North of Boston

Deck the Halls at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-01-02 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-01-03 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-01-04 09:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Join us for the 2025 Holiday Season as we proudly present our 7th annual “Deck The Halls” holiday celebration!
Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its own unique holiday theme. From nature’s bounty of fruits and greenery to the warm glow of candlelight, every detail creates a true feast for the senses. Along the way, you will encounter a royal guard of nutcrackers standing watch over a gingerbread house replica of the castle. Keep an eye out for playful elves and gnomes who are up to mischief—great fun for little ones! This year, the celebration will also shine with the glow of two menorahs on display, honoring the traditions of Hanukkah within the Museum’s holiday splendor.
For the first time, we are pleased to feature design elements created in partnership with Elaine Quinn Interiors, a boutique residential interior design firm based in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, bringing fresh inspiration and artistry to this year’s holiday presentation.
In addition to the holiday installation, guests will also have the opportunity to experience the Hammond in Italy temporary exhibition, which highlights John Hays Hammond Jr.’s time abroad and the profound influence Italian art and architecture had on his vision for the castle.
For an even more enchanting experience, join us for Deck the Halls by Candlelight on Thursday evenings throughout December. These extended-hour tours invite guests to explore the Museum after dark, when the holiday décor glows with flickering candlelight and twinkling lights, creating a truly magical atmosphere.
Guests should plan for approximately 60 minutes in total to take in the full holiday grandeur.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams
2026-01-07 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-08 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-21 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-22 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-01-29 19:30 - 21:30 and 8 more dates | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Through Tom’s cinematic eyes, his family’s life isn’t the dream he imagined. In a rundown St. Louis apartment the matriarch, Amanda Wingfield, is desperately clinging to a past of parties and endless callers. Her adult children, Tom and Laura, become victims of her delusions as she pushes for Tom to provide for the struggling family and Laura to find a husband. The two seek solace in ways of escaping their mother and their own misery until a visit from a gentleman caller presents the possibility of new opportunities.
Renowned playwright Tennessee Williams opens the 2025 Season with this classic drama, directed by Doug Lockwood. Running from June 5 to 28, all performances are at Gloucester Stage’s Theater 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Showtimes are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm, and matinees Saturdays & Sunday at 3:00pm.

What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?
2026-01-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? returns to Gloucester Stage for a “speakeasy night” of songs, secrets, and stories of the forbidden. Feel free to dress for the theme!
Named after a Victorian children’s game, the band is known for genre-bending original songs that explore themes of love, longing, and identity.
What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? features 3rian King on lead vocals, guitar, and keys; Renee Dupuis on lead vocals, keys, and melodica; Nathan Cohen on fiddle and trumpet; Joe Cardoza on upright bass; and Dennis Monagle on drums and percussion.
Fans say they sound as if Eurythmics went acoustic, Fleetwood Mac traded electric guitar for a fiddle, or Leonard Cohen and Amy Winehouse joined together in a secret French cafe.
Their original song “Cold Rain” was covered by New Orleans Soul Queen, Irma Thomas, on her Grammy-nominated album “Simply Grand,” earning high praise in Rolling Stone & USA Today.
In summer 2019, the What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? premiered their multimedia animated musical “Medusa” in a sold-out run at the Charles Hayden Planetarium, Museum of Science, Boston, followed by another sold-out weekend at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA, in 2022.
Their latest album “Live At The Cut” is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, AppleMusic, & AmazonMusic. www.whattimeisitmrfox.com

5th Annual Gloucester's So Salty Event
2026-01-24 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-25 10:00 - 16:00 | M
Join us in celebrating the fish city’s recognizably salty character with the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty, a festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester.

This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each January to shop at local stores, enjoy family friendly activities, visit the Museum, and find each of the ice sculptures sponsored by local cultural institutions and businesses.
Gloucester’s So Salty will take place on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm!

Free and open to the public. More information coming soon!

Cupid's Cabaret
2026-02-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Celebrate Valentine’s Day early this year at Gloucester Stage with host Paul Melendy (GSC’s The Garbologists) and featuring special guest performers.
Love is in the air this February as Gloucester Stage hosts a Valentine’s Day themed cabaret performance with a night full of romantic jives and classic ballads! Join us to celebrate the holiday with Gloucester Stage, your community, and the artists that have inspire us. Come be serenaded by our award-winning soloists and mingle with your friends and neighbors over light hor’devours!
One Night Only: February 13th at 7:00pm
The Natti-Willsky Performance Center: Home of Gloucester Stage Company at 267 E Main St. Gloucester, MA
Tickets are reserved seating and price of admission includes open bar and refreshments with post-show fundraiser.

Kids' Free Week: Self-Guided Tours
2026-02-16 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-17 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-18 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-19 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-20 09:00 - 15:30 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Discover, Explore, and Learn at Hammond Castle Museum this February School Vacation Week!
Let your child’s imagination soar and join us as we welcome school-age children to explore the home and innovative legacy of one of America’s most prolific inventors, John Hays Hammond Jr. Dive into the world of science, technology, and creativity with self-guided tours that allow visitors to move through the Museum’s galleries at their own pace.
Please note: There are no tour admissions on the morning of Friday, February 20th, as we will be hosting an Arms & Armor program presented by our Curatorial Director, John Leysath.
Little ones can embark on an animal-themed adventure designed to keep them engaged throughout the Museum. Older kids will love engaging with our digital panel featuring original games inspired by Hammond and his contemporaries’ groundbreaking innovations, such as ‘Frequency Hoppers’, which brings history and science to life in a fun and interactive way. Let them experiment with sound in the whispering gallery, marvel at Hammond’s inventive spirit, and explore the Museum’s unique passages and rooms showcasing a blend of science, history, and art.
As a repeated Reader’s Choice Best of North Shore winner by Northshore Magazine and a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award recipient for the last four consecutive years, you can trust that your visit will be an unforgettable experience. As a STEAM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), we also celebrate our role as a historic house museum and lapidarium, emphasizing works of stone and marble in ways that set us apart. This fusion of disciplines makes Hammond Castle Museum a true New England treasure.
Accessibility Note: Please be aware that at nearly a century old, the Hammond Castle Museum is not handicapped accessible due to many difficult and winding stairs on the campus and within the Museum.

Drunk Black History
2026-02-27 19:00 - 20:30 | The Rockwell, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA, 02144, United States
The critically acclaimed Drunk Black History show returns to Boston to close out Black History Month!
Comedian Brandon Collins (New York Comedy Festival) hosts this event where you’ll hear from comedians, writers, and experts who are skunked out of their mind trying to recap the biography of a historical Black figure or event that hasn’t gotten the mainstream love they deserved.
The upcoming show in honor of the 100th anniversary of Black History month will include appearances from Dorothy Whitfield (Comedy Network Boston), Courtney Reynolds (Pumkin Eater Podcast), and more!
Friday, February 27th
The Rockwell
255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
Doors open at 6:15pm
Show at 7pm
Advance tickets are available at https://therockwell.org/calendar/drunk-black-history-2/
★★★★ “One of our favorite comedy shows out there” —TimeOut NY
★★★★ “Drink some cocktails while you get an education… at this popular show!” —The Infatuation
★★★★ “Keeping our food and drinks down was hard because of all the laughing…” —1202 Magazine
★★★★ “A hilariously high history lesson!” —AMNY

Fashioning for Freedom: Layers of Liberty
2026-02-28 19:00 - 22:30 | Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join History Alive and Hamilton Hall for a celebratory, historical runway of Black creativity and activism. Discover the stories of abolitionists, artists, and entrepreneurs (including members of the Remond family, Anna Douglass, Charlotte Forten and Edmonia Lewis) who helped shape American history. Explore the ways that these creative and talented historical figures “fashioned” their own unique expressions of freedom. All tickets include light refreshments during intermission.
Purchase a front-row seat or sponsor the event to attend an exclusive post-performance salon with the actors!
