New Year, New Ways to Fall in Love with North of Boston!

Photo courtesy of Beauport Hospitality. 

As we welcome 2025, the North of Boston region is brimming with excitement for the New Year and all it has in store! January is a time to embrace cozy winter adventures, from exploring scenic trails to experiencing vibrant cultural events and seasonal activities. Whether you’re discovering hidden gems in historic towns, enjoying a quiet retreat, or savoring local flavors, the start of the year offers endless opportunities to make new memories. Read on for the latest North of Boston Buzz and kick off the year with inspiration!

Jan. 4: Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA, The Cabot, Beverly

“The music of ABBA” are no strangers to the incomparable sound and look of Sweden’s greatest music export with meticulous attention to costumes, make-up, musical arrangements, movements and the singing, nothing is left to chance. Adding a few of Abba’s live traits such as great solos, musical numbers and a complete live band with back-up singers, ensures an extra dimension unheard of in most similar productions. Dance, sing along and enjoy the hits such as Dancing Queen, Chiquitita, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, and many more.

Jan. 8: Harnessing the Power of the Sun, Stevens Center Museum, North Andover
North Andover Historical Society is excited to announce its newest exhibit, “Harnessing the Power of the Sun,” at the Stevens Center Museum, opening to the public on January 8, 2025. This innovative exhibit showcases the power of solar energy.  In addition to the exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to explore interactive components, including a model of the 1715 Parson Barnard House, to understand solar energy production. A scavenger hunt will engage young visitors as they search for the orange solar conduits that transform sunlight into usable energy at the Stevens Center.

Jan. 11: Christmas Tree Chipfest, Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, Newbury
This year, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm replaces its annual Old Newbury Christmas Tree Bonfire with a more sustainable Christmas Tree Chipfest, a new event that highlights environmental sustainability but honors a cherished tradition that has fostered connection among the community. Spend the afternoon enjoying roasted s’mores, sipping and snacking on food and drinks from your favorite local vendors, and tours of the historic Manor House’s first floor. Families can join in the fun with face painting and winter storytelling. Bring your undecorated Christmas tree to be chipped by our event partner, Black Earth Compost, and take home a bag of mulch as a memento of your contribution to sustainability.

Jan. 11: Reckoners with Delta General, The Cut, Gloucester
A little bit of soul and a whole lotta’ rock ‘n’ roll! Reckoners is an all-star music group featuring some of the top players in the Boston music scene who have worked with and alongside some of the best in the business. Winning awards and playing to sold-out shows across New England and beyond, the Boston-based Delta Generators have made quite a name for themselves since hitting the scene in 2008. Their music brings together their diverse musical influences, drawing on the traditions of Blues, Roots, R&B, Americana and Rock to create a sound uniquely their own.

Jan. 11–March 30: Portrait of a Sculptor: Walker Hancock & Michael Lafferty, Cape Ann Museum

Walker Hancock was one of the premier American sculptors of the 20th century and a highly engaged and respected member of the Cape Ann community. Michael Lafferty is a skilled photographer who spent hours photographing Hancock in his Lanesville studio, creating a series of intimate portraits of the sculptor at work. This exhibit will combine the work of Lafferty and Hancock.

January 16: Curator Conversation: Conjuring the Spirit World, Peabody Essex Museum
Join PEM for a captivating conversation with George Schwartz, the curator of Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Mediums, and Magic, and explore the exhibition’s origins and its connections to local North Shore stories. The discussion will illuminate the significance of some fascinating objects from PEM’s collection that bring the themes of spirit communication and magic to life. Discover how this exhibition intertwines with other works at PEM to create a rich narrative that resonates with our community’s history.

January 17–19: New Works Festival, Firehouse Center for the Arts

The Firehouse is committed to the development of new work. Since 2002, more than 300 have been performed on their stage first-through their annual Firehouse New Works Festival. This festival fosters the growth of New England playwrights while showcasing the talent of local and regional actors and directors. Playwrights from across New England submit their 10-minute shorts, one-act, and full-length plays to an independent panel who select the festival’s shows in anonymous readings. Directors and their casts then work with selected playwrights to produce a full weekend of original theater.

January 20: Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem

Join PEM as they celebrate the legacy and leadership of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Explore America, A Hymnal, David Boxer’s The Black Books, Alison Saar’s Weight and other works that examine social justice, identity and freedom across the generations. Explore the galleries, make art and be inspired by the legacy of Dr. King. All visitors enjoy free admission for the day!

January 23–25: Salem Comedy & Spirits Festival, Various Locations in Salem

Lift your spirits and laugh the cold away with this three-day celebration of comedy and spirits in Salem. Featuring top local and national performing comedians and locally crafted spirits. Hosted at Deacon Giles Distillery and the Hawthorne Hotel. Check out the comedian line-up.

January 25: Gloucester’s So Salty, Downtown Gloucester

Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 4th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival on January 25 and 26, 2025 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm! Over 1,800 people came out last year to share their salty pride while enjoying free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester. The Cape Ann Museum is partnering with Discover Gloucester and several local cultural institutions and businesses to offer two full days of free programming in the coldest part of the year. Inspired by the annual Salem’s So Sweet event, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kids’ art activities, and much more.

January 26: Boston City Singers, Shalin Liu Performance Center
The accomplished Boston City Singers return, bringing their evocative Martin Luther King, Jr. Day program back to Rockport. Enjoy an afternoon of free music from some of New England’s most talented youth singers. Free, reservations are encouraged.