Lighthouse Open House, Farm Festival Among Free Essex County Events in Beverly

Everything that’s great about Essex County - and the North Shore - will be celebrated with two weekends of activities and events dubbed “Trails and Sails.”

There will be more than 150 free events at historic, cultural and natural sites across the county’s 34 cities and towns in the area designated as the Essex National Heritage Area during the weekends of Sept. 19-21 and Sept. 26-28.

Each of the events are listed by community - and not date - below, so scroll through to see them all.

For all the details including specific limits of the number of participants and clothing recommendations, or to create a customized itinerary, go to the Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails and Sails website.

Beverly

Historic Thorndike Street Walking Tour

Hosted by Beverly Historical Society, 191 Cabot St.

John Gail and Lisa Balentine for a stroll down one of Beverly’s most historic streets. Meet at Beverly City Hall at the corner of Cabot and Thorndike Streets.

Sunday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hospital Point Lighthouse Open House

Sunday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 27 noon-4 p.m., open doors

Hosted by U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, End of Bayview Avenue

One of Beverly’s most familiar landmarks, this lighthouse commands a spectacular view of Salem Sound, and 3 other lighthouses. Visitors will be guided by members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary up a winding staircase and then up a seven-step ladder to the lantern room. From there they will pass through the hatch onto the gallery balcony to enjoy the spectacular views.

Moraine Farm Festival

Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hosted by The Moraine Farm Partners, 719 Cabot St.

A day-long line up of free tours, cooperative games, a marionette puppet show, craft activities, homemade goodies and farm fun offers something for everyone.

Hamilton

Polo and Picnic

Sunday, Sept. 28, 1:30-5 p.m.

Hosted by Essex Heritage Commissioner Tim Clark and Myopia Polo, 435 Bay Road

Thanks to the generosity of Myopia Polo, enjoy an afternoon of sport at the oldest active Polo field in the USA. Bring your own picnic and beverages. Look for your host, Essex Heritage Commissioner Forrester “Tim” Clark-- a former polo player--who will explain the game to you!

Salem

Bark Rubbings and Tracings

Saturday, Sept. 27, 1 p.m.

Hosted by Peabody Essex Museum, 144 Essex St.

Investigate the beauty and science of tree bark with bark specialist Michael Wojcek, and create an enhanced bark drawing to take home. Part of the “Branching Out, Trees as Art” exhibition opening at the Peabody Essex Museum. All other opening day activities free with museum admission.

Fish Seining Demonstration on the Beach

Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.

Hosted by Salem Sound Coastwatch, 98 West Ave. (Forest River Park)

At this demonstration, Salem Sound Coastwatch staff and volunteers will walk a large seining net into the water and then drag it back to shore where we’ll lay it out, gather around to examine the catch, and talk about what we found.

Gardens by the Sea

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2 p.m.

Hosted by The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby St.

Join The House of the Seven Gables for a fabulous talk by Robyn Kanter to learn about The Gables’ historic garden. Robyn Kanter, of Kanter Design Associates, will tell the story of a garden that is one of the oldest on the North Shore, and arguably one of the oldest anywhere that has remained virtually unchanged by time and fashion.

Guided Tour of Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic

Friday, Sept. 19 and Friday, Sept. 26: 3-4 p.m. each day

Hosted by Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St.

In collaboration with the Calder Foundation, this exhibition at PEM brings together over 40 of the Alexander Calder’s mobiles (kinetic metal works propelled by air) and stabiles (dynamic monumental sculptures) to explore how Alexander Calder introduced the visual vocabulary of the French Surrealists into the American vernacular.

Lady of Salem Maritime Public Art Celebration

Friday, Sept. 19; Saturday, Sept. 20, Sunday, Sept. 21, Friday, Sept. 26; Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. each day, open doors

Hosted by Salem Beautification Committee, 2 New Liberty St. (National Park Visitor Center)

Enjoy a community public art display of over 20 whimsically decorated ship’s figureheads adorning downtown Salem through a self-guided tour brochure available at the NPS Visitor Center in Salem.

Marine Science Experience: What is it and Why is it Important

Friday, Sept. 19, 3:30-5 p.m.

Hosted by Cat Cove Marine Laboratory, 92 Fort Ave.

Participants will tour Salem State University’s Cat Cove Marine Laboratory, learn about its relevance and gain insight into how some of their tax dollars are being spent. The visit is interactive, be prepared to feed fish, shellfish and to handle creepy crawlers.

Sail on the Schooner FAME

Sunday, Sept. 21, 10-11:45 a.m.

Hosted by Schooner Fame, 70 Wharf St.

Cruise the historic waters of Salem Sound aboard a full-scale replica of the 1812 privateer schooner FAME.

Salem in 1630: Pioneer Village

Sunday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 28; 12:30-1:30 p.m. each day

Hosted by City of Salem Pioneer Village, 98 West Ave.

Take a guided tour of the recreated village of Salem in 1630. Learn about the landing of the Winthrop fleet and lives of the early colonists.

Salem Marine Society Tour

Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21; 1:30-3:30 p.m. each day

Hosted by Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square West

Hidden on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel is an exact replica of a cabin from the Salem vessel Taria Topan. Join us for a very rare visit to the Salem Marine Society. Learn why this unique site has its own story to tell, and how it has been connected to the Hawthorne Hotel for over 80 years.

Salem’s Colonial Revival - A Walking Tour

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2-3:30 p.m.

Hosted by Historic Salem and Donald Friary, 426 Essex St.

Donald Friary, architectural historian and President of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts will lead a tour of two neighborhoods with fine examples of Colonial Revival buildings. Meet at the parking lot of CVS at the intersection of Essex and Warren Streets.

The Influence of Quakers in Early Salem

Saturday, Sept. 27, 10-11:30 a.m.

Hosted by Salem Award Foundation, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Charter Street

Join the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice as we welcome Salem State University public historians Professors Emerson “Tad” Baker and Margo Shea for a walking tour examining the history and influence of the Quakers in colonial Salem.

Witch Hunt Timeline Exhibit

Friday, Sept. 19; Saturday, Sept. 20; Sunday, Sept. 21; Friday, Sept. 26; Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28; 1-3 p.m. each day, open doors

Hosted by City of Salem Witch House, 310 Essex St.

Exhibit featuring some of the most notorious international witch hunts and trials reaching back into ancient history.

Marblehead

1768 Jeremiah Lee Mansion

Friday, Sept. 19; Saturday, Sept. 20; Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day

Hosted by Marblehead Museum & Historical Society, 161 Washington St.

Enjoy a guided tour of one of America’s largest and most opulent homes from the period before Independence.

Civil War and G.A.R. Museum in Marblehead

Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., open doors

Hosted by Marblehead Museum and Historical Society, 1 Market Square

Visit the Marblehead Civil War & G.A.R. Museum in Marblehead’s Old Town House built in 1727. The G.A.R. Meeting Room, Marblehead Post #82, exists as a “time capsule” exactly as it did when this local veteran’s organization was disbanded in the 1930’s.

J.O.J. Frost Folk Art Gallery

Friday, Sept. 19; Saturday, Sept. 20; Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27: 10 a.m.-4 p,.m. each day, open doors

Hosted by Marblehead Museum and Historical Society, 170 Washington St.

View delightful and engaging paintings of life in Marblehead and at sea in times past, painted in the 1920s by J.O.J. Frost of Marblehead when he was in his 70s, following the death of his beloved wife Anna.

Wenham

Explore the Wonders of the Grand Wenham Canal

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2-4 p.m.

Hosted by Ipswich River Watershed Association, End of Old Town Way

Discover a local hidden gem - the 2-mile long Grand Wenham Canal, or Salem-Beverly Canal, was built in 1917 and at that time was one of America’s largest water works projects. Learn about this incredible recreational resource (for hikers and paddlers) and the largest water supply system in our region.

New Doll Exhibit: Mrs. Horton’s Dolls

Sunday, Sept. 28, 2-4 p.m.

Hosted by Wenham Museum, 130 Main St. (Route 1A)

Visit the Museum’s newest exhibition, A Real American Girl: Elizabeth Richards Horton, telling the story of the woman that started Wenham Museum’s doll collection, Mrs. Elizabeth Horton.

World War II Memories by Christian de Marcken

Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Hosted by Wenham Museum, 130 Main St. (Route 1A)

American, WWII survivor Christian de Marcken, will share his story of when he was a young boy growing up in Belgium and having his father taken by the SS, his home inspected nightly by German soldiers looking for signs of Allied soldiers or resistance materials.