March Marvels: What the New Season Brings to North of Boston

Though winter still lingers with its crisp air and cozy charm, March brings the promise of spring’s renewal. This transitional month offers the best of both worlds—whether you’re savoring the last snow-dusted landscapes or eagerly awaiting the first signs of spring’s awakening. With the spring equinox arriving on March 20th, the days grow longer, the coastal breezes feel a touch warmer, and nature begins its seasonal revival.

No matter your pace—whether you’re embracing winter’s final moments or ready to welcome spring with open arms—there’s no shortage of ways to experience the beauty, history, and flavors of the North of Boston region. As we gear up for another vibrant season, we invite you to explore the hidden gems, cultural happenings, and culinary delights that make this time of year so special.

Join us as we step into March with fresh adventures, timeless traditions, and an ever-growing love for all that our region has to offer!

March 1: Celebrate Mardi Gras with Jambalaya Horns, Gloucester Stage Company

New Orleans-flavored Funk, Soul, and Brassy 2nd-Lines by the Jambalaya Horns will have you feeling like you’re in New Orleans this Mardi Gras season! Formed in 2013 and fronted by Carlos Menezes Jr. on lead vocals and horns, the group strives to capture the essence and soul of the diverse musical culture of the Crescent City. This show will also feature an expanded horn section and surprise guest vocalists! You’ll feel like you’re in New Orleans this Mardi Gras Season!

Through March 2: Spring & Summer Sports Sale, Wenham Museum

Back by popular demand! After a successful inaugural sale in 2024, Wenham Museum’s Spring & Summer Sports Sale returns for its second year. In keeping with the Museum’s former Attic Treasures Sale tradition, the Spring & Summer Sports Sale brings the community together for a fun and affordable resale event to benefit Wenham Museum.

March 6: “The Nita & Zita Project” Screening with GenPEM, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem

The Peabody Essex Museum and the GenPEM Steering Committee invite you to a screening of The Nita & Zita Project, followed by a Q&A with director Marci Darling. The Q&A will be moderated by Petra Slinkard, PEM’s Director of Curatorial Affairs and the Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles. The burlesque dancers and outsider artists known as Nita and Zita blazed a trail to international stardom, then became eccentric recluses, weaving their mythology into the very fabric of New Orleans.

March 8: Blarney Bash Featuring Joshua Tree, Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day week than by listening to a band who captures the look, feel and sound of one of the world’s most popular rock bands that hails from Dublin, Ireland! The Joshua Tree pride themselves with their ability to generate a unique musical experience that does not lend itself to impersonations. Without compromising artistic integrity, the band has gone to great lengths to reproduce the distinct sound of one of the world’s most popular rock bands. Show proceeds benefit the Salisbury Beach Partnership’s free summer beachfront concerts and fireworks series!

March 8 & 9: James and the Giant Peach, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport

When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach… and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach – among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities – but, after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.

Through March 9: Theatre on Castle Hill: Ada and the Engine, Crane Estate, Ipswich

Ada and the Engine, by Castle Hill Productions, at the Crane Estate in Ipswich February 27 through March 9 is a funny, heartbreaking, inspiring stage play. Featuring some of the North Shore’s most beloved actors, Ada reveals a tangle of family tensions and an intriguing glimpse into the mind of a child genius who produced revolutionary scientific work in spite of rigid Victorian-Era attitudes about women.

March 11: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport

Celebrating over 60 years as the New Orleans musical institution, the legendary trad jazz ensemble that is Preservation Hall Jazz Band comes back to Rockport once again! Kick up your heels to the infectious, rich and complex harmonies of Dixieland jazz from a celebrated cast of the Crescent City’s finest players.

March 13: Abenaki Tales: Animal People in the Northeastern Woodlands, Amesbury Carriage Museum, Amesbury

Join the Amesbury Carriage Museum for an unforgettable evening with Anne Jennison, a traditional Native American storyteller and historian of European and Abenaki heritage. With over 30 years of experience, Anne brings to life the rich oral traditions of the Northeast Woodlands, sharing lesson stories filled with wisdom, humor, and history. Holding Master’s Degrees in both Storytelling and History, Anne’s performances are deeply rooted in cultural and historical knowledge, offering a captivating glimpse into Indigenous perspectives.

March 14: Saint Paddy’s Day Party, Smolak Farms, North Andover

Sham Rock and Roll with Smolak Farms! Join them for a night full of Irish pinches, food, music, dancing, and of course some green beer! Doors open at 6:30 and music goes until 9pm. Tickets are $35 and include the following: Entrance to the Barn; Pot Roast Dinner and Festive Appetizers; Live Music; Dancing and more. Cash bar will be available on site. Enjoy some Good Ol’ Erin Go Bragh!

March 20: Newburyport’s Road to Revolution Part II: Nbpt Braces from Attack by Sea, Custom House Maritime Museum, Newburyport

Explore how Newburyport defended Nbpt harbor against attack by sea. A British scouting party sneaks into Newburyport Harbor under the cover of night. In the face of constant threat, Newburyport’s harbor became a safe haven for vessels of all kinds on the eve of Revolution, thanks to an elaborate web of defenses including sunken piers, floating batteries, and artillery at Salisbury Point. Join Graham McKay, executive director of Lowell’s Boat Shop, and Bethany Groff Dorau as they explore how Newburyport prevented attack by sea and became a refuge for rebels at sea.

March 21: Appleton Culinary Workshop: Chicken Pot Pie, Appleton Farms, Hamilton & Ipswich

Is there anything better than a chicken pot pie for dinner on a chilly night? Learn how to make this classic pie from complete scratch with our baker Kami. From all butter pie dough, to utilizing chicken bones to make stock for the gravy base, you will leave this class with the knowledge of how to get the best out of your chicken. Class participants will leave class with a fully formed pie, extra pie dough, and a shared slice at the end.

March 27 & 28: Jesus Christ Superstar, North Shore Music Theatre

What’s the buzz? The first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 50 years. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Superstar follows the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with powerful music, compelling performances, and timeless themes of love, loyalty, power and betrayal, along to an iconic 1970s rock score.

March 30: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Cabot, Beverly

After 31 years, 11 records, over 3000 live shows, and countless appearances in film and television, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is showing no signs of slowing down, and is looking forward to sharing its music with new and old fans alike. Early on in the band’s career, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, co-founded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, was at the forefront of the swing revival of that time, blending a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and dixieland, with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture.

March 27–30: Salem Film Festival, Salem 

Since 2007, Salem Film Fest has brought the world’s best independent documentaries and their makers to Boston’s North Shore. Now the largest international documentary film festival in Massachusetts, the event annually presents features, shorts, and special events to a loyal audience of thousands. The festival is mostly run by volunteers through a non-profit entity, Salem Community Arts Center, Inc. The 18th annual Salem Film Festival will include filmmaker Q&As, parties, and other special events.  Photo by John Andrews / Creative Collective

Through April 6: Rocky Neck Now Members Show, The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, Gloucester
Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is thrilled to kick off the 2025 exhibition season with Rocky Neck Now, the much-anticipated annual members show. This dynamic exhibition brings together an exciting and diverse collection of recent works from 92 RNAC artists, offering a stunning reflection of talent, vision, and artistic passion. With pieces spanning painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more, visitors will experience a rich and varied exploration of contemporary creativity—from bold abstracts to evocative realism.