North Shore, Massachusetts, September 12, 2025
News Summary
Throughout September, the North Shore region of Massachusetts will showcase a variety of community events focused on arts, music, and outdoor activities. Notable highlights include the regional premiere of ‘Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B’, the Rockport Celtic Festival, the Vintage Lawn Party, and Appleton Farms’ Farm Days. Families will enjoy interactive experiences, live music, and cultural exhibitions, while the Custom House Maritime Museum offers free admission on Saturdays. This month promises a vibrant blend of performances, festivals, and family-friendly gatherings across the region.
Salem, Massachusetts
Multiple September events bring arts, music, family activities and outdoor recreation to the North Shore
The North Shore region of Massachusetts will host a wide range of community events throughout September, offering theater, festivals, family activities, cycling, museum programs and seasonal gatherings. Key events include the regional premiere of the play Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B (September 4–27), the Rockport Celtic Festival at Shalin Liu (September 11–14), the Vintage Lawn Party on Salem Common (September 13), Farm Days at Appleton Farms in Ipswich and Hamilton (September 13–14), the opening of the exhibition Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World (September 13–February 16), a production of Rent at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly (September 16–28), Salisbury Days (September 18–21), the Tour de Greenbelt cycling event (September 20), and free Saturday admission at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport throughout September.
Top events and dates
The region’s theatrical season begins early in the month with the regional premiere of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B, running September 4–27 with evening and matinee performances scheduled across weekdays and weekends. Festival programming continues with the Rockport Celtic Festival September 11–14 at Shalin Liu, featuring live music, an author talk, a ceilidh and a closing performance on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, September 13, the Vintage Lawn Party returns to Salem Common from noon to 4 p.m., offering live jazz and blues, lawn games, and vendors while encouraging vintage attire. That same weekend, Appleton Farms’ Farm Days in Ipswich and Hamilton run from noon to 5 p.m. on September 13 and 14 with family-friendly activities, barnyard visits, food trucks and live music.
The exhibition Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World opens September 13 and will remain on display through February 16. Theater continues with a staging of Rent at Beverly’s North Shore Music Theatre from September 16–28, an exploration of artists’ lives during the AIDS crisis in the 1990s. Community and family events continue later in the month with Salisbury Days from September 18–21 featuring live music, food vendors, a kite festival and a car show. Outdoor recreation is highlighted by the Tour de Greenbelt on September 20, a cycling event with routes for all skill levels beginning and ending at Cox Reservation in Essex. Throughout September, the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport offers free entry on Saturdays along with educational maritime activities.
Event details and practical information
Performance times for Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B are scheduled on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Rockport Celtic Festival’s program includes concerts, an author presentation by Ben Shattuck, a community ceilidh and a closing concert on Sunday afternoon. The Vintage Lawn Party on Salem Common will feature traditional jazz and blues music, lawn games and a variety of vendors; attendees are encouraged to wear vintage-style clothing for the event atmosphere.
Appleton Farms’ Farm Days are designed for families, with activities that typically include lawn games, seasonal craft stations, barnyard animal visits, food trucks and live music stages. The Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World exhibition provides a multi-month opportunity to view the designer’s work and contextual materials beginning in mid-September. The musical Rent will present a continuous run in mid-to-late September at a regional theater dedicated to large-scale musical productions.
The Tour de Greenbelt cycling event is organized with routes that accommodate a range of abilities, from casual riders to experienced cyclists, and starts and finishes at Cox Reservation in Essex. Custom House Maritime Museum free Saturdays are intended to increase public access to maritime history through exhibits and hands-on educational activities for visitors of different ages.
Background and context
September is widely regarded in the region as a transitional month that blends lingering summer weather with cooler temperatures and the visual arrival of autumn. Local organizations and cultural institutions typically concentrate major programming in September to take advantage of comfortable outdoor conditions and increased participation as seasonal calendars resume after summer vacations. The schedule of events across the North Shore demonstrates a mix of performing arts, cultural exhibitions, community festivals and outdoor recreation, offering options for residents and visitors with varied interests and ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates for the major events listed?
Major events occur throughout September. Highlights include Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B (September 4–27), Rockport Celtic Festival (September 11–14), Vintage Lawn Party (September 13), Appleton Farms Farm Days (September 13–14), Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World exhibition opening (September 13–February 16), Rent (September 16–28), Salisbury Days (September 18–21), Tour de Greenbelt (September 20), and free Saturdays at the Custom House Maritime Museum throughout September.
Are events family friendly?
Many events are family oriented. Appleton Farms Farm Days, Salisbury Days, and some festival activities at Rockport and Salem offer family-focused programming. Theater productions and exhibitions may be better suited to older children and adults depending on content.
Do events require tickets or registration?
Ticket and registration requirements vary by event. Theatrical productions and certain festival concerts typically require tickets, while community events and museum free days may not. Cycling events often require prior registration for route selection and safety planning.
What transportation and parking considerations should attendees expect?
Events held in town centers and park settings may have limited parking and encourage early arrival, carpooling, or use of public transportation where available. Outdoor events may provide temporary parking or shuttle arrangements; attendees should check local guidance where possible.
Quick reference table of September North Shore events
| Event | Date(s) | Location | Times / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt 2B (regional premiere) | September 4–27 | North Shore (regional theater) | Weds/Thurs 7:30 p.m.; Fri/Sat 8 p.m.; Sat/Sun 3 p.m. |
| Rockport Celtic Festival | September 11–14 | Shalin Liu, Rockport | Live music, author talk, ceilidh, Sunday closing performance |
| Vintage Lawn Party | September 13 | Salem Common | Noon–4 p.m.; live jazz/blues, lawn games, vendors, vintage attire encouraged |
| Appleton Farms – Farm Days | September 13–14 | Appleton Farms, Ipswich & Hamilton | Noon–5 p.m.; family activities, barnyard animals, food trucks, live music |
| Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World (exhibition) | Opens September 13 – runs through Feb 16 | Regional museum/exhibition space | Multi-month exhibition showcasing designer work |
| Rent (musical) | September 16–28 | North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly | Theatrical run examining artists’ lives during the 1990s AIDS crisis |
| Salisbury Days | September 18–21 | Salisbury | Live music, food vendors, kite festival, car show |
| Tour de Greenbelt (cycling) | September 20 | Cox Reservation, Essex | Routes for all skill levels; starts/ends at Cox Reservation |
| Custom House Maritime Museum – Free Saturdays | Saturdays throughout September | Newburyport | Free admission on Saturdays; maritime exhibits and activities |
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Additional Resources
- North Shore Magazine
- On the Water
- Boston Herald
- Boston 25 News
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: September
- Google Search: North Shore events September 2025
- Google Scholar: North Shore Massachusetts events
- Encyclopedia Britannica: North Shore Massachusetts
- Google News: North Shore September 2025
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