North of Boston

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents One Act Wonders
2025-07-25 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-26 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-27 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-07-29 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Newburyport's Yankee Homecoming Week-long Festival
2025-07-26 - 2025-08-03 | MA
In 1958, Newburyport joined twenty-nine other New England communities in launching a celebration aimed at bringing people together. This week-long festival, which has been held annually ever since, strengthens the bonds of our community. Newburyport’s Yankee Homecoming is the longest continuously running festival that remains.
This year’s theme, Tides of Time: Preserving the Past, Charting the Future, was inspired by the origins of Yankee Homecoming, which began 66 years ago, and the rich heritage of Newburyport that we celebrate each year. It also reflects the ongoing spirit of growth and change that this community has embraced. Events include a brewfest, olde fashioned sunday, waterfront concerts, family day, waterfront workouts, heritage tours, craft and art shows, U.S. Coast Guard open house, a parade and fireworks. For detailed event information, click here.

Children's Witch Hat Decorating at The Hawthorne Hotel
2025-07-26 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
2025-07-26 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-28 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-29 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.

Boundless: The Art of the Book
2025-07-26 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-28 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 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: Public Sculpture of Gloucester
2025-07-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, 01930, United States
Saturday, July 26, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet outside the CAM Downtown Campus
27 Pleasant St, Gloucester, MA, 01930
$10 for Members, $20 for Non-Members
Registration Required
Gloucester has been home to a number of prominent American sculptors. Take a tour of public works by these important artists found around the city’s downtown area. The tour is approximately 1 hour in length and is weather permitting.
Image Credit: CAM docent leading a walking tour, CAM Staff photo.

Opening Celebration: Knowing Nature at PEM
2025-07-26 11:00 - 15:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Know before you go
In-person event
Location: Main Atrium, Create Space Studios
Included with admission
The exhibition gallery will be open for self-guided exploration from 10 am–5 pm.
ABOVE IMAGE: Wolf © Tom Walker. All Rights Reserved.
Join us in celebrating the opening of Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest, on view in The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center! Meet one of the featured artists as she creates new quillwork art, explore a boreal forest discovery cart and take part in forest-related hands-on activities!
Tree Trek
11 am–Noon | Meet in front of the museum
Preregistration required.
Join PEM’s Garden and Grounds team to discover the incredible trees that are part of our campus, a newly accredited Level II Arboretum.
The Caterpillar Lab
11 am–3 pm | Create Space 1
Join The Caterpillar Lab in an open exploration of the incredible world of New England caterpillars, some of which are also found in the boreal forest — including monarch butterfly caterpillars! This drop-in will feature a variety of live caterpillars in various stages of development. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab will share incredible but true stories about these creatures’ strange and surprising adaptations, and there will be plenty to see and touch. Check out some little-known native critters munching on their food plants right in front of you. You’re sure to see something new!
Woven Quillwork Demonstration by Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag)
11 am–3 pm | Main Atrium
Join Aquinnah Wampanoag artist Elizabeth James-Perry for a demonstration of quillwork: a Native American art form that uses porcupine quills to decorate clothing, jewelry and other objects. James-Perry is also a restoration ecologist, and she will discuss how she sustainably harvests and prepares natural materials (including plant dyes) for her artworks in Knowing Nature and beyond.
Drop-in Art Making: Air Plant Wire Sculptures
11 am–3 pm | Create Space 2
Using a rock, wire and air plants, create a unique nature sculpture to enjoy indoors!
Boreal Short Film Showings
2 pm-4 pm | Morse Auditorium

Outdoor Hard Cider Bar & Free Live Music Series at Cider Hill Farm
2025-07-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-27 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.

Museum of Old Newbury Guided Tours - July, 2025
2025-07-26 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 11:00 - 17:00 | 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"
2025-07-26 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 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.

Six Ways of Seeing the World
2025-07-26 12:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-27 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-28 12:00 - 17:00 | Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930
Curated by Gabrielle Rossmer
Exhibit Dates: July 10 – August 3
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10, 5-7pm
Closing Event & Artist Talks: Thursday, July 31, 5-7pm
The Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck, Gloucester
Exhibit Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 12-7pm; Sunday-Monday, 12-5pm
Featuring: Kathy Archer, Paul Cary Goldberg, Donald Gropman, Sonya Gropman, Gabrielle Rossmer, and Constance Vallis
In a time marked by uncertainty and transformation, six artists come together to explore how art can serve as both personal expression and cultural reflection. Six Ways of Seeing the World, curated by Gabrielle Rossmer, offers a compelling look at how visual art helps us process, respond to, and shape our understanding of the contemporary world.
Through diverse media—painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, and collage—these six artists examine the intersections of inner life and external forces. While their approaches and mediums vary, they share a commitment to introspection, craft, and a meaningful engagement with today’s fractured landscape.
Together, these artists demonstrate six unique but interconnected ways of seeing. Their works push the boundaries of their chosen media, reflecting on today’s world with vulnerability, insight, and artistic rigor.

Art is Love: A Talk and Concert at PEM
2025-07-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Know before you go
In-person event
Location: Morse Auditorium
Included with admission; preregistration encouraged.
This program includes moderately loud live music (amplified sound and percussion).
Join us for an afternoon of music and dialogue exploring the creative process in contemporary songwriting and performance. This conversation among original works by artists Muriel Teodori, Kessada and Steve Nieve pays tribute to two of the most iconic figures in modern music: Tom Waits and Elvis Costello.
Through conversation, live performance and personal storytelling, the trio invites the audience to reflect on the art of creation, the power of love and the eternal interplay between control and spontaneity in artistic expression.
The Talk: Three Angles on Artistic Creation
1. What is the process of creation in art?
Muriel Teodori explores the psychological and philosophical dimensions of creativity.
2. Improvisation: Does it really exist?
Is improvisation truly spontaneous, or is it the result of years of structure and discipline? Steve Nieve draws from his classical training and rock experience to explore improvisation as both freedom and illusion.
3. Production: Can it be Perfect? Control or Freedom?
In the age of digital tools and infinite takes, Kessada questions the obsession with perfection.
The Concert: Art is Love
Original songs are woven together with deeply personal interpretations of works by Tom Waits and Elvis Costello — two masters of storytelling through music. Each song, each note, is a continuation of the conversation.

Newburyport Art offers Documentary Sketching with Yetti Frenkel
2025-07-29 08:00 - 17:00 | Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Documentary Sketching with Yetti Frenkel
Four Tuesdays, July 8, – 29 10:00am–1:00pm | Meet at NAA
$225 for NAA members / $275 non-members
This class will sketch as a group, picking a new location each week. Possible locations include the Tannery, the courthouse, the waterfront, a local coffeehouse, pub, or park. The idea is to increase our powers of observation and quickly capture the essence of a scene. People who want to improve their drawing or be “in the moment” intensely will enjoy this class. Students will be encouraged to find a topic that excites them and to create a documentary series. This class will be held on July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29.

Kids' Paper Making - Summer Session
2025-07-29 10:00 - 17:00 | Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA, 01832, United States
Paper Making Summer Sessions
$5 child ticket
Tuesdays at 10am
July 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 2025
at the Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave, Haverhill, MA
For children from preschool through highschool interested in creating with their hands, learning how to make paper and reuse scrap paper instead of throwing it away.
Learn a simplified method for making new paper sheets from scrap using a blender, water, and various molds and deckles. Ticket includes take-home paper making kit, optional for repeat participants.
Funding provided by the Haverhill Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.

Story-Time & Craft Wednesday
2025-07-30 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
