Holidays at the Cushing House
2025-12-06 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Visit the 1808 Cushing House on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to enjoy this National Historic Landmark in all its holiday finery!
Guests will enjoy exquisite decorations, festive music by O’Carolan Etc. and the company of friends and neighbors for two days of first floor walk-through tours.
The grand 1808 Cushing House is a perfect space to highlight the talents of area garden clubs and decorators including volunteers from the Newburyport Garden Club, Newburyport Horticultural Society, Newbury Garden Club, and West Newbury Garden Club.
This event is free to members of the Museum of Newbury and residents of “Old Newbury” (Newbury, West Newbury, Newburyport and Byfield) to thank the community for their support. $10 for general admission. Donations gratefully appreciated.
Whether you’re looking for festive inspiration, a fun outing with family and friends, or simply want to immerse yourself in the holiday atmosphere, Holidays at the Cushing House is the place to be. Mark your calendars and join us for this unforgettable event!

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA
2025-12-06 10:45 - 15:00, 2025-12-13 10:45 - 15:00, 2025-12-20 10:45 - 15:00 | Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
Sessions @ 10:45-11:30; 12-12:45; 1-1:45; 2:15-3:00
Trustees Member Adult: $9; Trustees Member Child: $9;
Nonmember Adult: $15; Nonmember Child: $15;
Children under 2 are free
Maple Season is here! This special program for ages 3-11 & their families will focus on the magic of maple from start to finish. We will discover this tradition by observing trees, tasting sap, learning the tools involved, and finally, tasting the sweet product. We will make sure to have time to visit our barnyard animals!
This program is for families and will last approximately 45 minutes. Please dress for the weather as the program is held outdoors. Children over 12 may be better suited for our Adult Maple Strolls as the information at Maple in the Barnyard is geared towards a younger audience, however, all are welcome.
Looking for a more adult tour? Sign up for our Adult Maple Stroll instead!
Space is limited for this event and pre-registration is strongly recommended.
We will have a food station open selling maple baked goods, snacks and treats from 11:30-3pm by the sugar shack. The Farm Store is open 10am-4pm where you can buy our very own syrup. Make sure to stop by!

Deck the Halls at Hammond Castle Museum
2025-12-07 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-08 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-09 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-10 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-11 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-12 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-13 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-14 09:00 - 15:30 and 9 more dates | 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
2025-12-10 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-11 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-17 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-18 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-24 19:30 - 21:30 | 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.

Holiday Wreath Making Class
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Beauport Hotel Gloucester, 55 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Create your own festive wreath at Beauport Hotel’s annual Wreath-Making Workshop with Meredith McCarthy on Thursday, December 11th from 7:00PM-9:00PM. Enjoy lush winter greenery, a custom bow, ocean views, and a cash bar while you craft. Tickets are $85 and non-refundable—space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Rocky Neck Holiday Art Trek
2025-12-13 12:00 - 17:00 | Rocky Neck
The Rocky Neck Art Colony, in partnership with the Rocky Neck Cultural District, is pleased to announce the third annual Rocky Neck Holiday Art Trek on Saturday, December 13, from 12–5 pm. This festive community event invites visitors to explore the galleries, studios, shops, and restaurants of Gloucester’s historic Rocky Neck Cultural District while discovering unique, locally crafted holiday gifts.
Guests will find a broad selection of original artwork and artisan-made items, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind treasures perfect for holiday giving.
Participants may start their journey at any of the ten participating businesses, where they can pick up a Holiday Art Trek Passport—or download it in advance at www.rockyneckartcolony.org. Visitors who collect stamps from all ten locations are invited to stop by The Salted Cod to enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and receive a free gift.
Highlights of this year’s Art Trek include:
– Artisans Makers Market at Gloucester Stage Company
– A behind-the-scenes look at tools and techniques at David Calvo Wood Carving Studio
– Artist demonstrations and live music at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center
– Local Artisan Market, mulled wine, cider, and pub fare at 51 Rocky Neck Restaurant
– Holiday gifts and refreshments at East Gloucester Provisions and Moxie Gallery
– And many more festive stops throughout the district.
For details and to download your Holiday Art Trek Passport, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org.
Join us on Saturday, December 13, and experience the creative spirit and holiday warmth of Rocky Neck.

New Orleans Christmas featuring Henri Smith
2025-12-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Gloucester Stage, 267 East Main St., Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Featuring Big Band Jazz and Blues favorites, New Orleans Singer/Bandleader Henri Smith brings his 7-piece band back to the Gloucester Stage for a special New Orleans Holiday concert.
Performance at the Natti-Willsky Performance Center, Home of Gloucester Stage Company, Saturday, December 20th at 7:00pm.

Solstice in the Cemetery: Night Walk Through Oak Hill
2025-12-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Oak Hill Cemetery, 4 Brown Street, Newburyport, M, 01950, United States
What better time than Winter Solstice to grab a flashlight and join us for a walk through historic Oak Hill Cemetery on the longest night of the year?
To add to the intimacy and atmosphere of darkness, many epitaphs are easiest to read by flashlight. Join noted author and historian Ghlee Woodworth, a 12th generation Newburyport native, and Museum of Old Newbury executive director Bethany Groff Dorau for a nighttime stroll through the historic 1842 Oak Hill Cemetery, final resting place of shipwrecked sailors, sea captains and merchants, architects and photographers, writers and poets, silversmiths and newspaper editors, even the inventor of the first steam-powered car! We will say hello to several Ebenezers, though none of them Scrooges, and toast the longest night with hot cider, cider donuts, and good cheer.
