By Mary Kate DePamphilis
mk@nobomagazine.com
It’s Memorial Day weekend, and like many of you we are welcoming the unofficial start of summer here at NoBo Magazine! The region is buzzing with events outside and on the water as we get ready for a fun summer of hitting the beach, eating the best seafood, and enjoying a few ice cream cones here and there.
We’ve already covered many of the local Memorial Day events, so after you attend the parades and ceremonies this weekend, get out and enjoy some of these other great events across the region.
We hope you enjoy your weekend of BBQs and family, and don’t forget to thank all those who have and continue to serve our great country.
Memorial Day Weekend 3 Day Beach Bash in Salisbury
Summer is kicking off at Salisbury Beach with a big bash on the waterfront—and you won’t want to miss it! The weekend will entail live music, tropical cocktails, and sports ticket giveaways at Surf Side 5. The restaurant and bar has a huge oceanfront deck that is perfect for enjoying the sun, surf, and good company. This place has one of the best beach front decks in the NoBo area and has plenty of room at over 8,000 square feet.
On Friday evening, local entertainer Jim Plunkett will be welcoming the weekend with his live music at 9pm. Paddleboard races kick off Saturday’s festivities at 10am. At 9pm DJ KoKop will be hosting a dance party for those in the mood to get down. Sunday will be a low-key fun day as Reggae band Hot Like Fire will be jamming out 4-8pm. Don’t forget, Surf Side offers lobster in the rough, steamers, and chowder if you get hungry for a summer snack!
When? Friday-Sunday, May 25th-27th
Where? Surf Side 5, 25 Broadway, Salisbury Beach, Salisbury
Cost? Price of food & drinks
Dinosaurs are coming to Franklin Park Zoo!
This Saturday kicks off a pretty cool exhibit that will be going on all summer at the Franklin Park Zoo. Visitors will be immersed in a prehistoric journey through time at Franklin Park Zoo’s Zoorassic Park and they will be enthralled by the vast array of fascinating dinosaurs “hanging out” throughout the park. These large animatronic dinosaurs will excite visitors with their lifelike sounds and movements. From the imposing Tyrannosaurus Rex to a variety of other dinosaurs including a Massospondylus, an Ornithomimus, which had a bird-like bone structure, a Chasmosaurus and baby, a Cryolophosaurus, and a Dilophosaurus.
Kids will also have fun pretending they are paleontologists at the nearby Dino Dig where they can “dig” for recreations of fossils and bones. This is a unique experience not to be missed. Zoorassic Park is an event for kids and adults of all ages.
When? Saturday May 26th-September 3rd, 10:30am-4pm. weekdays & 10:30am-5pm weekends
Where? Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston
Cost? $3 for members, $4 for non-members
Newburyport Spring Fest
Although most will be partying like it’s summer this weekend, it is still technically spring until June 20th. And downtown Newburyport will be celebrating the best of the season with this fabulous festival. Enjoy great live music, art, fine crafts, and food from Newburyport’s best restaurants on the city’s historic cobblestone streets. This festival brings some of the best crafters and vendors from all over New England. If you are in the mood to shop, it’s guaranteed you will find some great stuff for gifts, or for yourself!
On Sunday, the band Don’t Call Me Shirley will be playing contemporary, popular, and classic hits from the 1950s to today. Monday will have a different vibe with Way to the River—a progressive rock cover band. Either way, this festival is great for families, friends, and couples! There is something for everyone. And who wouldn’t want to spend the day poking around, close to the water in this picturesque NoBo city?!
When? Sunday-Monday, May 27th-28th, 10am-5pm.
Where? Downtown Newburyport
Cost? FREE
Celtic Music Sail in Gloucester
If you are looking to jump into summer in a unique way with your first boating adventure of the season, this event is the way to do it. The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is offering special harbor cruises around Gloucester on select Fridays and Sundays throughout the summer. Instead of your typical historical tour or whale watch, these cruises offer musical jam sessions on the open seas! Local musicians offer bring their talents to the boat, so you can sit back, relax, and listen to live tunes while you watch the sun begin to set on the horizon.
This Sunday Michael O’Leary and friends, a variety of Celtic musicians and singers, will host an afternoon of craic (that’s Irish for FUN!). You may hear bagpipes, mandolins, whistles, fiddles, banjos & even an accordion. This event is a two and a half-hour sail that “will undoubtedly be a highlight of your season.” Call right away to make reservations because the Celtic Music Sail will sell out!
When? Sunday, May 27th, 2:30-5:00pm.
Where? The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, Seven Seas Wharf, Gloucester House Restaurant, 3 Rear Rogers Street, Gloucester
Cost? $50.00 adults, $45.00 seniors, $37.50 kids, call 978-281-6634 for reservations.
Great House Tours at The Crane Estate
If you haven’t visited the Crane Estate on Crane Beach, I highly recommend it. The estate and grounds are absolutely gorgeous. As soon as you drive up the windy hill toward the parking lot, you feel transported out of NoBo and into a European manor with so much to discover. With the ocean off in the distant view, the setting is absolutely spectacular.
‘Explore English-inspired interiors, ornate woodcarvings, and sterling silver bathroom fixtures on this tour of the Crane’s summer “cottage.” A 1920′s David Adler masterpiece, this elegant country house provided a gracious summer home for Richard T. Crane, Jr., a Chicago plumbing magnate, and his family. On this walk through the mansion, be inspired by the past, and see how Adler masterfully combined centuries of architectural tradition with early 20th century features, including cutting-edge Crane Company bathroom designs. And, don’t miss out on the Castle Hill Estate Tours for a guided walk through the breathtaking grounds.’
Don’t forget to check back with us soon for our feature on the best of NoBo wedding venues that will highlight the Crane Estate as a premier destination to host your big day!
When? Thursday-Saturday, May 24th-May 26th, 10am-4pm on Thursday & 10am-2pm. on Friday & Saturday
Where? Castle Hill on The Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich
Cost? Members FREE, adults $12, children under 12 FREE, and combined Great House and Estate tour ticket $15. Call 978-356-4351 x.4049 for more information.
The Newburyport Summer Farmer’s Market
The Newburyport Summer Farmer’s Market is now open every Sunday! Come and find some of the best fruits and veggies farmed locally, savories and sweets made locally, and artisanal handmade crafts. There will be locally raised lamb, goat and pork products, pasture raised chicken, grass fed beef, local produce, potatoes, plants, seedlings, eggs, tons of tasty treats and many talented crafters. This event happens rain or shine.
Voted Best of Boston in 2011, the mission of the Newburyport Farmer’s Market is to support our local farmers, fishermen, chefs, and creative community through hosting the weekly market and creating compelling events that educate, inspire and delight our community. Come and support the local economy and start eating fresh and healthy for summer. <Click here for my fresh avocado salsa recipe.> Stop by the market and then serve this delicious and healthy salsa at your Memorial Day BBQ!
When? Sunday, May 27th, 9am-1pm.
Where? Tannery Marketplace, 50 Water Street, Newburyport
Cost? FREE entrance to market; Purchases at vendors are welcomed and appreciated.
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