Family events in Essex County, MA

Create a personalized potion in a hands-on activity for kids and families in Salem. This self-guided experience lasts about 15 to 25 minutes and takes place at The Good Witch of Salem Spell Studio. Participants craft and bottle a magical mixture to take home, offering a distinctive family-friendly way to experience Salem that is suitable for all ages.

Create a radiant faux stained glass sun catcher with resin in a friendly, hands-on workshop. Participants of all experience levels receive clear guidance as the instructor demonstrates how to mix vivid resin colors with intricate outlines to achieve a stained glass look without cutting or soldering. Choose your own color palette for your piece and, if desired, accent it with a small selection of crushed glass. New fall designs are offered, and completed projects measure about 10 to 12 inches. The workshop lasts roughly two to two and a half hours, and you will take your finished creation home at the end.

This afterschool chess club invites students ages 7 to 11 to practice by playing each other in a quiet, focused setting. Online registration is required.

Kids of all ages are welcome in the Killam Children’s Room for a relaxed crafting session where they can create a seasonal project to bring home. Caregivers can participate as children practice simple steps and build early literacy skills such as sequencing and coordination. No sign-up is needed.

Take a longer, after-hours look at Beauport, Henry Davis Sleeper’s summer retreat with a behind-the-scenes tour timed to sunset over Gloucester Harbor. Explore spaces not included on the standard route while guides point out favorite objects and share stories about Sleeper, his friends, and the staff. Plan for roughly three hours, with a brief terrace break if the weather allows. Pricing is $30 for HNE members and $50 for nonmembers. Regular one-hour tours are also available that day.

Designed for new and expecting parents, this Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Budget for Baby® Workshop focuses on planning for the costs that come with welcoming a child. Expect guidance on how a growing family can affect your finances, practical budgeting tools and spending strategies, and information about local resources available to military families, along with opportunities to connect with other parents. Offered at Main Base, CEC Bldg. 155, Classrooms F&G, with options to attend in person or virtually depending on availability. Participants may receive helpful baby related gifts and materials while supplies last.

This drop-in art session in Create Space Studios invites participants to craft a tiny decorative broom that captures the playful spirit of Halloween, using materials like twigs, dried grasses, and other seasonal natural elements. Admission covers the activity. It is part of the in-person Drop-in Art Making program. Friday sessions are recommended for ages 10 and up, while weekend and holiday offerings are designed for ages 4 and up. All activities are created and led by PEM art educators.

Ipswich Illumination returns with an expanded celebration that unfolds over two weekends at multiple spots around town. The first weekend centers on Top of Town Hill, the second highlights the Takeout Terrace, and everything culminates with closing ceremonies at Pavilion Beach. Expect a lively mix of lights, music, art, and strong community spirit. Local food trucks will be serving throughout the festivities, with area vendors offering beer, wine, and mead to complement the experience. Traffic and parking changes are planned around Town Hill during the first weekend. Some periods will feature soft closures that still allow residents within the area to access their homes under the guidance of public safety personnel and posted signs. One period is designated as a hard closure with no through traffic. Review maps that outline closure and no‑parking zones, follow on-site directions, and allow extra time for travel.

This family friendly Halloween craft fair and trick or treat event takes place at the American Legion in Beverly, Massachusetts. More than 15 local vendors will be on site along with raffles and giveaways, activities for children, character encounters, trick or treating, and food vendors, creating a festive experience for all ages. Prizes will be awarded for standout spooky costumes. Families must preregister by scanning the QR code on the event flyer and completing the form. Space is limited and once capacity is reached additional families cannot be accepted. Vendor opportunities are available.

Explore the storied landscape of Dogtown on Cape Ann during a guided walk that traces the old roads of an early settlement once at the heart of Gloucester. Hear about the people who lived and worked here for nearly 150 years, how the place got its name, why residents moved on, and what has changed in the two centuries since the last house disappeared. Along the way, take in stone walls, cellar holes, and vistas that have long suggested witches and widows, an ill-fated bullfighter, pastures, picnics, blueberries, and a sea of rocks. Learn how writers and artists drew inspiration from this terrain, discover the reservoirs created here, and encounter several of the famed word-inscribed boulders that reflect the legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist Roger Babson (1875-1967). The route covers nearly three miles in about two hours on generally easy but uneven trails with rocks, roots, and gentle hills. Wear trail-ready clothing and closed-toe shoes, and consider bringing walking poles. Bring water and insect repellent, as they are not provided. This experience is not recommended for those with mobility concerns. The tour takes place at Babson Boulder Parking. Tickets are $10 for CAM members and $20 for non-members, and advance registration is required.

Experience Jewish campfire tales beside a cozy fire pit in a newly enclosed pergola. Families and friends can share stories, connect, and enjoy food and drinks. Admission is $10 per adult, $5 per child, with a $20 family maximum.

Discover the seaside castle residence of 20th century inventor John Hays Hammond Jr., now a museum dedicated to sharing ancient architectural art with the Gloucester community. Through Gloucester Gratis Days, Gloucester residents receive complimentary self-guided admission during the regular tour season and during the museum-wide holiday exhibition, Deck the Halls. Proof of residency is required at check-in for each reservation. Advance registration is suggested but not required, and sign-ups can also be completed in the Museum Shop upon arrival.