Is there an admission fee for the Essex ClamFest?

No. General admission to the ClamFest is free. The chowder tasting is $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 10, with voting from noon to 1 PM while supplies last. Food trucks, local artisans, the K-9 demonstration, face painting and kids' activities, and live music are all part of the free festival day.

Is the Newburyport Downtown Trick or Treat free?

Yes. Downtown Trick or Treat runs 4-5 PM on Friday, October 23, at participating downtown businesses, and Witches' Night Out from 6-10 PM downtown and at The Tannery is free to attend.

Where should I park for Salem Night Faire?

Parking fills quickly during Haunted Happenings, especially at peak weekend hours. Arrive early, give yourself time to walk or take the shuttle, and check the official Haunted Happenings calendar for the current parking and shuttle guidance.

Weekend Events

What's Happening on the North Shore This Weekend: October 23-25, 2026

Kathleen Militello · Published October 22, 2026 · 9 min read · Boston's Coastal North Shore

An autumn harvest festival with pumpkins, hay bales, a hayride tractor, face-painting signs, and a harbor town in the background on the North Shore

Halloween season is in full swing across Boston's Coastal North Shore, and this weekend, October 23-25, 2026, there is something happening in nearly every town from Salisbury down to Lynn. Essex brings back its once-a-year chowder tradition at the ClamFest, Salem's Night Faire lights up Pioneer Village, Newburyport's downtown fills with costumed kids before Witches' Night Out takes over the evening, and harvest activities run from Ipswich to Cape Ann. Here is my guide to where to go, when, and what I would plan around.

Top Weekend Finds

Four standouts anchor the weekend. Plan around these and you will be in the middle of the best of it.

Saturday, October 24 | 11 AM-4 PM

41st Annual Essex ClamFest

Shepard Memorial Park, Essex. General admission is free for this once-a-year community celebration. Chowder tasting runs at $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 10, with voting from noon to 1 PM while supplies last. The day also brings a K-9 demonstration, local artisans, food trucks, face painting and kids' activities, and live music.

Friday, October 23 | 4 PM onward

Newburyport Downtown Trick or Treat and Witches' Night Out

Participating downtown businesses welcome costumed kids from 4-5 PM, and Witches' Night Out follows from 6-10 PM downtown and at The Tannery; the Chamber rescheduled it to Friday. Shopping and Halloween festivities carry the evening, and both events are free to attend.

Friday and Saturday, October 23-24 | 5-10 PM

Salem Night Faire at Pioneer Village

Part of Salem Haunted Happenings' 400th-anniversary month, the Night Faire runs 5-10 PM Friday and Saturday at Pioneer Village. The weekend also brings the Kids' Fun Fest, 10 AM-5 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and the Haunted Speakeasy at Hamilton Hall, 6-10 PM on Saturday.

Weekend of October 24-25

Marini Farm Fall Activities, Ipswich

Ipswich's popular corn maze and seasonal farm activities continue all weekend. Friday evening brings Pumpkin, Pints & Pianos, 6-10 PM, with listed admission of $23.49, and Saturday's Hallow-Marini Party runs noon-3 PM.

Events by Town

The full weekend, town by town, with the times and venues as published by local organizers for October 23-25, 2026. Where an admission is listed, I have kept the listed price so you know what to expect.

Salisbury

Sunday, October 25: Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch, 11 AM-2 PM at Blue Ocean Music Hall on Salisbury Beach, a Halloween-themed brunch with entertainment.
Friday: Beginnings: A Celebration of the Music of Chicago, 8 PM, Blue Ocean Music Hall.
Sunday: Picklefest 5: Pickle Palooza, noon, at BareWolf Brewing.

Newburyport

Friday: the 50th Great Old Book Sale runs 9:30 AM-4:30 PM at the Newburyport Public Library.
Friday: Downtown Trick or Treat, 4-5 PM at participating businesses, followed by Witches' Night Out, 6-10 PM, downtown and at The Tannery.
Saturday: the Great Old Book Sale continues, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM.
Saturday: Kids for Kenya Family Field Day, noon-3 PM at Bresnahan Elementary School, free.
Saturday: Chickenshack Bluegrass Band, 6-9 PM at Newburyport Brewing Co., free.
Saturday-Sunday: Spookley the Square Pumpkin at the Firehouse Center for the Arts.

Newbury

Saturday: Dance with the City Ballet of Boston, 11:30 AM-12:15 PM at the Newbury Town Library.
Sunday: Fungus Foray at Bowdown Woods, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, an outdoor nature walk through the woods.

Rowley

Saturday: the Friends Fall Book Sale, 9 AM-3 PM in the Large Meeting Room at the Rowley Public Library.

Ipswich

Saturday: A Little Bit Witchy Party at Tidal Pages Bookshop, an all-ages evening with henna art, hair tinsel, a take-home candle, and a DJ sing-along dance party. New local listings place it Saturday, October 24; the date shifted from some earlier calendars, so confirm with the shop.
Friday: Pumpkin, Pints & Pianos, 6-10 PM at Marini Farm.
Friday: Max Muscato plays live, 6-9 PM at Ipswich Ale Brewery.
Saturday and Sunday: Hallow-Marini Party at Marini Farm, noon-3 PM both days; everyone ages 3 and up needs a wristband for the maze park.
Saturday: Flashlight Nights at Marini Farm, 6-10 PM, navigate the 8-acre corn maze by flashlight, listed at $19.99 per person ages 3 to adult.
Saturday: National Drug Take Back Day, 10 AM-1 PM, local drop-off.
Weekend: Marini Farm corn maze and seasonal activities run all weekend.
Weekend: Castle Hill Great House guided tours and Ipswich Museum house tours, subject to tour schedules.

Beverly

Saturday: Beverly Beer Mile Fall Crawl, noon-10 PM, a dress-up brewery crawl through all of Beverly's breweries.
Friday: Skunk Sessions 2026 Halloween Show, 8 PM at Chianti in Beverly, a live band spooky-season show.
Friday-Sunday: Halloween on the Hill at Long Hill, 5:30-8:30 PM each evening, running most nights through October 30, with 1,500-plus hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns, an eerie graveyard, and a haunted pirate ship along the woodland trail; sensory-friendly hour Friday, October 23, 4-5 PM.
Saturday: Endicott College football vs. Nichols, noon, Hempstead Stadium.
Saturday: Member Mornings: Object Speed Dating at Hale Farm, 9:30-10:30 AM, Historic Beverly, listed at $5-$10.
Saturday: Draw The Line, an Aerosmith tribute, 8 PM, Larcom Theatre, Beverly.

Essex

Friday: Steve Dennis plays live, 7-10 PM at The James Pub & Provisions.
Saturday: 41st Annual Essex ClamFest, 11 AM-4 PM at Shepard Memorial Park.
Saturday: Fall Cider & Donut Cruises, 11 AM-1 PM and 2-4 PM.
Saturday: Pirate Party Costume Fundraiser, 6-9 PM at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, listed at $100.
Sunday: Fall Cider & Donut Cruise, 11 AM-1 PM.

Gloucester

Friday: live music at The Rhumb Line, with Ron Leathers at 5:30 PM and Funbucket at 8:30 PM.
Saturday: Tree Talk and Walk, 9 AM-noon at the Sawyer Free Library.
Saturday: Cape Ann Museum outdoor sculpture walking tour, 10:30 AM.
Saturday: artist talk with Elizabeth Bish, 2-4 PM at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, free.
Saturday: Beaux Arts Ball Halloween Bash, 6-10 PM at 51 Rocky Neck Restaurant, listed at $60-$75.
Friday: Captain Elias Davis House Tour, 2-3 PM, Cape Ann Museum Downtown Campus.
Saturday: Cape Ann Museum walking tour of the new outdoor sculptures with curator Martha Oaks, 10:30-11 AM.
Thursday evenings through October: Spiritualism Tours by Candlelight continue at Hammond Castle Museum, for anyone planning ahead.

Rockport

Friday: Teen Arts Collaborative, 6-8 PM at the Rockport Art Association & Museum, free art-making and pizza, with registration requested.
Saturday: Carol Lee's Cottage Pop-Up Sale, 11 AM-6 PM at Brackett's Ocean View.
Saturday: Rockport girls' field hockey home game, 1 PM.
Weekend: Frankenstein, a National Theatre of Great Britain production, at the Cape Ann Community Cinema, check showtimes.
Saturday: Rockport Farmers Market, 9 AM-1 PM at Harvey Park, the final Saturday market of the season.
Saturday: Hidden Gems from the Museum Collection, a new juried member exhibition opening at the Rockport Art Association & Museum.

Manchester-by-the-Sea

Friday: Manchester Essex boys' football vs. Malden, 6:30 PM, with free admission listed.
Saturday: Fall Art Experience: Sketching with Slow River Studio, 10 AM-noon on Manchester Essex Conservation Trust land, free with registration required.
Saturday: Left Right Center Fundraising Tournament, 5:30-10 PM at Manchester Legion Post 113, listed at $35.
Sunday: Cape Ann Symphony String Spectacular, 3 PM at Crowell Chapel, listed at $50 general admission.
Saturday: Community Shred Event, 9 AM-noon, behind Town Hall.
Saturday: National Drug Take Back Day, 10 AM-2 PM at the police garage.
Saturday: Early voting, 10 AM-4 PM at Town Hall; the voter registration deadline for the November 3 election is Saturday, October 24.

Salem

Friday and Saturday: Salem Night Faire, 5-10 PM at Pioneer Village.
Saturday and Sunday: Kids' Fun Fest, 10 AM-5 PM.
Saturday: Nosferatu with Live Orchestra, 1-3 PM at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Saturday: Nosferatu with live orchestra also screens at 7 PM at the Peabody Essex Museum, in addition to the 1 PM matinee.
Saturday: Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop, 11:30 AM-3:45 PM at Old Town Hall, an interactive trial where the audience is the jury.
Saturday: Hawthorne Hotel's 2026 Halloween Ball: Phobia, 7:30 PM, listed at $215 and nearly sold out.
Saturday: Wicked Night on the Wharf: UNTAMED, 7:30 PM at the Salem Waterfront Hotel, listed at $175.
Saturday: Heaven vs Hell Ball at Colonial Hall.
Saturday: The Salem Haunted Magic Show: Hysteria, a ghost-psychic magic show, 8 PM.
Saturday: Haunted Speakeasy, 6-10 PM at Hamilton Hall.
Weekend: Becky Nurse of Salem at Salem State University's Sophia Gordon Center, through October 25.
Weekend: Salem Night Tour, a 90-minute haunted walking tour with departures through the day and evening from 127 Essex Street.
Weekend: Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Derby Square.
Weekend: Haunted Happenings food court, witch-themed workshops, history tours, and seasonal entertainment throughout Salem.

Lynn

Friday: Tyler Henry, 8 PM at Lynn Memorial Auditorium.
Friday: Musical Bingo, 6:30 PM at Bent Water Brewing.
Friday: Karaoke, 8:30 PM at The Pelican.
Saturday: Halloween Party, 11 AM, listed at 919R Lynnfield Street. Details are limited, so confirm with the organizer before attending.
Saturday: Rodrigo y Gabriela, 8 PM, Lynn Memorial Auditorium.
Saturday: Nate Jackson: BIG DOG, 7 PM, Chevalier Theatre.

Best Choices

Not sure where to start? Here is how I would pick, depending on what you are looking for this weekend.

Best weekend choices by interest
Interested in	My picks
Best community festival	Essex ClamFest
Best Halloween atmosphere	Salem Night Faire
Best for kids and groups	Newburyport Trick or Treat, Marini Farm, Spookley
Best outdoor experience	Essex River Cruise, Bowdown Woods
Best evening out	Gloucester Beaux Arts Ball, Salem Haunted Speakeasy
Best arts and culture	Cape Ann Symphony, Rockport Art Museum, Cape Ann Museum
Best free or low-cost outings	Library book sales, Newburyport festivities, Gloucester artist talk

Event Calendars and Links

Schedules shift, especially in Halloween season, so these are the calendars I check for last-minute changes and ticket availability before I head out.

For last-minute additions, keep an eye on North Shore live music and nightlife listings through the weekend, since smaller shows and pop-up events often appear a day or two ahead.

Kathleen's Tips for the Weekend

Parking fills early at the Essex ClamFest. Martin Street closes to one-way traffic, and overflow parking uses Essex Elementary, so get there early and follow the signs.
Salem is at peak Halloween energy right now. Allow extra time to park and get around, and check the Haunted Happenings calendar before you go.
Witches' Night Out was rescheduled to Friday, 6-10 PM. Confirm times on the calendars, since a shift like that can ripple through an evening plan.
Where tickets are listed, book ahead. Castle Hill tours, the Cape Ann Symphony, the Beaux Arts Ball, and the Peabody Essex Museum can tighten up fast in season.
Saturday, October 24 is also National Drug Take Back Day, with local drop-off sites in Ipswich and Manchester-by-the-Sea among others. A good excuse to clear out old prescriptions while you are out.
Beverly deserves a full evening: the Beer Mile crawl by day, then Halloween on the Hill after dark for the jack-o'-lantern trail. Salem's headline parties (Hawthorne Ball, Wicked Night on the Wharf) are nearly sold out, so book now if one is the plan.

Thinking of living here?

Thinking of Living Here?

Fall shows these towns at their liveliest, and the same energy that fills a downtown for Trick or Treat is the energy that makes these communities feel like home all year. Every town has its own market rhythm, and I know the differences. If a weekend out here has you wondering what it would be like to live in one of these coastal towns, call me at (978) 500-1480 or ask a question through the site. I will tell you what I really think.

Kathleen Militello, Realtor® · The Militello Team | eXp Realty

Ask Kathleen

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the practical questions this weekend keeps bringing up.

Key Takeaways

The 41st Essex ClamFest is the headline for Saturday, October 24, 11 AM-4 PM, with free general admission and chowder tasting while supplies last.
Salem Night Faire runs Friday and Saturday, 5-10 PM at Pioneer Village, in the middle of Haunted Happenings' 400th-anniversary month.
Newburyport stacks Friday with Downtown Trick or Treat at 4-5 PM and Witches' Night Out at 6-10 PM.
Marini Farm's corn maze runs all weekend, with Pumpkin, Pints & Pianos on Friday night (listed admission $23.49).
Schedules shift in Halloween season, so confirm times and ticket availability on the linked calendars before you go.