North of Boston

Cedar Bark Mat Weaving Demonstration at PEM
2026-04-23 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join artist Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) for a demonstration of the Native American art practice of weaving a mat from the inner bark of a cedar tree. After the session, see her nature-based artworks featured in the Knowing Nature exhibition. James-Perry, a restoration ecologist, will also discuss how she sustainably harvests and prepares natural materials from the forest, including plant dyes, for her artworks.
About our collaborator
Elizabeth James-Perry
Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) engages with Northeastern Woodlands Native cultural expressions, primarily in sculptural forms of wampum shell carving, twined basketry and bead making, with connections to identity and sovereignty, maritime traditions and restorative Native gardening.

Kids Photo Op at Witch Pix
2026-04-23 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-20 10:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-19 10:30 - 16:30 | Witch Pix, 172 Essex St, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
A kid-only witchy portrait session offering four fun styles for a quick, imaginative Salem experience. For a limited time, young visitors can enjoy a brief witchy portrait designed for vacation fun in Salem. Children pick one of four signature styles—Graveyard Magic, Crystal Ball Witchery, 1692 Glamour, or Earth Witch—and step into character with simple costume pieces. The session blends creativity, history, and play, producing a small gallery of expressive images.

Rainforest Reptiles at Wenham Museum
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
Get ready for an immersive, hands-on reptile adventure with Rainforest Reptiles! For more than 30 years, this popular live animal show has been bringing audiences face-to-face with rescued reptiles through exciting, interactive presentations.
Meet incredible reptiles up close, discover surprising facts, and experience the thrill of a live animal encounter. With plenty of audience interaction, memorable moments, and creatures you may have never seen before, this crowd-pleasing program is sure to delight curious kids and adventurous grown-ups alike.
Register for the 10 AM show here >>
Please note: Museum admission is required for non-members and is included in the ticket price below.
Tickets:
$12 – Member Child/Adult/Senior
$24 – Nonmember Child/Senior (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
$29 – Nonmember Adult (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
Free – Child under 2 years old
For the full schedule of all the April Break Adventures at the Museum, please visit this link >>.

Kids Free Week at Hammond Castle Museum
2026-04-23 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-22 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-21 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-20 09:00 - 15:30 | Hammond Castle Museum, 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Hammond Castle Museum is happy to welcome school age children for free during April school vacation week. From April 20-24, all children ages from 0-12 are invited to take a self-guided tour for free with the purchase of an additional adult or senior ticket.
In addition to a self-guided tour, guests will also be able to view our fourth annual Eric Pape fine art exhibition, featuring a significant collection of pen and ink illustrations by Eric Pape (1870 to 1938). Many of these works were recovered from Pape’s locked studio decades after his death and have not been publicly exhibited for over a century. Included are illustrations originally created for The Arabian Nights, Tales of Wonder and Magnificence, Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris, Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Shakespeare and The Heart of a Child by Gertrude Slaughter.
Advance Reservations strongly encouraged. Museum Member savings apply.
Experience Hammond Castle Museum at your own pace with our flexible arrival times for Self Guided Tours! Your tickets grant you entry anytime within the Morning or Afternoon times, based on your selection, ensuring you can arrive stress-free and enjoy your visit to the fullest.
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 11:45 am
Afternoon Session: 11:45 am – 2:30 pm
Please note: last entrance to the Museum is at 2:45 pm sharp. The Museum & Grounds close promptly at 3:30 pm. We recommend planning at least 60 minutes to explore the grounds and interior galleries of the Museum. The Museum is not handicapped accessible as it features numerous stairs.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams
2026-04-22 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.

Good News Gus! – Puppets, Magic, & Music at Wenham Museum
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
All aboard for a train-tastic show with Good News Gus! Join puppeteer, musician, and magician Harry LaCoste for The Caboose Is Loose, an interactive performance filled with lively songs, playful puppets, and plenty of laughs.
With his lovable puppet pal Gus and a suitcase full of surprises, Harry brings music, magic, and humor together in a joyful, high-energy show that will have kids giggling, grown-ups smiling, and train fans cheering! 🚂
Preregistration required.
Register for the 10 AM show here >>
Please note: Museum admission is required for non-members and is included in the ticket price below.
Tickets:
$12 – Member Child/Adult/Senior
$24 – Nonmember Child/Senior (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
$29 – Nonmember Adult (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
Free – Child under 2 years old
For the full schedule of all the April Break Adventures at the Museum, please visit this link >>.

A Sailor’s Life: Food & Medicine
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Step into the world of 18th-century sailors and discover how crews survived long voyages at sea. In this hands-on program, kids will learn what sailors ate, how they kept food from spoiling, and what they did when someone got sick at sea.
Become part of a “crew,” choose supplies for your ship, try salting green beans, and even help mix a remedy for scurvy. Led by educator Dan Marshall, this interactive program brings history to life through fun activities and demonstrations.
This FREE program is best for kids ages 7+, but all young explorers are welcome! Space is limited, so please only register the children who will be joining so we can make sure we have enough materials.

CAM Talk: To Live like an Artist, Cape Ann of the 1920s, by Martha Oaks
2026-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Cape Ann Museum Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Janet & William Ellery James Center, CAM Green
13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
CAM Members $5, Non-Members $10.
Registration Required. Parking is first come, first served and carpooling is encouraged.
This talk by Martha Oaks, the Museum’s Chief Curator and contributing author to the upcoming Avery, Gottlieb, & Rothko: By the Sea exhibition, will explore Milton Avery and Sally Michel’s earliest visits to Gloucester, setting the stage for future stays with artist friends. What was it that drew the couple here and inspired them to keep coming back? Who did they rub shoulders with on Cape Ann and who was taking note of their work? Learn what has changed in the local art colony over the past century and what has stayed the same.
This lecture is presented in conjunction with the museum’s upcoming exhibition, Avery, Gottlieb, & Rothko: By the Sea, offering context and insight into the artists and themes in the exhibit. For more information about upcoming lectures for the exhibition, please visit the Events Calendar.
Martha Oaks is the Henrietta Gates and Heaton Robertson Chief Curator of the Cape Ann Museum. She has written extensively on the art, artists, history, and culture of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Cape Ann, contributing catalog entries, articles, and essays. Oaks has curated numerous exhibitions exploring the history and the artists of Cape Ann and has contributed to Fitz Henry Lane Online, a digital resource and catalog to the American marine artist. She holds an MA in American and New England Studies from Boston University and a BA from Colby College.
Image Credit: Gloucester Chamber of Commerce booster car, 1925. Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, Massachusetts

Encanto
2026-04-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Set in the magical mountains of Colombia, Encanto follows Mirabel, the only member of her extraordinary family without special powers. When the family’s magic is threatened, she discovers her own unique strength. This vibrant Disney film celebrates family, identity, and embracing what makes each person special.

Latin Night! Learn Salsa
2026-04-21 18:30 - 19:30 | Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Get ready to spice up your dance moves at our Latin Night! Learn Salsa Dance Class Series!
TUESDAY & THURSDAY NIGHTS ——NEXT 6-WEEK SERIES STARTS APR 7 & 9!
Max 22 students per class. No Drop Ins or Single Classes.
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$114 for the 6-week series
TUESDAY NIGHTS: April 7 to May 12
THURSDAY NIGHTS: Apr 9 to May 14
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Join experienced dance instructors for Latin Night at the Larcom Theatre, where you’ll learn the vibrant rhythms of Salsa. Known for its passion and sensuality, salsa is a lively fusion of Latin American and Caribbean dance styles enjoyed around the world.
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BEGINNER 1A: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM Or Thursdays, 8:40 PM
This class is open to everyone! Whether you’re new to Salsa, have never tried it before, or are transitioning from On 1 to On 2 timing, this Beginner Class is perfect for you. The focus is on mastering basic dance steps, understanding salsa timing, building connections and frame, exploring partnering elements, and learning the basic moves for patterns, including left and right turns, and the cross-body lead. No previous experience is necessary.
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BEGINNER 1B: Tuesdays 7:40 Pm or Thursdays, 6:20 PM
This class builds directly on the Beginner 1A series and is ideal for dancers who have learned the fundamentals and are ready to gain confidence and consistency. There will also be a FOCUS on the ‘Leads’ for proper footwork and leading techniques, to become a better leader, needed to lead more advance moves in the future. You’ll continue developing On 2 timing, strengthen partner connection, and expand on basic patterns including turns and cross-body lead variations with proper techniques. The focus is on smoother transitions, musicality, and dancing with greater ease and control. Completion of the Beginner 1A class is required before enrolling in this class.
ADVANCED BEGINNER 1C: Thursdays (7:30)
This class is designed for dancers who already know the basics and are ready to refine and gain salsa skills. Participants must be comfortable dancing ON TIME with the ON2 Rhythm, and able to lead or follow left turns, right turns, and the cross-body lead. To enroll in this advanced class, you should have completed Beginner Class 1A & 1B or have equivalent formal training or experience. Please note: if you currently dance only On 1, you’ll need to start with the Beginner 1A class.
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No partner is required for any class.
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​​We extend a special invitation for ‘leads’ to join, as their participation will help ensure a robust presence of potential partner leads. ​
For questions about the class, email: donnie@thelarcom.org
LARCOM THEATRE, 13 Wallis St, Beverly MA

Animal Adventures at Wenham Museum
2026-04-21 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
Get ready to meet some amazing animals in this exciting live program from Animal Adventures! During this interactive, all-ages presentation, an Animal Adventure Guide will introduce fascinating creatures, share fun stories, and reveal surprising facts about each one.
From soft and fuzzy to scaly and surprising, you’ll meet a lively assortment of animals that crawl, hop, slither, and scurry. With plenty of audience interaction—and even opportunities for controlled touching and petting—this lively program offers a memorable, hands-on experience that animal lovers of all ages will enjoy.
Preregistration required.
Register for the 11 AM show here >>
Please note: Museum admission is required for non-members and is included in the ticket price below.
Tickets:
$12 – Member Child/Adult/Senior
$24 – Nonmember Child/Senior (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
$29 – Nonmember Adult (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
Free – Child under 2 years old
For the full schedule of all the April Break Adventures at the Museum, please visit this link >>.

Live Animal Encounter with Joy Marzolf at PEM
2026-04-20 10:30 - 12:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Know before you go
In-person
Location: Main Atrium
Included with admission
Children and youth under age 16 always receive free admission!
Learn about forest animals here in New England and around the world. Animals of the forest have special adaptations to survive. How do they find food and avoid predators? How do some species deal with extreme temperatures and other challenges? Come find out as you meet some forest animals up close and learn more about their wild relatives.
About our collaborator
Joy Marzolf
Joy Marzolf has loved animals from the time she was a child growing up in New England and she would always take advantage of any outdoor time to explore nature. Now, she still loves to explore, but also to share her knowledge about wildlife, wildlife photography and nature in general. She has worked with reptiles in the wild, and in captivity, for over 20 years. This includes live animal education programs in Oregon and field work with the Crocodile Research Coalition in Belize and the Copperhead Institute in New England. Her company, Joys of Nature, provides nature, nature travel and live animal programs for all ages, including programs for senior centers, libraries, camps and schools. One of her favorite things to do is break people’s misconceptions about many animals that people fear, including predators such as sharks, reptiles and spiders.
Happens on the following Dates:
Apr 20, 2026, 10:30am to 11:00am Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Apr 20, 2026, 11:30am to 12:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Create & Craft at Wenham Museum
2026-04-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
🎨✨ Create, Craft, and Imagine! ✨🎨
Make the most of school vacation week with hands-on creativity at the museum! Kids can choose from a menu of craft projects — from colorful creations to take-home treasures — and make something uniquely their own.
🖍️ $10 per craft
✨ No registration needed — just stop in, get inspired, and let your creativity shine!
🎟️ Regular museum admission is required — then it’s up to you how crafty you get!

Phenomenal Physics with Mad Science at Wenham Museum
2026-04-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
Mad Science is back by popular demand with Phenomenal Physics—an exciting, hands-on show that brings the wonders of science to life! Through surprising demonstrations and plenty of audience interaction, kids and grown-ups alike will explore the forces that shape our world, including balance, gravity, and Newton’s Laws of motion.
Get ready for jaw-dropping moments as Mad Science turns a baby bottle into a working fire extinguisher, sends “kinetic beads” leaping into the air, and even makes water disappear before your very eyes. Packed with energy, humor, and amazing experiments, this interactive program is sure to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists.
Preregistration required.
Register for the 10 AM show here >>
Please note: Museum admission is required for non-members and is included in the ticket price below.
Tickets:
$12 – Member Child/Adult/Senior
$24 – Nonmember Child/Senior (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
$29 – Nonmember Adult (includes Program Ticket + Museum Admission)
Free – Child under 2 years old
For the full schedule of all the April Break Adventures at the Museum, please visit this link >>.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2026-04-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, 356 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Salem State theatre celebrates 50 years of theatrical excellence with its production of Stephen Sondheim’s dark, witty and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge.
Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony’s, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim’s and Hugh Wheeler’s (A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures) tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world.
An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun!
FOR MATURE AUDIENCES
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Peter Sampieri
April 17, 7:30 pm
April 18, 7:30 pm
April 19, 2 pm
April 24, 7:30 pm
April 25, 7:30 pm
April 26, 2 pm
TICKETS
$15 general/$10 seniors/free for all students with student ID and under 18.
Friday, April 24 is SALEM NIGHT. Free admission for Salem residents. This event takes place in our mainstage theater, no advance reservation required.
Tickets are available at: https://salemstatetickets.universitytickets.com/w/
For access and accommodation information, visit https://www.salemstate.edu/access or email access@salemstate.edu.

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents RICHARD III
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:30, 2026-04-18 19:30 - 22:00 | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States
Shakespeare introduces one of his most notorious villains in Richard III. Richard, the deformed youngest brother of the newly crowned King Edward, vows to his audience to “prove himself a villain.” Armed with unparalleled skills of persuasion and deceit, he murders and manipulates his way to the English throne. A strangely lovable villain, Richard easily wins his audience over, leaving us to question who we are truly rooting for. However, a kingdom built on lies and ruthless ambition is destined to crumble. Richard entrances the audience with his wit, cunning manipulation of language, and vicious determination—qualities that once won his audience, ultimately lead to his rapid downfall.
Performing from April 9th-12th and 16th-19th, all performances are at The Natti-Willsky Performance Center, Home of Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Showtimes are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 978-281-4433.

William Shakespeare's RICHARD III presented by Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:30, 2026-04-18 19:30 - 22:00 | Gloucester Stage Company, East Main Street 267, Gloucester, M, 01930, United States

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents One Act Wonders
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:00 | 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.

Cantus
2026-04-19 15:00 - 16:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Now in its 30th anniversary season, Cantus is acclaimed for its signature warmth, rich blend, and inventive programs spanning music from the Renaissance to today. One of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus performs without a conductor, creating collaborative, emotionally resonant performances praised for their “exalting finesse” and “spontaneous grace” (The Washington Post). The ensemble tours widely, records prolifically, and remains deeply committed to education and the creation of new works for low voices.
“Exquisite” –The Philadelphia Inquirer
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary season, the “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is acclaimed for its trademark warmth, impeccable blend, and bold, thoughtful programming. Known for riveting performances that span the Renaissance to the 21st century, Cantus has been praised by The Washington Post for its “exalting finesse” and “expressive power.”
As one of the nation’s only full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus is defined by its unique collaborative process. Performing without a conductor, its members rehearse and create as chamber musicians, shaping programs that reflect shared human experiences. The Star Tribune notes, “The hallmark of the Cantus sound has always been sheer quality and an unbroken belief in the special way vocal music warms and invigorates the human spirit.”
Based in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Cantus maintains a robust touring schedule, with appearances at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, San Francisco Performances, Tanglewood, and Bravo! Vail. Its pandemic-inspired digital concerts now reach audiences in all 50 states and 16 countries.
Cantus records for Signum Classics (UK), with releases including Manifesto, Into the Light, and The COVID-19 Sessions, and maintains a substantial self-released catalog. Devoted to expanding repertoire for low voices, Cantus commissions new works and revives overlooked gems. The ensemble has received grants from New Music USA, NEA, Chorus America, and others, and in 2023, received Chorus America’s Alice Parker Fund Award for its authentic programming of Black and Latinx traditions.
Cantus collaborates regularly with leading artists and organizations including the Minnesota Orchestra, Boston Pops, Canadian Brass, Chanticleer, and Sweet Honey in the Rock. The ensemble appears frequently on public radio and SiriusXM.
Education is central to Cantus’ mission. Through masterclasses, residencies, and its award-winning high school programs, Cantus reaches over 5,000 students annually. Its new High School Mentorship program and statewide tenor-bass festival deepen this impact, alongside its Young and Emerging Composers Competition.

Newburyport Art offers Gelli Plate Printing & Collage with Maria Malatesta
2026-04-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
In this workshop, learn to make unique monoprints using a gelli plate. There will be demonstrations of various printing techniques which will include painting and drawing on the plate, using stencils, layering, combining shapes and image transfers. Printing and rice papers are great to print on as well as found and old papers. You may then use these printed papers in collage. This will be a fun and productive day of printing and experimenting with different methods and materials.
