Things to Do North of Boston This January
January 9, 2023Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe the holidays are already behind us and the decorations are being packed away! What an incredible holiday season we had here North of Boston, engaging with many of our local businesses’ holiday festivities, strolling along our picturesque downtowns, and admiring the area’s charming winter lights–it seemed holiday cheer was everywhere. We’re trying to keep the spirit alive all year long!
If you missed your chance to spend time North of Boston during the holidays we’ve got loads of reasons for you to visit all season long. Here’s what’s happening this month!
Jan. 14: Old Newbury Christmas Tree Bonfire, Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm, Newbury
Say farewell to the holiday season with the Newbury community for their annual Old Newbury Christmas Tree Bonfire. Visit the 1690 Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm house from 3-4pm then walk down to the town-sponsored bonfire and enjoy food, beer, wine, and hot chocolate. Pre-purchase your parking pass for a guaranteed spot in the parking field.
This event supports the Newbury Fire Department and Historic New England. Want to contribute your tree? Here’s how.
Jan. 14: Cabin Fever Wood-Fired Pizza Pop Up, Appleton Farms, Ipswich
Tired of being cooped up in the house? Join Appleton Farms for a throwback to summer at this outdoor wood-fired pizza pop up event. Tickets include parking, access to the event, a complimentary hot cocoa bar, fire pits on the farmhouse lawn and outdoor activities to entertain the kids. Rain date Sunday, January 15.
Jan. 15: Gloucester Overture to 2023, Gloucester High School, Gloucester
2023 marks the 400th anniversary of Gloucester, America’s oldest seaport. The Gloucester 400 Overture Event will encourage community reflection on both Gloucester’s first 400+ years and the century ahead. It will be serious, stimulating, elevating and, at the same time, entertaining. It will honor the city’s foundations, celebrate the talent of its residents, showcase the promise of its young people and more.
Jan. 16: MLK Day Celebration, Gloucester Meeting House, Gloucester
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation hosts cartoonist, rapper, social activist, author, and educator, Keith Knight, creator of The Knight Life, K Chronicles, (Th)ink, and co-creator of the television series Woke. Through his art, Knight raises topics of race and identity with edge and humor to foster civic dialogue and raise awareness of racial illiteracy. His work is published worldwide and features Knight’s candid take on current events as they relate to race relations in the United States.
Jan. 18: Not Just Golden Age Cabaret, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport
Spend a magical evening going on a journey through the years with some of the biggest hits from the Golden Age of Broadway and more. Take in the music of Rodgers + Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and more sung live while you enjoy a three-course meal prepared and hosted by Sea Level Oyster Bar.
Jan. 21: Pierce Freelon, The Cabot Theatre, Beverly
Pierce Freelon’s joyful music blends hip-hop, electronic jazz and soul. His modern and dynamic sound is inspired by his journey as a millennial dad and is carefully crafted for today’s modern families. Through honest and playful lyrics, rich melodies and fresh beats, he shares his story and welcomes kids and adults to his world. His live show features elements of Afrofuturism, Black history, and archival voices to touch on imagination, arts and science fiction through a Black lens.
Jan. 21 & 22: Gloucester So Salty Festival, Cape Ann Musem, Gloucester
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 2nd Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival on January 21 and 22 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm! Share the salty pride of Gloucester while enjoying free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester. The Cape Ann Museum is partnering with several area 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 in February, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kids’ art activities, and much more.
Jan. 23: Marblehead Racial Justice Teams’s Conversations on Race: Community Storytelling with Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts, Marblehead Museum
Join Lynn Museum/LynnArts Executive Director Doneeca Thurston, Board member Iris Kimber, and Lynn resident Tara Agaba for a discussion on the importance of showcasing diverse stories in the Lynn community. Hear about the process behind their exhibition “Untold Stories: A History of Black People in Lynn,” which explored the history of Black people in Lynn from the colonial period to the present day. And learn about the work Lynn Museum/LynnArts is doing to celebrate the many voices in their community. The panel discussion will be followed by open conversation.
Jan. 26 – 28: 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 Notch Brewing, East Regiment Beer Company, and Deacon Giles Distillery. Check out the line-up.
January 27, New England Winter Blues Festival, Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury
The 13th Annual New England Winter Blues Festival at Blue Ocean Music Hall features Mike Zito, one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today. Mike will be joined by fellow blues musicians Nick Moss, Roberto Morbioli & The Wicked Lo-Down.
Jan. 27: Sea Level Oyster Bar and Coastal Mass Brewing Beer Dinner, Salem
Enjoy four delicious courses prepared by Sea Level’s chefs, perfectly paired with four different beers from Coastal Mass Brewery, the creator of Sea Level’s house “Sea Level IPA.”
Jan. 28: Cher Experience, Larcom Theatre, Beverly
The Ultimate Cher Experience with Lisa Carter and her explosive New York-based band recreates the essence of Cher in this spectacular tribute show. Elaborate costume changes, Cher-isms, and a monolog straight from Cher’s recent Here We Go Again tour will entice you to believe this performer’s validity.
Jan. 29: Harlem Quartet, Rockport Music, Rockport
The Harlem Quartet, currently quartet-in-residence at the John J. Cali School of Music and the Royal College of Music in London, has been praised for its “panache” by The New York Times. The Quartet is lauded for its diverse programming which will be experienced in this concert with works by William Bolcom, Guido López-Gavilán, “Dizzy” Gillespie and Claude Debussy. Harlem Quartet was founded in 2006 by The Sphinx Organization, a national nonprofit dedicated to building diversity in classical music and providing access to music education in underserved communities.
For more events and happenings this month North of Boston check out our calendar.
