North of Boston

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe presents One Act Wonders
2025-12-21 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-20 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-19 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

A Christmas Carol
2025-12-21 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-20 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-12-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-19 19:30 - 21:30 | North Shore Music Theatre, Dunham Road 54, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
New England’s brightest holiday tradition! An original adaptation based on Charles Dickens’ classic novella, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a musical ghost story following the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge through a series of strange and magical journeys, where he ultimately discovers the true spirit of the holiday season. Featuring dazzling special effects and traditional songs this award-winning production has been seen by more than one million people since its debut in 1989.

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.

Lúnasa Winter Solstice
2025-12-21 15:00 - 20:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
The beloved Irish folk supergroup, called the “hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet” (The Irish Echo) returns for a festive holiday concert celebrating the winter solstice. Don’t miss some of the finest pickers, pipers and fiddlers in the world—Lúnasa will get your spirit (and your feet) moving!
Formed in 1997, Lúnasa has long been one of contemporary Irish music’s leading voices. Named after an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honour of the Irish god Lugh, the group that Folk Roots magazine once called an “Irish music dream team” was formed from members of some of Ireland’s greatest bands and over the years has proven its mettle time and again, having sold over a quarter of a million records and collaborated with notable artists outside the tradition such as Natalie Merchant and Mary-Chapin Carpenter. They have performed more than 2,000 shows across 36 countries including high-profile concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, National Concert Hall (Dublin) and Paris Bercy, and many of the leading festivals such as Glastonbury, Womadelaide & Edmonton.
From the start, the band’s complex arrangements and unique sound reshaped the boundaries of traditional music and energized audiences the world over. Critical acclaim followed, The Irish Echo describing the band as the “the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet”; MOJO magazine named the band “the new gods of Irish music,” adding that “nobody since the Bothies has wielded such a thrilling rhythmic underlay.” Billboard raved that “anybody who listens can’t help but find them contagious.”
Lúnasa’s current lineup features: Trevor Hutchinson, who achieved fame as the bassist with the The Waterboys: piper Cillian Vallely was a member of Riverdance and recorded with Bruce Springsteen: Flute player Kevin Crawford, considered one of Ireland’s greatest flute players, was a member of Moving Cloud: award-winning ﬁddler Sean Smyth, who performed with Donal Lunny’s legendary Coolﬁn and accordionist Alan Kelly; Colin Farrell is a multiple award winning fiddler, who has toured with Project West, Grada and Michael McGoldrick: Guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself in the UK folkscene with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby and Cara Dillon.

Santa at the Winery
2025-12-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Marble Ridge Winery, Marbleridge Road 11, North Andover, M, 01845, United States
Santa’s returning to the Winery for a special family day! Reserve your table with your family for time with Santa, cookie decorating, a hot chocolate bar, and of course, wine! Tickets will sell out – book at marbleridgewinery.com

Newburyport Art presents Hometown Stories Exhibition
2025-12-21 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-20 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-19 11:00 - 17:00 | Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Newburyport Art (NAA) concludes its year of exhibitions with Members’ Hometown Stories and Great Marsh Meditations, a featured artist show by C. Max Schenk. Both exhibits run concurrently from December 5th to December 21st.
Hometown Stories asked artists to submit work inspired by their hometown, whether a place where they grew up or currently reside. Hometown Stories features work inspired by houses, landscapes, businesses, objects, abstractions, bodies of water, people, and more! The exhibition is on view in the first-floor Sargent Gallery.
Nationally recognized for his work in environmental conservation, education and advocacy,
C. Max Schenk’s worldview and photography are imbued with an appreciation of nature’s cyclical resonance in all things. His Great Marsh Meditations show is the expansion of two portfolios created in 2024, each image is exactly that – a meditation – and features scenes familiar to all who have wandered and marveled at the beauty of our coastal home – its broad gestures of landscape and the ephemeral tableaus created by wind, tide, and time. Great Marsh Meditations is possible through the generous support of the Dr. Kathleen Van Demark Fund for Great Marsh Artists. His show can be viewed in the first floor Hills Gallery.
Opening reception for both shows will be Saturday, December 6th from 4-6pm. The public is welcome to attend, meet some of the exhibiting artists, and enjoy light refreshments.
Additionally, NAA will be hosting free invitation night events! Join us on December 5th for Voices of Newburyport, December 12th for an indoor arts market and December 19th for canvas and ornament decorating! Thank you to the Institution for Savings for sponsoring the Voices of Newburyport.
Founded in 1948, Newburyport Art is dedicated to promoting and exhibiting members’ work and to providing art education and access to the visual arts for the entire community. The galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am–5:00pm, Sunday from 1:00pm–5:00pm and is handicap accessible. All works are for sale. More information, as well as an online gallery is available at newburyportart.org.

Mistletoe Madness
2025-12-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-19 10:00 - 17:00 | Downtown Rockport, 15 Dock Square, Rockport, 01966, United States
Mistletoe Madness is back for a second season! This year, all shoppers participating in Mistletoe Madness will be entered into one Grand Prize Drawing. From December 6 through December 31, 2025, shop at participating Rockport retailers, restaurants, theatres, and recreation spots for your chance to win big in our New Year’s Eve drawing for hundreds of dollars worth of local gift certificates.

Hammers on Stone: The Granite Industry on Cape Ann
2025-12-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 17:00 | Cape Ann Museum Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
For over a century, the granite industry played a vital role in Cape Ann’s economy, providing work for men from across New England and around the world, generating profits for those fortunate enough to share in ownership of the region’s many quarries, and contributing to the unique and authentic sense of place that characterizes Cape Ann today. On a broader scale, the industry contributed significantly to building and transportation projects across our nation during a sustained period of growth and expansion.
Drawing on the Cape Ann Museum’s extensive holdings of objects and archival materials related to the industry, most of which were gifted to the Cape Ann Museum by historian Barbara Erkkila (1918-2013), Hammers on Stone will explore the history of the granite trade and its impact on the community. The exhibition will examine methods of harvesting, cutting, and finishing stone, as well as how granite was transported from quarry to wharf and further afield. The exhibit will also explore the lives of those involved in quarrying and consider how the industry helped shape Cape Ann’s artistic landscape, inspiring generations of artists to the present day.
Image: Samuel Lewis Pullman (1900-1961), Quarryman Joe Boston, 1930, oil on canvas. Collection of the Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA. Gift of Abner and Miriam (Pullman) Diamond, 1994. (1994.036.001).

Deck the Halls at Hammond Castle Museum
2025-12-21 09:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-20 09:00 - 15:30 | 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.

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.

It's a Wonderful Life
2025-12-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
On Christmas Eve, despairing George Bailey meets guardian angel Clarence, who shows him what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he’d never been born. Realizing his worth through the lives he’s touched, George returns home to a flood of community support—and a joyous reminder of life’s true riches.

Maple Strolls at Appleton Farms
2025-12-20 11:00 - 14:30 | Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
Sessions start at: 11, 12:15 & 1:30 Trustees Members $12/Nonmembers $20
Visit the historic maple stand and sugar shack at Appleton Farms and learn all about maple sugaring, its history at the farm and in New England, and how you can try your hand at it at home!
Experience a leisurely stroll along our country farm roads and past several historic landscapes to our Appleton maple grove. You’ll learn some of the history of maple sugaring as well as the science behind what makes maple sap run in our trees. The stroll concludes with a visit to our sugar shack where you will see firsthand how we turn the collected sap into our delicious Appleton maple syrup!
Be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing and boots or shoes that are appropriate for hiking in potentially wet and muddy spots or over uneven hilly terrain. All Maple Strolls are weather permitting and will last approximately 1 hour, walking much of that time. We welcome all ages; however, information is geared towards those 10 and up. Have smaller kids? Check out our family geared maple programming, Maple in the Barnyard!
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 12-3pm by the sugar shack. Make sure to stop by! No pizza service will be available. The Farm Store is open 10am-4pm where you can buy our very own syrup. Make sure to stop by!

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA
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!

Sawyer Free Library Launches Monthly Artist Program with Volume One Exhibition
2025-12-20 10:00 - 17:00 | MA

BrassFed Nation Holiday Bash
2025-12-19 19:30 - 23:00 | The Cut, 177 Main Street , Gloucester, MA, 01930, United States
Carlos Menezes Jr’s BrassFed Nation is a horn-driven groove machine with a unique sound incorporating the styles and traditions of early Jazz, New Orleans Funk & Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Calypso, and Jamaican Ska!
Founded in 2013, The BrassFed Nation is dedicated to the advancement of horn-driven music through exposure and outreach in both education and local musical culture! The collective features 3 unique ensembles; Cape Ann Big Band, The Jambalaya Horns, and The 13-Piece DubTone Orchestra – all striving to inspire and connect musicians of all ages through performances, private studio lessons, workshops, and interactive clinics.
ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE:
Paying homage to the infectious beats and sounds of New Orleans, the BrassFed Orchestra will cue the “Big Four” and transport audience members to the streets of the Crescent City for a Holiday Celebration that is full of surprises! This year’s program will showcase members of The Jambalaya Horns and feature a number of guest instrumentalists from the New England music scene! Featured Vocalists are Henri Smith of New Orleans, Sadie Cook, Scarlett Berge, and Alessandro Schoc.

Chloe Flower, Piano
2025-12-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA, 01966, United States
Genre-defying pianist Chloe Flower is redefining the boundaries between classical and pop with her signature style, “popsical.” A Steinway Artist and dynamic performer, she’s appeared with Cardi B at the GRAMMY® Awards and with Lil Baby on SNL. Beyond her solo work, she has composed and produced for Céline Dion, NAS, and more. Also a dedicated activist, Chloe advocates for anti-human trafficking and music education, serving on boards for the UN and The Liberace Foundation.
Chloe Flower is bridging the gap between classical and pop with her self-created genre — popsical — which is showcased in her 2021 eponymous debut album, Chloe Flower. Born in Pennsylvania, Chloe first reached for piano keys at the age of two. By twelve, she was studying at the Manhattan School of Music followed by London’s Royal Academy of Music.
The multi-hyphenate star has become music and fashion’s go-to creator as she intertwines her personal couture style and unique sound into something the industry has never seen or heard. Serving as an Official Steinway artist, over the years Chloe has grown into a musical powerhouse — from her show-stopping 2019 GRAMMY® Awards performance with Cardi B to her featured performance with Lil Baby on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Aside from her own music, Chloe has co-produced and composed for Céline Dion, Johnny Mathis, 2 Chainz, Swae Lee, NAS, Babyface, and more. Additionally, she has scored Misty Copeland’s documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale, numerous works for Kevin Hart including Hart to Hart (NBC), On the Come Up for Paramount+, and original compositions for champagne house, Krug.
Chloe is an ardent advocate of anti-human trafficking and a champion of music education and therapy. She serves on the advisory board of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Blue Heart campaign and is the youngest board member of The Liberace Foundation.

Invitation Nights at Newburyport Art
2025-12-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Newburyport Art (NAA) welcomes visitors to enjoy free Invitation Night festivities at Newburyport Art.
December 5th – Voices of Newburyport from 6:30-8:30pm with local voices Paul Wann, Bonnie Jean Wilbur, Jared Stromski and Currie Joya Huntington reading aloud fiction written by and about people from Newburyport.
December 12th – Indoor Winter Arts Market from 6-8pm offers shopping for the holiday season with participating artists Lynn Andrews, Michele Champion, Patrick Cleary, Amna Greaves, Lynda Hartwell, Milestone 35 Tools & Woodworking, Kathleen Miller, Lisa Pilorz, Johanna Finnegan Topitzer, AJ Simmons and Susan Stranc. Artists will be selling small gifts, original paintings, ceramics, jewelry, stationary, handmade textiles, seasonal items, ornaments and more.
December 19th – Craft Night from 6:30-8:30pm invites visitors to get creative with ornament and canvas decorating. All materials will be provided.
The events are open to the public and will include light refreshments and live music. Exhibitions on display at the gallery will be Hometown Stories, and Featured Artist Max Schenk.
Founded in 1948, Newburyport Art is dedicated to promoting and exhibiting members’ work and to providing art education and access to the visual arts for the entire community.
The galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am–5:00pm, Sunday from 1:00pm–5:00pm and is handicap accessible. All works are for sale. More information, as well as an online gallery is available at newburyportart.org.

Henry Knox and the Noble Train of Artillery
2025-12-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Route 1A, Wenham, MA, 01984, United States
Jonathan Lane presents: “The Resources of His Genius Supplied the Deficit of Means” — Henry Knox and the Noble Train of Artillery
Join historian Jonathan Lane, Executive Director of Revolution 250, for a fascinating talk on one of the most remarkable stories of the American Revolution.
250 years ago, a 25-year-old Boston bookseller named Henry Knox undertook one of the most extraordinary feats of the American Revolution. Tasked by General George Washington with retrieving artillery from the recently captured Fort Ticonderoga, Knox set out across the winter wilderness of New York and New England to transport more than 60 tons of heavy cannon, mortars, and shot to the siege lines surrounding Boston. Using over 150 teams of horses and oxen, Knox and his men dragged the guns across frozen lakes, snow-choked mountains, and half-frozen rivers. His “Noble Train of Artillery” not only demonstrated the ingenuity and resolve of the young Continental Army, but also provided the means by which Washington forced the British evacuation of Boston—an achievement born from courage, intellect, and sheer determination.
Afternoon Enrichment Series • Included with general museum admission • Ages: Adults • Registration not required
About Jonathan Lane: Jonathan Lane, Executive Director of Revolution 250 has more than 30 years’ experience in public history, tourism and cultural programming. Revolution 250 is a consortium of more than 70 organizations across the Commonwealth, working together on the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. While his employment has led him to many leading institutions, including Plimoth-Patuxet, the American Antiquarian Society, Berklee College of Music and the Massachusetts Historical Society, his historical studies have taken him to libraries and archives throughout the U.S. and United Kingdom. He is the author of a monograph on songs for British Soldiers in the 18th century, and is the editor of From the Potomac to the Etowah, the Civil War Correspondence of Alonzo Hall Quint. Mr. Lane was awarded the “Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Revolutionary Achievement Award” from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy in March of 2024. Jonathan is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts and the Alden Kindred of America.
