With Memorial Day right around the corner, take advantage of this month to explore what the North Shore has to offer before you’re too busy with cookouts and summer festivities. Between walking tours in Gloucester and plant sales in Manchester, let this month be a fun-filled tease of your summer on the North Shore.
1. Castle Hill Tour: Cupola with a View, Ipswich, May 24-31
Join the Trustees of the Reservation on Saturday for their most Instagram-able tour, which includes a visit to the roof of the great house at Crane Estate, offering panoramic views of Castle Hill. The tour also dives into the architecture of the Great House and its surrounding buildings and property, as well as the reasoning behind the design choices made by architect David Adler.
The full schedule and tickets are available online.
2. North Shore Horticultural Society Plant Auction and Sale, Manchester, May 22
The North Shore Horticultural Society will hold its major fundraiser on May 22 at the Sacred Heart Church in Manchester. Members offer plants, bulbs, ground covers, bushes, flowering trees, and garden-related items such as garden tools, planters, plant art, pots, and garden furniture. Cash and checks are the only forms of payment accepted. The sale of pre-priced items starts at 6:00 PM, and the auction starts at 6:30 PM.
More details can be found online.
3. Hopper’s Houses Walking Tour, Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, May 23 & 31
Meet your CAM Docent at the courtyard attached to the Museum which is closed for renovations until the spring of 2026. The 1 1/2 hour tour takes you on a loop around downtown Gloucester. You will walk past select Gloucester houses made famous by American realist painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967). Hopper is known to have painted in Gloucester on five separate occasions in the first decades of the 20th century.
4. Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester, Anytime
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this medieval-style castle is a wealth of history, science, and art. Taking an unconventional two-pronged approach Hammond Castle operates as a STEAM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) as well as a historic house museum with a focus on its works of stone and marble. Make sure you visit the former Laboratory, the cavernous Great Hall, and the stunning Courtyard during your visit.
5. Newburyport Farmers Market at The Tannery Marketplace, Newburyport, Every Sunday
Shop locally for your groceries and favorite treats at this farmers market held every Sunday from 9am-1pm at The Tannery in Newburyport. With a variety of produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone. Once you’re done at the farmers market, check out the stores in the Tannery.
Learn more about the market and its vendors at thenewburyportfarmersmarket.org.
6. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, Anytime
Take your family beach day and nature walk to the next level at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island. With over 4,700 acres of natural wetlands, beach dunes, marshes, and much more, the refuge offers visitors a wide range of wildlife to explore and observe. Visitors are welcome to explore the grounds on their own or they can schedule a program like a bird-watching walk, a kayaking expedition, or a bus tour.
More information on available programs can be found online.