We all know Halloween is coming. And we have plenty of ideas for how you can immerse in the thrills and chills of the season. But even without pumpkins and ghouls, October on the North Shore is a glorious time in its own right, so we’ve also assembled a list of things to do in the region that are spectacular without being spooky.
Hammers on Stone at the Cape Ann Museum, Through Feb. 1
On October 11, a new exhibit opens at the Cape Ann Museum—Hammers on Stone: The Granite Industry on Cape Ann. Exhibiting at the museum’s Green Campus, Hammers on Stone explores the history of the granite industry that shaped Cape Ann’s economy from the early 19th century to the early 20th, providing work for folks from around the region and the world. The exhibit displays artwork, objects, and other archival material from CAM’s collection that explains how granite harvesting worked and how it shaped construction across the US. More information at Capeannmuseum.org.
Ipswich Illumination, Downtown Ipswich, Nov. 1-2
This year’s Ipswich Illumination takes place over two weekends. While the first weekend October 17 to 19) has already passed, there is still November 1 to 2—to celebrate art, community, and heritage. Each evening, bonfires will be lit by flaming arrow and floated gently down the Ipswich River, running through the heart of town. Also along the river you can expect art installations, live performances of music and poetry, and food and drink available for purchase. More information at Historicipswich.net.
Farm Dinner, Appleton Farms, Oct. 23
Appleton Farms in Ipswich hosts intimate Farm Dinners each month: multicourse meals held on the farmhouse patio. For the dinner on Oct. 23, the farm is partnering with Newburyport’s Mandarava for a dinner of organic, plant-based, scratch cooking highlighting Appleton’s own produce.
Edgar Allan Poe Double Header, Gloucester Stage, Oct. 25-26
An imaginative one-person retelling of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Cask of Amontillado
created and performed by Livy Scanlon. At turns dark and darkly funny, this 60-minute solo show is staged as a séance, inviting audiences to conjure two of Poe’s most notorious narrators. In The Tell-Tale Heart, a nervous caregiver is driven to madness by an irrational obsession. In The Cask of Amontillado, the aggrieved Montresor lures his rival Fortunato to an untimely fate. Tickets at gloucesterstage.com/poe.
Beverly Beer Mile: Fall Crawl, Beverly, Oct. 25
The Beverly Beer Mile Fall Crawl runs from 12pm-10pm. Grab a passport at any of the Beverly breweries, have a full pour at each location, get your passport stamped at each location, and collect your prize. For more information: facebook.com/events/1356696559307154/?active_tab=about
Top Influencers Event 2025, The Cut, Gloucester, Oct. 22
Northshore Magazine’s Top Influencers Event celebrates the North Shore’s most influential industry leaders at an exclusive evening of connection, inspiration, and live music. Open to anyone who wants to connect, celebrate, and be inspired. The event will honor 25 influential people making waves across industries like entertainment, government, healthcare, education, and business. For tickets.
The Phantom of the Opera,The Cabot, Beverly, Oct. 2
The Cabot brings you one of the most iconic films of the silent era in its centenary – The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney turns 100 this year! Aspiring young opera singer Christine Daaé discovers that she has a mysterious admirer intent on helping her become a lead performer. This enigmatic masked presence is Erik, also known as the Phantom, a horribly disfigured recluse who lives underneath the Paris Opera House. When the Phantom takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion and affection, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, sets out to rescue her.
Tickets and more details are available at thecabot.org/event/the-phantom-of-the-opera
Essex ClamFest, Shepard Memorial Park, Essex, Oct. 25
The 40th annual Essex Clamfest will feature arts and crafts shows, live entertainment, and food trucks on site. But the highlight is the chowder tasting, in which local restaurants compete to see who cooks up the best version of the classic North Shore soup. Details available online.