If you can’t make it out to The Big E in West Springfield next month to check out the Lobster Volcano, a bread bowl filled with lobster bisque and topped with lobster claw and knuckle meat, or a wagyu sloppy joe on a pretzel bun – we have four North Shore alternatives. It is time to check out food trucks, apple cider donuts, oysters, and beers.
Salem Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival, Salem Common
September 19 and 20
Head down to Salem Common for the 7th Annual Salem Food Truck and Craft Beverage Festival to help kick off the city’s spooky season. Indulgences will include mac n cheese, cookie & ice cream sandwiches, venezuelan flavors, wood-fired pizza, smashburgers, BBQ, chocolate-covered strawberries, seafood, sushi handrolls, middle eastern cuisine, bubble tea, sweet & savory crepes, handmade sopapillas, topped gourmet fries, and whoopie pies. Wash it all down, with local, regional, and national brews, plus craft cocktails.
Fall Fridays at Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury
September 4, 11, 18, 25 – October 2, 9, 16, 23
Start your fall weekend a little early with afternoon apple picking and hard cider at Cider Hill Farm on Fridays through October 23 from 2:30-5:30 pm. Grab food from guest food trucks, hard cider, pumpkins and apples from the farm store, apple cider donuts, and free live music. Each date is weather dependent.
Oysterfest In The Port 2026, Newburyport
September 26
This isn’t just a seafood festival—it’s a chance to meet and taste the best oysters in New England, harvested the same morning while drinking and listening to live music on the historic Newburyport Waterfront. At Oysterfest In The Port, you get to taste premier oyster farms from Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire—and the farmers themselves are here, shucking and serving their oysters to you while sharing their passion for sustainable aquaculture. This is a direct, ocean-to-table experience. Plus, bonus tastings from many great local seafood-adjacent vendors. Tickets sell out quickly every year.
Oak & Iron Brewing Company, Oaktoberfest, Andover
September 12
At Oak & Iron Brewing Company, from 12:30pm to 9pm celebrate a day of beer, brats, live music and Oktoberfest tradition. Tickets include one 16 oz pours of your favorite Oak & Iron beer, one OAKtoberfest meal featuring your choice of brat or burger with all the fixings, a full day of entertainment, from Bavarian music to an evening rock show, and OAKtoberfest games and contests, including trivia, mini golf, their annual Stein Holding Competition, and many more all with prizes. Tickets can be obtained at Oak & Iron or online.