May 18, 2026

Your 2026 Summer Guide to the North Shore

Looking for the best things to do on the North Shore of Massachusetts this summer? This 2026 guide blends seaside charm, outdoor adventure, seasonal activities, and local gems. View upcoming events, explore local attractions, discover the region's best seafood, and see why the north shore is a top summertime destination.

Events & Things To Do

June

  • Cider Hill Outdoor Hard Cider & Free Live Music - Amesbury  |  May-October Every Saturday & Sunday
  • Salisbury Beach Fireworks Show - Salisbury  |  June 27-September 5 Every Saturday & Sunday at 10:15pm
  • 4th Annual Newburyport Pride Parade - Newburyport  |  June 6 
  • Strawberry Festival at Cider Hill - Amesbury  |  June 13-14 & 20-21
  • Art Fest Beverly - Beverly  |  June 20
  • Amesbury Days - Amesbury  |  June 25-July 4
  • North Shore Pride Parade and Festival - Salem  |  June 27
  • Newburyport Lantern Festival - Newburyport  |  June 27
  • St. Peter’s Fiesta - Gloucester  |  June 24-28
  • Castle Hill Picnic Concert - Ipswich  |  June 25- August 27 Each Thursday

July

  • Marblehead Festival of Arts - Marblehead  |  July 1-5
  • Gloucester Waterfront Fireworks & Concert - Gloucester  |  July 3
  • Rockport Firemen’s Parade & Bonfire - Rockport  |  July 4
  • Blueberry & Flower Fest - Amesbury  |  July 17-18 & 25-26
  • Blackburn Brew Fest - Gloucester  |  July 18
  • Newburyport Yankee Homecoming - Newburyport  |  July 25 - August 2

August 

  • The Roaring Twenties Lawn Party at Crane Estate - Ipswich  |  August 1-2
  • Salem Heritage Days - Salem. |  August 1-9
  • Illumination Night - Rockport  |  August 8
  • Peach & Sunflower Festival - Amesbury  |  August 8-9 & 15-16
  • Gloucester Waterfront Festival - Gloucester  |  August 16
  • Classic Car Show - Newburyport  |  August 20
  • Riverfest Music Festival - Salisbury  |  August 22

Explore Beaches, Landmarks, & Trails

Trails & Sightseeing

  • Coolidge Reservation "Ocean Lawn" - Beverly
  • Essex River Cruise - Essex
  • Halibut Point State Park - Gloucester
  • Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary - Ipswich
  • Maudslay State Park - Newburyport
  • Motif #1 - Rockport
  • Newburyport Whale Watch - Newburyport
  • Parker River National Wildlife Refuge - Newbury
  • Rocky Neck Art Colony - Gloucester
  • Schooner Thomas E. Lannon - Gloucester

BEACHES

  • Crane Beach - Ipswich
  • Good Harbor Beach - Gloucester
  • Halfmoon Beach - Gloucester
  • Plum Island Beach - Newburyport
  • Singing Beach - Manchester-by-the-Sea
  • Wingaersheek Beach - Gloucester

Dine at Top Seafood & Patio Spots

Finding fresh seafood and alfresco dining across the north shore is a summertime must!

  • Bob Lobster - Newbury
  • Clam Box - Ipswich
  • CK Pearl - Essex
  • Grove - Rowley
  • J.T. Farnham's - Essex
  • Lobsta Land - Gloucester
  • Michael's Harborside - Newburyport
  • Roy Moore Lobster - Rockport
  • Sunset Club - Newbury
  • The Deck - Salisbury
  • The Lobster Pool - Rockport
  • Woodman’s - Essex

Looking for a sweet treat? Checkout the North Shore's Best Ice Cream Spots!

Boats in a harbor near a red building, under a blue sky.
Whale tail emerging from ocean water.
Lobster roll, clam chowder, fried clams, and sauce on a table.
Two-story building with balconies and outdoor seating by a grassy area.
Large bonfire at night with crowd watching by a riverbank.
Todd Farm Antiques
Outdoor seating area at sunset with chairs and people, by a bar under a cloudy sky.
salmon entree
Hand holding ice cream with sprinkles, cow statue on the roof in background.
Countryside landscape with fields, trees, and clear blue sky.
Crane Beach
Crane Beach. Image courtesy of Trustees of the Reservation
Carnival at dusk with a Ferris wheel and colorful lights by the waterfront.
Fireworks burst in the night sky above silhouetted trees and glowing lanterns.
Calm sea with distant lighthouse against blue sky.
Cloudy sky over a calm lake surrounded by greenery and rocky shore.
Boat on water with people aboard, surrounded by marshland under a blue sky.
An outdoor patio of a hotel and restaurant
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