North of Boston

Museum of Old Newbury Guided Tours - August, September, October, 2025
2025-08-15 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-16 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-17 11:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Our friendly, knowledgeable tour guides share fascinating stories in each of the museum’s period rooms and galleries.
You will walk through this Federal-period house, from its 1808 beginning as a ship captain’s home to its ownership by multiple generations of the Cushing family. See parts of the home as it was lived in, as well as galleries featuring maritime trade, the churches of Old Newbury, and art works by Newburyport native Laura Coombs Hills.
Tours are on the hour, 11-4pm, Thursday – Sunday. Pre-order of tickets is encouraged as space cannot be guaranteed without tickets. Please arrive 10 minutes before your tour starts.
Tours are $10, $8 for seniors, $5 for those under 18. Free for members and residents of “Old Newbury ” but tickets should still be reserved here. See membership levels at : https://www.newburyhistory.org/membership.
We look forward to seeing you!

Newburyport Art presents "Coming Home"
2025-08-15 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-16 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-17 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-19 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-20 11:00 - 17:00 | Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Newburyport Art (NAA) presents Coming Home, a multi-disciplinary exhibit curated by Artist and NAA Executive Director Belle Carver Struck.
Coming Home invites Newburyport creatives who grew up in the community and now make their home elsewhere — to “come home” and share how it formed their practice. Their work is juxtaposed with creatives who carved out their adult creative practice in Newburyport. The exhibit features visual art, film, music and writing.
This exhibit will include a free opening reception on Sunday, July 27th from 4-6pm, as well as a ticketed panel discussion moderated by local storyteller, actor, and educator Paul Wann on Monday, July 28th from 6-8pm. The panel will include; Michael Angelis, Kate Bolick, Nikole Beckwith, Paul-Emile Cendron, Carmela Murphy, Sam Szabo, Gordon Przybyla, and Edward Speck.
Tickets to the panel discussion can be purchased online at newburyportart.org – space is limited!
On view alongside Coming Home will be 30 Under 30, featuring 30 artworks by artists under the age of 30. A reception for 30 Under 30 will be held on August 9th from 4-6pm.
The galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am–5:00pm and Sunday (Summer 2025 Hours) from 10:00am–2:00pm. Newburyport Art is closed on Mondays. The ground-floor Hills Gallery has an accessible entrance. More information, as well as an online gallery is available at newburyportart.org.
Founded in 1948, Newburyport Art is dedicated to promoting and exhibiting members’ work and to providing art education and access to the visual arts for the entire community.

VERSE/VISUAL 2025
2025-08-15 18:30 - 2025-08-17 16:00 | EBSCO Hall, 5 Peatfield Street, Ipswich, MA 01938, 5 Peatfield Street, Ipswich, 01938, United States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“VERSE/VISUAL”: A Free and Open to All Weekend of Art Inspired by Art returns for its seventh season in Ipswich and Haverhill.
www.versevisual.com
Cynthia August, Founder and Director 978-998-2228 cynthia@cynthiaaugust.com
Kathryn Zelkowitz, Producer and Exhibition Coordinator 978-810-6811 kazelkowitz@gmail.com
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Step into a vibrant and lively conversation about inspiration at VERSE/VISUAL, a free community art festival happening August 15-17 at EBSCO Hall, 5 Peatfield Street, Ipswich MA and September 26-28 at the Haverhill Art Walk.
Seventy-four visionary artists have been paired to create brand-new works inspired by each other’s previous pieces—resulting in a dazzling display of artistic dialogue across mediums.
Beyond the gallery walls, the weekend will pulse with live music, hands-on community art projects, and opportunities for connection and creativity for all ages.
Don’t miss your chance to witness how art sparks art—and find your own inspiration.
VERSE/VISUAL is a collaborative art experience where inspiration becomes the medium.
At its core, VERSE/VISUAL is a creative exchange: each participating artist submits a completed work of any medium – a painting, a poem, a short film, a sculpture, a song, a performance piece, maybe even a table! – which is presented in the exhibition for its own artistic merit. But that’s just the beginning. Each of these works is then given anonymously to another participating artist, who creates an entirely new piece in response.
The result is a dynamic pairing of “inspiration” and “exploration” works of two creations in conversation. Sometimes the link between the works is direct and visible, echoing a color palette, a phrase, or a material. Other times, it’s conceptual, abstract, even surprising, like a meditation on theme, emotion, or form that reveals the breadth of interpretation and imagination.
Together, these artistic pairings create an ecosystem of influence, connection, and transformation. The final exhibition is more than a showcase of individual talent. It is a living map of creative lineage. Viewers are invited into a rich, layered experience: to trace the threads of inspiration, to reflect on how ideas evolve, and to witness the many ways artists see, feel, and respond to the world and to each other.
VERSE/VISUAL is not just a show. It’s a journey. A dialogue. An invitation into the heart of creative process.
Admission is free. All are welcome.
VERSE/VISUAL IPSWICH
August 15-17, 2025
EBSCO Hall, 5 Peatfield Street, Ipswich, MA
Friday, August 15th Opening Reception 6:30pm – 9pm
Saturday, August 16th 10am – 6pm
Music by Chuck Doran and Friends 2pm – 4:30pm
Sunday, August 17th 10am – 4pm
Music by Mile Lane 11am – 1pm
Mini VERSE/VISUAL experience for all ages – try it yourself!
VERSE/VISUAL 2025 is made possible in part through a grant from Mass Cultural and is sponsored by the Institution for Savings.

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents One Act Wonders
2025-08-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-18 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-19 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-08-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents “One-Act Wonders”, a program of four modern one-act plays exploring boundaries, loyalties, and the absurdities of life. The program will run for four performances only, at Gloucester Stage Theater, April 17th (7:30pm) 18th (7:30pm), and 19th (3pm + 7:30pm). Tickets are $28.

Children's Witch Hat Decorating at The Hawthorne Hotel
2025-08-16 08:00 - 17:00 | Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Sq. West, Salem, 01970, United States
Children’s Witch Hat Decorating at The Hawthorne Hotel
Activity Length: 30 minutes
Location: The Hawthorne Hotel 18 Washington Square West, Salem MA 01970 Second Floor, Pickman Room
Hosted By: This is a self-guided activity overseen by Good Witch Apprentices
Decorate a magical witch hat in the color of your choice with craft gems, stickers, ribbon, tulle and a charm.
Under age 4 may participate with the help of a supervising adult.
Ticket purchase only admits one (1) participating child.
Please note: Event ticket purchases are non-refundable at this time.

Step Aboard History: FREE Deck Tours of the Schooner Adventure
2025-08-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-18 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-19 10:00 - 16:00 | The Schooner Adventure, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Climb aboard the Schooner Adventure and step back in time! Our guided deck tours offer a unique opportunity to explore one of Gloucester’s most treasured maritime landmarks. Originally launched in 1926 as a working fishing schooner, Adventure has been lovingly restored and is now a floating museum dedicated to preserving the rich legacy of New England’s fishing heritage.
On your tour, you’ll walk the very decks where dorymen once hauled in their catch, learn about life at sea in the 1920s, and hear the incredible story of how this National Historic Landmark was saved from decay. Knowledgeable and passionate docents—many of whom have sailed Adventure themselves—will bring her stories to life, from the golden age of sail to her current role as an ambassador for maritime history and education.
Whether you’re a maritime buff, a curious traveler, or a family looking for a fun and educational outing, a deck tour of the Schooner Adventure is a hands-on experience you won’t forget. Come feel the salt air, ring the ship’s bell, take a picture at the helm, and discover how this proud vessel continues to inspire new generations.
Tours start at the end of the Harriet Webster Pier.

Come as You Art
2025-08-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Cape Ann Museum Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Saturday, August 16, 2025
10:00 a.m. —4:00 p.m.
CAM Green
13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA
Free and Open to the Public
Celebrate the end of summer with a full day of artmaking! Try out a new technique, find inspiration around the CAM Green campus, and celebrate the process of creating a work of art.
Image Credit: CAM Staff photo.

Boundless: The Art of the Book
2025-08-16 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-17 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-18 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-19 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-20 10:00 - 17:00 | The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Exhibit Dates: July 17-August 24
Opening Reception: Sunday, July 20, 5pm-7pm
This dynamic exhibition explores the rich and ever-evolving world of the book as an art form. Featuring artist books, altered books, and book illustration, “Boundless” showcases imaginative approaches to storytelling, visual poetry, personal narratives, and inventive book structures. Visitors will encounter works that range from the traditional to the avant-garde—books that hang, twist, stand, open like advent calendars, or defy conventional forms altogether.
The exhibition presents a wide array of techniques, including letterpress, etching, monoprint, painting, photography, and mixed media. Through these varied practices, artists explore themes of memory, imagination, identity, and the contemporary moment.
“Boundless” features contributions from a distinguished group of 29 artists, including local creatives, university faculty, and artists affiliated with book arts communities throughout New England and beyond—Boston, Philadelphia, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Exhibiting Artists:
Ren Barnes, Stevens Brosnihan, Rachel Church, Pamela Courtleigh, Haig Demarjian, Mary Dewey, Madge Evers, Lynda Fatalo, Cristina Hajosy, Hannah Jacoby-Brooks, Linda Kauss, Giles Laroche, Kelle Louaillier, Leslie Lyman, Fred Lynch, Claire B. Marcus, Cynthia Marsh, R. Ellis Orrall, Sarah Parella, Rhoda Rosenberg, Lynne Sausele, Mary Beth Smith, Lorna Stevens, Juni Van Dyke, Anna Vojtech, Larry Volk, Karen Watson, Antoinette Winters, Kyung Eun You
An Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, July 20, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The public is warmly invited to view the work, meet the artists, and enjoy refreshments and lively conversation.
Featured image: Sarah Parella, News Cycle

Walking Tour: Hopper’s Houses Downtown
2025-08-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, 01930, United States
Saturday, August 16, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cape Ann Museum Courtyard, Downtown Campus
27 Pleasant St, Gloucester, MA, 01930
$10 for CAM Members, $20 for non-members
Registration Required
Explore the area surrounding the Museum on this walk past select Gloucester houses made famous by American realist painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967). Hopper is known to have painted in Gloucester on five separate occasions in the first decades of the 20th century. His paintings from this period capture the local landscape and architecture in a loosely rendered, light–filled style and are considered by many to be some of his finest works.
Stroll with a CAM Docent for about 1 1/2 hours as you loop around downtown Gloucester.
Where to Meet?
Though the Downtown Campus is currently closed for renovations until the spring of 2026, the tour will gather at the courtyard attached to the Museum on 27 Pleasant Street. Tours are light rain or shine.
Photo Credit: CAM docent leading walking tour, CAM staff photo.

Outdoor Hard Cider Bar & Free Live Music Series at Cider Hill Farm
2025-08-16 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-17 11:00 - 16:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Every weekend at Cider Hill Farm farm brings FREE family-friendly live music on the main lawn from 12-3 pm and extended music on festival dates 11 am – 4 pm. Grab a drink from the Outdoor Hard Cider Bar 11 am – 4 pm on Saturdays and 12-4 pm on Sundays.
Food – Grab lunch at the food truck 11 am – 4 pm and snacks in the farm store 8 am – 6 pm. Guest food trucks and vendors pop-ups regularly.
Play – Parking, play areas and barnyard are always free and open 8 am – 6 pm daily. Bee observatory, chickens and goats arrive mid-May.
Weather – Music, food truck and hard cider bar are weather dependent. We make decisions 8 am on the day of in case weather shifts overnight. Check website at 8:30 am.

Story-Time & Craft Wednesday
2025-08-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
NEW PROGRAM ALERT!! Summer is the PERFECT time for outdoor story time and craft making! This BRAND NEW family event is an extension of our Newburyport Arts and Culture Shanties Program and will take place each Wednesday in the Pop Up Park on Merrimac Street – where the Shanties are currently located. Come join the fun this Wednesday and see what it’s all about!
Running each Wednesday until August 21st from 10 AM-12 PM
Free of charge, but donations are welcome

First Shot of the American Revolution?
2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Tapley Memorial Hall, 13 Page Street, Danvers, M, 01923, United States
Did you know there was a shot fired in Danvers, MA during August of 1774?
General Gage’s “87 Days at Danvers” June 2 – August 27, 1774
A presentation and discussion of what should be viewed as the First Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. And, contrary to popular thought, within that ‘juggernaut’ perhaps the ‘First’ shot fired in that War possibly occurring in Danvers Massachusetts on August 24, 1774.
Unbelievably what occurred during those crucial 87 days has been vastly ignored and dismissed by virtually every history professional. What few who mentioned that period touched upon it lightly – noting nothing worthy of mention. Some describing Governor-General Gage’s time on the North Shore as a geopolitical campaign, inferring that it was more of a summer vacation – it was not.
This talk is to review the mosaic of known facts significantly pertinent to the American Revolutionary War which occurred during those 87 days and put into perspective the overt acts of revolt which both preceded and followed that time.
