The North Shore has so much going on every summer, it gets hard to keep track. But fear not—we’ve rounded up some of our can’t-miss North Shore activities happening this June and July. You’ll find details on staples like Gloucester’s St. Peter’s Fiesta and Castle Hill’s Picnic Concerts, along with events happening only this summer, like an outdoor run of a Shakespeare play.
Salem Arts Festival
June 5–7
The Salem Arts Festival returns to downtown Salem from Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7, bringing with it tons of free community art initiatives like an artisan market, live performances, a temporary public art installation, interactive art-making opportunities, and a mural slam on Artists’ Row. The annual festival is put on by Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective; it’s sponsored by the PEM, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, and the Levitt Family Foundation. salemartsfestival.com
Rockport Chamber Music Festival
June 12–July 12
The Annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival comes to Cape Ann this summer beginning June 12. Directed by Barry Shiffman, the festival comprises performances throughout the summer—highlights include the Galvin Cello Quartet, violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martinez, and pianist Yuja Wang. All shows take place at Rockport Music’s Shalin Liu Performance Center. rockportmusic.org/festivals-2
St. Peter’s Fiesta 2026
June 24-28
The annual St. Peter’s Fiesta returns to Gloucester from June 24 through June 28, sponsored by the town’s Italian-American fishing community. The event features live music every night and decorations throughout downtown. Other festival highlights include a carnival, the open air Mass on Sunday morning, the procession of the life-sized St. Peter statue followed by a parade, the blessing of the fishing fleet, and the Greasy Pole contest, in which contestants try to capture the flag at the end of a greased pole extended over the harbor. stpetersfiesta.org
Castle Hill Picnic Concerts
June 25–August 27
The outdoor picnic concerts return to Castle Hill in Ipswich this summer, running weekly on Thursdays and Wednesdays from June 25 through August 27. Performing bands span different genres, from funk to rock to reggae, and guests are encouraged to bring chairs and a picnic dinner or to purchase food from on-site vendors like Beefie Boys or The Lobster Roller, Down River Ice Cream or Q’s Nuts. Beverages will be sold by Mill River Winery, True North Ales, and 1634 Meadery. The concerts cost $35 per vehicle for members and $45 for nonmembers, and tickets are on sale now. thetrustees.org/program/summer-concerts
Shows at the North Shore Music Theatre
June 3-14, July 8-19
On Your Feet! – the electrifying musical that tells the inspiring true story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan – heads to Beverly this June 3-14. Next up is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved family musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT graces the stage from July 8-19. nsmt.org
“As You Like It” at Windhover
July 10–August 28
Local theatre company Lanes Coven puts on Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” in a romantic and whimsical setting—the outdoor Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport. Lanes Coven is committed to producing accessible Shakespeare plays at affordable prices and with language clarity, and they’ll perform the show between July 10 and August 2. lanescoven.com
Festivals at Cider Hill Farm
June 6, 13-14, 20-21, 22-28 July 3, 18-19, 25-26
Throughout June and July Cider Hill Farms celebrates the summer harvest. It starts with the Farm and Field Festival on June 6 with music and games, then all things strawberries at the Strawberry Festival, and to round out June the Pollinator Festival to bring awareness to bees – the creatures essential to our food supply. In July, there is a one-day Cherry Festival on July 3 their first cherry harvest, and the ever popular Blueberry and Flower Festival on two weekends with the farm’s pick-your-own blueberries and cut-your-own flowers. ciderhill.com/festivals
Whim Dinner Series at Smolak Farms
July 15, 22, 29
The North Andover farm hosts farm-to-table dinners under the Pine Grove tent on summer Wednesday nights through July. Each dinner features a different chef from some of the area’s top restaurants— Massimino’s, Vivacino, and Gibbet Hill Grill. smolakfarms.com/whim
Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport
July 25-August 2
The annual Newburyport festival lasts a full week with events including the open air bazaar-like Yankee Homecoming Marketplace, an array of outdoor summer food including a full size authentic brick oven set up right in downtown, entertainment on two stages, history tours and Revolutionary Summer Saturday Musters, a Road Rally, Competitive Cornhole Competition, and much more. It wraps up with fireworks and a parade. yankeehomecoming.com
Go on a Whale Watch
All month
The North Shore is a boating paradise. You can find some of the best whale watching in the country (and even the world!) here. Try 7 Seas Whale Watch, Cape Ann Whale Watch, or Newburyport Whale Watch, which all head out to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the Massachusetts coast.