and of those infected, kids aged 5-14 have a higher rate of infection compared to adults 65 and younger. Preventative measures and swift actions are essential to protect yourself, your pets, and your family from serious infections.While in Removing an embedded tick properly is a critical part of avoiding tick-borne disease.

All Ages
Health
Prevention
Treatment
Disease
Parasite
Tick

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy has three leaves on each branch node. "Leaves of Three, Let it Be."

Anybody who has ever had a case of poison ivy will tell you that they wish they could go back in time and avoid ever having contact with the plant - and that's precisely the best way to deal with it.  If you and your children can identify the plant and avoid coming into contact with the oily residue on its leaves, everyone is bound to have much more fun this summer!

All Ages
Health
Product

Salem Maritime Festival

Celebrate 400+ Years of Maritime History at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!

Presented by the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the annual Salem Maritime Festival in August hosts an exciting array of free family fun festivities, including live music, traditional craft demonstrations and seaport trade exhibits, story-telling, and family fun! Each year, music, demonstrations, exhibits, and children's activities are available throughout the park and on Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!

When: 
Saturday, August 3, 2024 11am-6:30pm
Location: 
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem
Exploration
Demonstration
Presentation
Festival
History
Discovery
Live Music
Maritime
Heritage
Salem Heritage Days

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.

Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our stone paddock. Gather around for a farm story with one of our farmers!

When: 
Tuesdays through October 29, 2024 10:30-11:30am
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Farm
Trustees of Reservations
Story Hour
Live Animals

Friday Family Farm Chores at Appleton Farms

Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for our special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program held on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays

Every day has a full list of barnyard chores we need to accomplish to make sure our farmyard friends are happy and healthy. Let’s get to work! Join us for our special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program held on Fridays and Saturdays! Get on your muck boots – your whole family will get to be farmers together. Help feed the rabbits, Violet and Vanilla, the goats, Morgana, Maeve, Merlin, and Mordred, and the dairy cows, Gray and Jasmine. Collect eggs from our flock of chickens, muck and bed the stalls, scrub buckets, fill hay managers, and more.

When: 
Fridays, July 12 & 19, 2024 3:30-4:30pm
Fridays, August 2, 16, 23 & 30, 2024 3:30-4:30pm
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Tour
Exploration
Food
Farm
Live Animals
Ponies
Live Music

Sundays in Patton Park

North Shore Free Concerts for North Shore Families at Patton Park in Hamilton Massachusetts

Come enjoy community and music each Sunday in Patton Park! Dust off your lawn chairs and bring your picnic down to the park on Sunday evenings. We have a fantastic line up of bands this summer ---presented by Institution for Savings Bank and sponsored by The Community House, Town of Hamilton, HW Cultural Council, and the Town of Wenham. Special thanks to the Friends of the Wenham COA and the Wenham Village Improvement Society. We appreciate all the support!

When: 
Sundays July 7 - August 6, 2024 5-7 p.m.
Location: 
Patton Park
Hamilton
Concert
Outdoor Activity

Ipswich Greek Festival

Ipswich Greek Festival at the Hellenic Center in Ipswich Massachusetts

Come to Ipswich Massachusetts for the Annual Greek Festival: A 75-Year Tradition in Greater Boston and the North Shore! Experience one of the longest-running and most cherished traditions in Greater Boston, MA, and the North Shore area—the Greek Festival! For over 75 years, this event has been a beloved tradition for families and friends, both within the local Greek communities and beyond.

When: 
Saturday, July 13, 2024 12:30-10:30pm
Sunday, July 14, 2024 12:30-6pm
Location: 
Hellenic Center
Ipswich
Festival
Tradition
Heritage
Dance
Food
Raffle
Live Music

Pages

Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly 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
♦ Read More →

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
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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 →

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 ...
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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,...
Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham
10:00 am to 10:45 am
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Salem
11:45 am to 3:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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.
Where: Bradley Palmer State Park
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Beverly Farmers' Market
Get fresh local produce at the Beverly Farmers Market in downtown Beverly Massac
The Beverly Farmers’ Market supports local agriculture while making healthy food available to all members of the Beverly community at affordable prices; the market promotes sustainable living practices and fosters community connections through our vendors, free activities and events. The market...
Where: Odell Park
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Sunday, September 22

Forest River Park Salem CoastSweep
Come help with the Coastsweep cleanup of the Forest River Park in Salem, Massachusetts!
As part of COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup, volunteers are encouraged to come to Forest River Park to help in the statewide effort to keep our coastline cl
Where: Forest River Park
9:00 am
♦ Read More →

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Swampscott Farmer's Market
The Swampscott Farmers Market happens every Sunday through October.
Rain or shine, the Swampscott Farmers’ Market features a wide variety of produce, meats, fish, breads, flowers and crafts from farmers, food producers, and artisans from around Massachusetts and nearby New England states. Anchoring the market, Swampscott will have Clark Farm providing a large...
Where: Swampscott Town Hall
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
♦ Read More →

North Andover Farmers' Market
North Andover Farmers Market every Sunday Through October 2, 2022
The North Andover Farmers Market is the perfect destination for anyone living in the Merrimack Valley or the North Shore to shop and enjoy locally-sourced products. The market will take place in the center of town at the intersection of First Street and Main Street. The market has become known for...
Where: Downtown North Andover
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Fair in the Square
Fair in the Square is a Salisbury Days event in the middle of Salisbury Massachusetts
Fair in the Square is a time- honored tradition celebrating each other and showcasing our charming  town. Come shop local vendors and makers offering a wide variety of goods from local honey and bee related products to jewelry to facepainting to artists and more!
Where: Salisbury Town Common
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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....
Where: Downtown Marblehead
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Hospital Point Lighthouse Open House
Take a tour of this historic Beverly landmark thats usually closed to the public as part of Trials and Sails!
One of Beverly's most familiar landmarks, this lighthouse commands a spectacular view of Salem Sound, and 3 other lighthouses. An enduring monument to Beverly's nautical heritage, it is one of 5 Massachusetts lighthouses that still retains its original Fresnel lens.
Where: Hospital Point Lighthouse
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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.
Where: Salem Common
11:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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...
Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

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.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
11:00 am
♦ Read More →
Subscribe to All Ages