North of Boston

Bubbles & Books Storytime
2026-08-19 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-08-26 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Join us every Wednesday morning in July & August for Bubbles and Books on our seaside lawn!
Bubbles and Books is so much more than just storytime. It’s a seaside bubble party featuring stories, music, crafts, a light snack & even an outdoor scavenger hunt.
Doors open at 10:00 am, with bubbles and a craft, then the story & snacks begin about 10:20 am. We recommend you bring a cozy blanket for your little one to cuddle on while we enjoy the storybooks on the lawn. After storytime, enjoy more bubbles and end the morning with a kid-friendly scavenger hunt in front of the Museum.
Don’t forget sunscreen, and we encourage little ones to come dressed in their favorite crown, cape, or whatever makes them feel magical!
Tickets for this event are $10 for ages 8 to adults, and kids ages 7 and under are only $5. Hammond Castle Museum Member savings apply.
We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes early to allow enough time for the walk from the parking lot down to the Museum, then for the check-in process and the walk to the lawn. There are many stairs throughout the campus and inside the Museum. Strollers are not allowed in the Museum or on the Museum Grounds, and oversized baby carriers are not permitted in the Museum due to the many narrow passageways.
This ticket grants you access to the Bubbles & Books program, which will be held on the ocean-facing lawn. If you wish to tour the Museum after this program, ticket holders may purchase Self-Guided Tour tickets in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount. Little ones 4 and under enjoy FREE admission to guided and self-guided tours!
Rain or Shine. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. All proceeds from this program will support the restoration and preservation of the Museum.

Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-08-20 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-03 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-10 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-17 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-24 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-01 18:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-08 18:00 - 21:00 and 3 more dates
From John Hays Hammond Jr.’s attempts to communicate with supernatural entities using a Faraday Cage to Irene Fenton Hammond’s extensive astrological writings under a mysterious pen name, this 55-minute, fully-guided specialty tour sets the stage for a fun and informative seasonal experience unlike any other. The dramatic, Gothic-inspired architecture of the Museum and the twilight atmosphere are enhanced by the light of handheld electronic lanterns throughout your tour.
New in 2026: Extended Hours and Midnight Tours
For the first time, Hammond Castle Museum is offering its popular Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight during extended late-night hours–including a midnight tour–on October 22nd and 29th—a one-of-a-kind experience for those celebrating the Halloween season on the North Shore!
Admission:
July, August, & September: $27.50.
October: $35.
Museum Member savings apply.
Please be mindful when processing your reservation to select the correct reservation date and corresponding admission price.
