# Things to do with kids in Salem, MA

> 8 upcoming family events and 1 places and ongoing programs in Salem, MA (Essex County, MA), in the Boston–Cambridge–Newton area. Listings whose address is in this town. Dates and times are Eastern Time. Today is Sat, Oct 24.

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/salem-ma

## Events ahead

- [Salem Halloween Night 2026: downtown live music and 400-drone finale](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/salem-halloween-night-2026-downtown-live-music-and-400-drone-finale--listing-bb75f3f48d5744520f9dcd69) — Sat, Oct 31 · 12:00 PM · Downtown Salem stages; drone show over the North River · checked Oct 13. Salem Haunted Happenings concludes on Halloween night. Per the Destination Salem press release, live music takes over stages throughout downtown Salem beginning at noon on…
- [Chronicles and Crafts in the Cove at The House of the Seven Gables](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/chronicles-and-crafts-in-the-cove-at-the-house-of-the-seven-gables--listing-54f62b23f828f61fbf28432a) — Wed, Nov 18 · 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM · The House of the Seven Gables, Salem · Ages 0–6 · Free · checked Oct 24. A morning story-and-craft hour for little ones in the Kids' space at The House of the Seven Gables in Salem. Staff read a picture book aloud and then children make a themed craft…
- [1000 Books Before Kindergarten Party](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/1000-books-before-kindergarten-party--listing-3e080ae965201d0a2c0b5165) — Sat, Nov 21 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Salem Public Library · Ages 0–5 · checked Oct 13. A party celebrating children in the library's 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program, with crafts, activities and snacks plus a short recognition ceremony for everyone who…
- [Santa's Arrival & Holiday Tree Lighting — Salem](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/santa-s-arrival-and-holiday-tree-lighting-salem--listing-17f479a34455eec69b9de8dc) — Fri, Nov 27 · 5:45 PM · Salem Common and Lappin Park · Free · checked Oct 24. Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem combine two downtown traditions on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Santa arrives on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel at 6 pm with help from…
- [A Christmas Carol on the Salem Trolley](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/a-christmas-carol-on-the-salem-trolley--listing-c78b54a0d43ee08ee410b307) — Nov 28 – Dec 23 · Salem Trolley (check-in at Timeless Life Treasures) · From $36 · checked Oct 24. Salem Trolley and The Gallows Hill Theatre mark the 40th season of their interactive A Christmas Carol, a humorous, whimsical retelling of Dickens performed while the audience…
- [After Hours: Gingerbread Competition (grades 5-12)](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/after-hours-gingerbread-competition-grades-5-12--listing-254487d57fd9c7f83bc70ecf) — Fri, Dec 4 · 4:45 PM – 7:00 PM · Salem Public Library · checked Oct 13. Tweens and teens compete after library hours to build the best gingerbread creation in the Children's Program Room. Library doors lock promptly at 5 PM. A permission slip…
- [Holiday Card Making (Half Day, Hooray!) — Salem Public Library](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/holiday-card-making-half-day-hooray-salem-public-library--listing-0544abce592b4063ade04a8f) — Wed, Dec 9 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Salem Public Library · All ages · checked Oct 20. A drop-in holiday card-making hour in the Children's Program Room at Salem Public Library, timed for a Wednesday half day in Salem Public Schools as part of the library's 'Half…
- [New Year's Eve LAUNCH! Family Party — Salem](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/new-year-s-eve-launch-family-party-salem--listing-0e02750cc342cdbee798f1a2) — Thu, Dec 31 · 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM · Artists' Row, Salem · checked Oct 24. LAUNCH! is the family-friendly New Year's Eve party run by Salem Main Streets with the City of Salem at Artists' Row downtown. In the late afternoon children can try art-making…

## Places and ongoing programs

- [Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/peabody-essex-museum-pem--listing-c4f9b41ba395e65bc958e122) — Thursdays through Mondays 10 am–5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day · Peabody Essex Museum, Salem · All ages · From $25 · checked Oct 13. Art and culture museum in downtown Salem with galleries of maritime, Asian export, American and Native American art, plus the Yin Yu Tang Chinese house. Open Thursdays through…

## Recently ended

- [Witch Hats on the Wharf (Salem 400th anniversary photo)](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/witch-hats-on-the-wharf-salem-400th-anniversary-photo--listing-ef9f7ce29a94cfa2da4d3f63) — ended Sat, Oct 17
- [90 Minute Witch Hat Design Session](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/90-minute-witch-hat-design-session--listing-86f72199499f453393084822) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [90 Minute Witch Hat Design Session](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/90-minute-witch-hat-design-session--listing-882d51e06ba71e3d30271662) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Hat Making Workshops – Hands-on Experience](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/hat-making-workshops-hands-on-experience--listing-271c1efc156885cc9f6cf4df) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Charlotte Forten Park](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/haunted-happenings-marketplace-at-charlotte-forten-park--listing-d1cb83ecb0ab297861bf0487) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Monthly Meat Raffle (Cheese Edition!)](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/monthly-meat-raffle-cheese-edition--listing-5c5572b8202dd0ba8a4e79fa) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Tim Burton Day](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/tim-burton-day--listing-beb88e864b3e3b0c2231fe15) — ended Thu, Oct 15
- [Witch Broom Making Class](https://grassyknees.com/boston/activities/witch-broom-making-class--listing-70f733ca1e2c3397f97d32b9) — ended Thu, Oct 15

## Nearby

- [Things to do with kids in Essex County, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/counties/essex-county-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/counties/essex-county-ma.md)
- Other towns in Essex County, MA: [North Andover, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/north-andover-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/north-andover-ma.md), [Ipswich, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/ipswich-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/ipswich-ma.md), [Beverly, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/beverly-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/beverly-ma.md), [Topsfield, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/topsfield-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/topsfield-ma.md), [Amesbury, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/amesbury-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/amesbury-ma.md), [Peabody, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/peabody-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/peabody-ma.md), [Wenham, MA](https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/wenham-ma) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/towns/wenham-ma.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Boston](https://grassyknees.com/boston) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston.md)
- [This weekend in Boston](https://grassyknees.com/boston/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/boston/this-weekend.md)

Town pages are listed once a town has 3 current listings, county pages at 10.