North of Boston

Latin Night! Learn Salsa - Dance Lessons
2026-09-15 18:20 - 21:30, 2026-09-10 18:20 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
💃 SALSA CLASSES ARE BACK THIS SEPTEMBER!
Our next 6-week Salsa series starts September 8 & 10 at the Larcom Theatre. Choose Tuesday or Thursday nights and the class that fits your experience level.
BEGINNER 1A — FOUNDATIONS
Tuesdays at 7:25 PM or Thursdays at 6:20 PM
Brand new to Salsa? Start here! Learn On 2 timing, basic steps, partner connection, turns, cross-body leads, and foundational patterns. No previous experience necessary.
BEGINNER 1B — ESSENTIALS
Tuesdays at 6:20 PM or Thursdays at 8:30 PM
Ready for the next step? Build on the foundations from 1A while improving timing, connection, leading and following technique, transitions, musicality, and beginner patterns. Completion of Beginner 1A or equivalent experience is required.
COUPLES BEGINNER 1B
Tuesdays at 8:30 PM
Want to learn together without rotating partners? This class is designed specifically for couples. Stay with the partner you came with while building connection, technique, smoother transitions, and expanded Beginner 1B patterns. Beginner 1A or equivalent experience required.
6 weeks. One night a week. Lots of Salsa.
We extend a special invitation for ‘leads’ to join, as their participation will help ensure a robust presence of potential partner leads. ​
Grab your spot and join us on the dance floor this September!
Thelarcom.org/learnsalsa
For questions about the class, email: donnie@thelarcom.org
LARCOM THEATRE, 13 Wallis St, Beverly MA

Homeschool Adventures: Session 1
2026-09-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
Young explorers are invited to join us in September & October for a 4-part homeschool series that will get them active & moving with nature adventures, exercise, and outdoor skill building. While exploring Appleton Farms & the Crane Estate, participants complete active adventures & design challenges that will exercise both their body & mind. Some potential activities include kayaking, tide pooling, wetland exploration, orienteering, gardening, obstacle course design, and more!
This is a drop-off program that is open to ages 5-11 and will include small group activities based on age and peer mentoring opportunities between age groups.
The class takes place rain or shine, with as much time spent outdoors as possible. Students should arrive dressed for the weather and bring a lunch and water bottle.
Homeschool Adventures: Session 1- This 4-class series program takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 1-4pm on September 15, 22, 29 & October 6.
September 15: Tidepool & Shoreline Exploration at the Crane Estate
September 22: Kayaking Adventure at the Crane Estate
September 29: Ponding & Invasive Species Management at Appleton Farms
October 6: Obstacle Course Design Challenge at Appleton Farms
Tuition for the 4 classes is $275 for Trustees Members and $325 for nonmembers. Registration covers all listed session dates.

Country Fair at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-15 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-14 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-13 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-12 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-11 09:00 - 17:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Join us Labor Day weekend for a quintessential New England celebration welcoming the season’s bountiful harvest! Enjoy summer apple picking, free tastings, hard cider, classic fair foods, fall flower cutting, old time-y games, free live music, tractor rides & more! See event schedule as we add more happenings to the line-up! Free admission (does not include pick-your-own tickets, food or drinks).

Closing Night: On the Ocean's Edge
2026-09-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Maeve Gilchrist | Seamus Egan | David Coffin | Trio Oko | Nuala Kennedy | The Rockport Celtic Festival House Band
In this jam packed evening we bring together some of the most cutting edge sounds from the Celtic World as well as local Cape Ann hero, David Coffin and the innovative new Harp Trio, Trio Oko.
In tonight’s performance we present a World Premier by the Irish singer and flautist, Nuala Kennedy. A four part suite of music inspired by the fire festivals which mark the seasons of the traditional Celtic Year: Samhain (Winter), Imbolc (Spring), Bealtaine (Summer) and Lunasa (Autumn). With poetry woven throughout, this world premier will be performed by Nuala with the incredible House band (Logan Coale, Maeve Gilchrist, Alan Murray and more) In the first act of the show, Irish Music Legend, Seamus Egan and Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist join forces with strings to perform tunes from their new album ‘Into the Ice’, a sonic retelling of the famous Shackleton expedition, through the lens of traditional Irish Music, electronics and prose. Prepare to be transported! In addition we have two more of Vivaldi’s seasons to round off the year, sing-along shanties with the inimitable David Coffin and all types of one-off collaborations including a harp duet and lush string arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes!

CAM Talk: Cape Ann Museum – Then, Now, and Tomorrow
2026-09-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, 01930, United States
Join the Bayliss Society at the Cape Ann Museum on September 13 for the closing program of this year’s Jonathan Bayliss Society annual conference, “Gloucester’s Acropolis: Defining the City Then and Now.” This final session features a series of short talks exploring the role and influence of Cape Ann Museum in the community life of Gloucester throughout its existence, with a glimpse toward an exciting future as well.
Speakers are CAM’s Director Oliver Barker, Chief Curator Martha Oaks, and former Museum volunteer Deanie Hancock French. Deanie’s father, the major American sculptor Walker Hancock, was involved for many years in the development of what was then called the Cape Ann Historical Association.
About the Conference
Novelist Jonathan Bayliss (1926–2009) coined the term Acropolis to describe the cluster of civic institutions rising above Gloucester Harbor—City Hall, Sawyer Free Library, the Museum, and neighboring landmarks. This year’s conference brings that idea to life through talks, walks, and readings from September 11–13, exploring how this hillside cultural district has shaped Gloucester from the 19th century to today.
The conference is organized by the Jonathan Bayliss Society in collaboration with Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester Writers Center, and Sawyer Free Library, with support from the Gloucester Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, and the Bruce Cove Foundation.
More information is available at www.jonathanbayliss.org/acropolis.

Gloucester Stage Company presents MOON MAN WALK by James Ijames
2026-09-13 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-09-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Travel to the moon and back as Spencer revisits his childhood home in Philadelphia following his mother’s passing. With the help of the unfettered Petrushka, along with the haunting memory of his mother, Spencer dives into the mystery of his youth and uncovers the true identity behind his estranged father. Journey through time and space as we discover how our pasts shape, protect, and connect us all in this time-bending, regional premiere drama.
Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright James Ijames and directed by Dawn M. Simmonsº, Moon Man Walk runs September 13 to 29. All performances are at the Natti-Willsky Performance Center – 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Showtimes are Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturdays & Sunday at 2:00pm.

Words & Music: The Celtic Spirit
2026-09-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Join host Maeve Gilchrist and musical guests, Lindsay O Donovan, David Coffin, Seamus Egan, Edwin Huizinga, Nuala Kennedy and some special guests in this intimate hour-long celebration of the time-old relationship between words and music.
Location: Third Floor Reception Hall
During this meditative performance we ask our artists to share words of meaning: poetry and prose, personal stories and tales of the imagination. Set against a soundscape of songs, improvisation and melodies designed to move the spirit.

Vintage Base Ball
2026-09-13 11:00 - 17:00 | Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, 5 Littles Lane, Newbury, M, 01951, United States
It’s Base Ball, 1864 style at Spencer Peirce Little Farm! These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching without gloves. A ball bounced once and caught is an out! Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Come and see for yourself how “America’s favorite pastime” was played in the 1860s. The teams competing are based on actual nineteenth-century baseball clubs from New England.
The Essex Base Ball Organization is a nonprofit “vintage base ball” group that plays the game as it was played in the 1860s. They are based out of Newbury, Massachusetts, and have four teams. They teach the history of baseball through games and demonstrations, offering youth clinics and lectures on baseball history at historical societies, libraries, and other civic organizations.
See HNE website for first pitch times; triple headers start at 11 AM, doubles at noon.

Fall Weekends at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-13 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Labor Day kicks-off the best of New England at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA! Enjoy apple picking, live music (2 bands per day!), food trucks, hard cider, tractor rides, farmhouse goods, hot cider, donuts and pumpkin whoopie pies! Pick out your seasonal pumpkins, gourds and mums.
Purchase apple picking tickets ahead (posted 48 hrs in advance) or upon arrival at the farm.

Celtic Céildh
2026-09-12 21:30 - 23:00 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Grab a drink at the bar, bring your dancing shoes and join host Maeve Gilchrist for an exhilarating evening of fiddle music and dance! Enjoy the traditional session hosted by Abbie MacQuarrie along with some surprise special guests. And be prepared to grab a partner and dance as Abbie teaches some easy-to-learn traditional Ceili-dances. Pure-drop fun!
Location: Third Floor Reception Hall

Strings on Strings
2026-09-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Maeve Gilchrist | Copley Street | The Fretless (with special guest Madeleine Rogers) | Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter (Fire and Grace)
A string focused extravaganza of a night where we hear music from the world-class, pure-drop traditional sounds of Boston-based band, Copley Street (Joey Abarta, Nathan Gourley and Owen Marshall) next to Baroque fiddler extraordinaire, Edwin Huizinga and guitarist William Coulter play their jaw-dropping distillations of Vivaldi’s four seasons.
This evening will bring us the joy of Spring and the visceral excitement of Summer as we hear these two instruments cover an entire orchestra’s worth of texture, melody and soul. In the second half of the concert we bring back Canada’s award-winning quartet, The Fretless, this time joining forces with the stunning vocals of Madeleine Rogers. This pan-Canadian group is reinventing the meaning of string quartet and bringing the sounds of their respective string cultures into indie territory, garnering new audiences, new sounds and creating a whole new horizon. Pulling it all together, Rockport’s Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist will bring her harp, poetry and context to each act to turn this whole evening into an unforgettable story of songs, tunes and concerti!

Chantey Sing
2026-09-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Bring your voices to a boisterous Chantey Sing with David Coffin. Sing along on the chorus of a hauling, stamping, heaving, capstan, what-have-you chantey. Let’s rattle the rafters!!

MASS ECO FEST
2026-09-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Topsfield Town Common, 9 E. Common St, Topsfield, MA, 01983, United States
Mass Eco Fest is Massachusetts’ only single-use plastic-free event celebrating sustainable living, local makers, and zero-waste innovation.
50+ vendors, sustainable organizations, food, music, and community.
Everyone welcome including dogs!

Salon Session
2026-09-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Come meet our 2026 commissioned composer, Nuala Kennedy and hear about the nuances of writing new works through the lens of traditional Irish Music. Hear Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter describe the Creative process of distilling Vivaldi’s famous Four seasons in all its orchestrational nuance down to two instruments: guitar and fiddle! Bring your own questions. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of our 2026 artists up close and have some of your questions answered! Hosted by Maeve Gilchrist.

Pastel Workshop: The Nature of Color with Kimberly Jermain
2026-09-12 10:30 - 12:30 | Cape Ann Museum Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Discover the power of color in the natural world during this two-hour outdoor workshop led by artist and author Kimberly Collins Jermain. Set on the CAM Green, this hands-on session introduces participants to working with pastel through an exercise from Jermain’s newly published book The Nature of Color, which presents her innovative, nature-based approach to understanding and using color in art.
Note: Materials included. Class time is primarily outdoors; please dress appropriately for the weather.
Kimberly Collins Jermain is a landscape painter, teacher, and architectural color designer whose work uses the power of color to change how we experience the world. Since 1989, Kimberly has collaborated with over 800 clients, including homeowners, architects, interior designers, developers, and commercial property owners on color design projects.

Studio Saturdays: Nature's Abundance Collages
2026-09-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Celebrate nature’s abundance through mixed-media collage! Together, we’ll draw inspiration from patterns found in leaves, seeds, flowers and other treasures as we create mandala-inspired artwork that celebrates the beauty, balance and interconnectedness of the natural world.
Studio Saturdays is a series of adult art making classes designed to inspire creativity and connection through multimedia arts exploration. Each class includes an arts activity that will inspire collaboration, curiosity and creativity, culminating in a completed individual artwork and communal sharing.

A Band of Brothers - More than just and Allman Brothers Tribute
2026-09-11 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cut, 177 Main Street , Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
18+, Positive I.D. Required
“A Band Of Brothers” isn’t just an Allman Brothers tribute band; they’re a powerhouse, uniting the top-tier talent of the East Coast. The brainchild of ace Boston guitarists Ryan Taylor and Johnny Trama, this collective, more than a mere homage, harness the Allman Brothers tradition as a vehicle to bring a unique and exciting experience every night. The ensemble features artists from an array of bands including – North Mississippi Allstars ,Dickey Betts and Great Southern, Pink Talking Fish, Neighbor, Dub Apocalypse, Peter Wolf’s Midnight Travelers, Dickey Betts Great Southern, Slightly Stoopid, Sonya Rae Taylor, Band of Killers and more.
Matt Zeiner began his professional music career touring with Matt “Guitar” Murphy, who exposed him to a fusion of blues and jazz. His career took a significant turn in 2000 when Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band recruited him as a keyboardist and vocalist, leading to a fruitful collaboration and tour.
Ryan Taylor on slide guitar spearheads the band with his exceptional talents. His journey, steeped in the rich musical traditions of Austin and Nashville, saw Ryan honing his craft the old-fashioned way.
Johnny Trama on guitar conjures up riffs and rhythms that speak volumes. His journey through the realms of rock, soul, and blues, playing with icons like Bettye LaVette and Jesse Dee, has armed him with a mystical musical prowess.
Jesse Williams on bass is an alchemist of groove, spinning each note into a rhythmic tapestry. His Grammy-nominated escapades with the likes of Duke Robillard and Joe Louis Walker have endowed him with a bass prowess that’s both fluid and formidable.
Tom Arey behind the drums is nothing short of a powerhouse, orchestrating beats and fills with the finesse of a seasoned composer. His tenure with Peter Wolf’s Midnight Travelers has honed a style that’s explosive yet eloquent, much like the Allmans’ own percussive legends.
Brendan Tommaney on percussion is a true artist, painting rhythms with a palette of beats and textures. Educated at the New England Conservatory of Music and seasoned with groups like Pink Talking Fish, Tommaney brings a jazz-infused sensibility that adds depth and dimension to the band’s sound.
Paul Wolstencroft on keyboards crafts melodies that mesmerize and transport. His tenure with Slightly Stoopid has given him a swagger that shines through each performance, weaving a spell of harmonies and counter-melodies that elevate the band’s tribute from mere replication to a reimagined homage.

Opening Night: A Festival of Riches
2026-09-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Maeve Gilchrist | Nuala Kennedy | The Louise Bichan Band | Oisin Mcauly | Caoimhin O Fearghail | Alan Murray | Sam Reider | The Human Hands
This Friday night concert offers a smorgasbord of delights as we present a diverse and exciting array of artists that represent the breadth and eclecticism that has become a trademark of the Rockport Celtic Festival. Think of it as a festival in itself!
Hailing from Dundalk, Ireland, Nuala Kennedy brings her uniquely soulful vocals and flute playing to our Friday night extravaganza, joined by Alan Murray on Guitar. Hailing from one of the most northernmost points of Scotland, Orkney-born fiddler, Louise Bichan brings an incredibly dynamic transatlantic band of young musicians bringing to life music inspired by her upbringing on the culturally rich Island of Orkney. Virtuosic Donegal fiddler, Oisin Mcauly (Danu) pairs up with TG4 Young Musician of the Year and RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award’s best instrumentalist winner, Caoimhín Ó Fearghail to create a duo of instrumental music that’s sure to set fire to the stage! And as if that weren’t enough, we have the incredible Americana/jazz/roots music band Sam Reider and the Human Hands bringing the party with their unique blend of fiddle, saxophone, accordion and bass and showcasing the most one of the most exciting sounds on the American New Acoustic Scene right now. And best of all, what happens when all these artists meet?! Don’t miss it!

Fall Fridays! Live Music & Hard Cider Series at Cider Hill Farm
2026-09-11 14:30 - 17:30 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Kick off each fall weekend from 9/4-10/23 with free live music from 2:30-5:30 pm. Enjoy the outdoor hard cider bar (non-alcoholic sparkling cider available) and grab some farm snacks in the farm store. The farm store is open daily until 6 pm. Apple picking open daily through mid October! See the music schedule: https://www.ciderhill.com/farm-events/live-music

Captain Elias Davis House Tour
2026-09-11 14:00 - 14:30 | Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, 01930, United States
What can a house tell us about the people who lived there?
Step inside the Capt. Elias Davis House and discover how architecture, craftsmanship, and everyday objects reveal the lives of one Gloucester family and the changing history of Cape Ann. This docent-led experience invites visitors to look closely at the details that transform a historic building into a story of community, commerce, and home.

Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-09-10 18:00 - 21:00 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
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.

Artist Talk: Fiona Sinéad Brehony
2026-09-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Join Manchester-based artist, Fiona Sinéad Brehony at her Artist Talk to learn about her process and technique in her residency in collaboration with Ocean Alliance, made possible through the Goetemann Artist Residency program.
The residency offers Brehony an opportunity to explore Gloucester Harbor through Richard White’s concept of the organic machine, simultaneously a natural system and human infrastructure, yet also something so vast and distributed it exceeds our ability to fully grasp it.
She will engage in acts of listening, watching and writing to see what emerges, inviting participants in for gatherings where ideas can transform collectively. Working with Ocean Alliance’s whale song archives, she hopes to develop poetic work that explores ocean presence, waters shared with whales, where freshwater meets salt and interaction shifts from intimate to incomprehensible.

En Plein Air Sketch Classes with Sue Wheeler
2026-09-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
From stick figure doodlers to first-rate talents, join us for a seaside, En Plein Air sketch class with Sue Wheeler of Arts Abound in Magnolia. All skill levels are welcome! This two-hour session includes a 30-minute beginner sketch lesson. All you need to bring is a sketchbook, pencils, a ruler, and an eraser. Please note: watercolors, pastels, oils, or acrylics are not permitted on the Museum grounds.
Attendees who wish to tour the Hammond Castle Museum after this class are entitled to a 20% discount on a self-guided tour. Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop before 2:30 pm on the day of this class.
Class Schedule:
Thursday Plein Air Sketch classes: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
May:14
June: 11
July 23: (6 – 8 pm)
August: 6
September: 10
October: 8
Saturday En Plein Air Sketch classes: 9:30 am- 11:30 am.
May: 9
June: 20
July:18
August: 1
September: 5
October: 3
All classes are $25 each. Museum Member savings apply.
Weather-dependent; classes may be canceled, and reservations will be refunded if necessary.
About Sue Wheeler:
Sue has a lifetime of making art through various mediums from delectable pastries to abstracts in pastels, watercolor, and acrylics. She enjoys using her creative flair in quilting and interior design as well.
Sue graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor’s in business with a focus on hospitality management and earned an associate’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Following her tenure as a pastry chef in New Hampshire, Sue returned to school for a certificate in graphic design and put her talents to use as a designer in the book publishing and art publishing industries in Vermont. In early 2019, Sue opened her own gallery and studio, Arts Abound in Magnolia Village, MA, as an artistic haven for local artists. Through the gallery, over 30 artists featured their creative works, ranging from paintings, hand-painted silk scarves, silver jewelry, and more. Sue also ran many workshops and classes featuring many of the artists. Often, Sue would work late into the night, painting in her Arts Abound studio. After closing the gallery in 2022, Sue continued to offer the often sold-out painting classes, taught by some of the Arts Abound artists.
Sue has studied under numerous artists to learn watercolor, acrylic painting, cold wax & oil, and collage. Her goals for the Hammond Castle Museum sketch classes are to engage those who are new to the world of art and reinvigorate those who haven’t picked up a blank canvas or sketch pad in a long time. Sue’s philosophy on the creative process encourages you to be less concerned about the final product and instead to enjoy the journey of creativity and get lost in the moment. Once you find yourself in your work, you may just be surprised!
