Community Calendar
Below is a list of events and volunteer opportunities that we’ve found in the Essex County area.
Check back for updates! This calendar will be updated bi-weekly. Please see the organizer websites for additional details as information may change.
If you have events you’d like us to add to the page, please email leadingladiescommunitycalendar@gmail.com
Volunteer Opportunities
Defend Democracy Danvers
This a local Indivisible event. We meet on the 114 overpass on Andover St. every week from noon to 1pm.
Temple Sinai Knitting Club
The Temple Sinai Knitting Club meets every week to knit and crochet warm winter scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters, blankets, and teddy bears for donation to homeless shelters on the North Shore as well as to the Linus Project.
Bearing Witness at ICE
We invite you to stand in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Office in Burlington every Wednesday from 11am-1pm. Together, we can show love & support for immigrants, express our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of our government. Regardless of your views on any other political issues, if you support immigrants and their constitutional rights and are committed to nonviolence you are welcome to join.
Backbeat Street Fleet Run Club
Run Club meets every Monday from 5pm to 7pm with groups going out at 6pm. All walkers and runners welcome. Earn prizes each week!
Ipswich Food Pantry
The Open Door Ipswich Community Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Beverly Weekly rally for Pro Democracy
Please join us every Wednesday in Beverly from 5:30PM-6:30PM in front of the First Parish Church at 225 Cabot Street to show we do NOT accept #47 Big Bogus Bill, illegal deportations, corruption, cuts to Social Security/Medicare, etc. Please make an effort to join us as we stand up and say Enough is Enough! Bring a friend or 2 along with signs/posters/flags.
Swampscott Weekly Rally for Pro-Democracy
Please join us every Thursday in Swampscott from 3PM-4PM at the Monument-100 Humphrey St to show we do not to accept tRUMP's deportations, corruption, cuts to Social Security/Medicare and his total disregard for human beings.
Rally for Democracy
We will line the street with our signs as passing cars honk in approval! We must show that we are many and that we will turn the tide!
43rd Stand Out for Democracy Event
This Saturday and every Saturday!
We’ll be in front of Winthrop School on Bay Road from 11 AM to noon.
Just show up! Bring a sign or borrow one – we have extra signs to share!
Democracy is not a spectator sport and it feels good to do something with your community. Whenever you can join us, you will be welcomed with a smile!
Marblehead Weekly Rally for Pro-Democracy
Please join us every Saturday in Marblehead from 3PM-4PM at Glabicky Field, Route114 at the Maple & Lafayette streets intersection to show we do not to accept tRUMP's deportations, corruption, cuts to Social Security/Medicare and his total disregard for human beings.
Gloucester Food Pantry Mondays
The Open Door Gloucester Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Knit Knite
Interested in learning how to knit? Know how to knit and would enjoy meeting some of your neighbors who also enjoy this timeless craft? Then join the Beverly Cove Improvement Association’s “Knit Knite”! We meet weekly (Mondays at 6:00-7:30 p.m.) and work on a project of the groups choosing. Pattern reading and stitch instruction is taught by experienced knitter.
Womens Strength & Stretch with Gretchen
Gretchen Driscoll, Success Coach & Personal Trainer, will bring her specialty strength training class to CCC.
Full Body Strength for Women will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6 am to 7 am, starting 11/4/25.
Gloucester Food Pantry Wednesdays
The Open Door Gloucester Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Farmers To You Pick Up
The BCIA is an official pick-up location for Farmers to You, a year-round on-line farm to table grocer that connects families directly with farmers to improve access to high quality, consciously grown food and expand markets for sustainable farmers in New England. Unlike other community supported agriculture programs, this organization allows you to choose the food you want and pay as you go via credit card and a convenient website.
Gloucester Food Pantry Thursdays
The Open Door Gloucester Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Gloucester Food Pantry Fridays
The Open Door Gloucester Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Stand Out For Democracy
For udpated and cancelations, check the League of Women Voters’ website here.
Drop-In Life & Portrait Drawing Sessions
Hone your drawing skills and meet new friends at our Sunday morning Drop-In Life & Portrait Drawing Sessions. Our talented models will be posing for you to capture their essence on paper. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting out, everyone is welcome to drop in and get creative!
Fresh Catch Pick Up
Since April 2010, the BCIA has been in collaboration with the Cape Ann Fresh Catch (CAFC) as one of the selected locations around eastern Massachusetts to serve as a community drop-off point for weekly shares of fish straight off the boats in Gloucester.
Children’s Discovery Center
Did you know kids get into the museum AND the Discovery Center for free?
Senior Soup & Salad
The Open Door offers a variety of meal programs including meals to-go at its food pantries, in-person dining at the Gloucester Food Pantry, Senior Soup & Salad, Summer Meals for Kids, and Collaborative Meals.
Watercolors with Todd Zalewski
In this 6-week class, you will learn about the various techniques of watercolor painting, different materials used in painting, the importance of sketching prior to painting, and how to set up a studio. During the class Todd will demonstrate the following techniques: dry-brush, wet on wet, gouache on toned paper, and the use of masking fluid/tape as paint restrictor. Subject matter considerations will also be discussed.
Intro to Immigration Sprting Training Series
This four-part virtual lunch hour series will present relevant, up-to-date, and accurate information on immigration topics.
Open Mic
Come join us for our Open Mic shindig. Sign ups start at 7:30pm and the event starts at 8pm. Hope to see you here!
Community Meals: In Person
The Open Door offers a variety of meal programs including meals to-go at its food pantries, in-person dining at the Gloucester Food Pantry, Senior Soup & Salad, Summer Meals for Kids, and Collaborative Meals.
Community Meals (Mon–Fri): In Person
The Open Door offers a variety of meal programs including meals to-go at its food pantries, in-person dining at the Gloucester Food Pantry, Senior Soup & Salad, Summer Meals for Kids, and Collaborative Meals.
Monday Night TMF Meeting
TMF holds a Bi-weekly meeting on Monday Evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm at 19 Johnson Street in North Andover, MA.
Women's Strength & Stretch with Gretchen Tuesdays
Gretchen Driscoll, Success Coach & Personal Trainer,
will bring her specialty strength training class to CCC.
Full Body Strength for Women will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6 am to 7 am, starting 11/4/25.
Classes run monthly, and sign-up is required.
Please reach out to Gretchen directly to learn more: gretchen@successwithgretchen.com
Karaoke With Maxine Harrison
Join us at the Cafe for a night of Karaoke with the fabulous Maxine Harrison!
Community Meals: Meals To-Go (Wed-Thurs)
FREE meals are available to-go M-F at the Gloucester Food Pantry (28 Emerson Ave. Gloucester MA) from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To-go meals are also available at the Ipswich Community Food Pantry W-TH from 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
TMF Dinner for the Homeless
TMF holds a weekly Dinner for those struggling with homelessness and substance use. The Dinner is held at the Buckley Transportation Center at 295 Common St in Lawrence, MA. The TMF Dinner brings a very unique environment. We have a person(s) or business sponsoring the Dinner on a weekly basis.
Women's Strength & Stretch with Gretchen Thursdays
Gretchen Driscoll, Success Coach & Personal Trainer,
will bring her specialty strength training class to CCC.
Full Body Strength for Women will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6 am to 7 am, starting 11/4/25.
Classes run monthly, and sign-up is required.
Please reach out to Gretchen directly to learn more: gretchen@successwithgretchen.com
Indigenous Inspired Bark Baskets at Notchview with Adventure East
This experience will be led by Jennifer Lee, an independent student of the history and culture of the Indigenous people of the Northeast Woodlands. Jennifer is a member of the Northern Narragansett – a group yet to be recognized by state and federal authorities as an official tribe.
Sew Good
Join our Sew Good Team as we create pillowcases to be used as Bundles of Cheer for the 2026 SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive. For this shift you will be cutting and measuring fabric from donated bolts. We will provide the rotary cutters, rulers and rotary mats. Please note: This shift begins 30 minutes before regular shifts so we can get a jump on preparing kits. Our amazing Seamstress, Brenda, will be on hand during this time to assist you and answer any questions you may have.
Compaq Big Band w/ Vocalist Ed Scheer
The heck with puttin’ a little spring in your step – PUT SOME SINATRA IN YOUR SPRING! Actually, how ‘bout a bunch of Ol’ Blue Eyes, a couple sprigs of Michael Buble, a dash of Dean Martin, a pinch of Bobby Darin, a smidge of Johnny Mathis, and MORE! The 19-piece Compaq Big Band returns to the Backbeat Brewing Company in Beverly on with vocalist Ed Scheer of Boston’s ‘The Love Dogs’.
Lights, Camera, Action: The Impact of Storytelling, Sports and Social Change
Join identical twin filmmakers and Tufts All-American athletes Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters of Lookalike Productions for a dynamic conversation about their award-winning films; stories that not only entertain audiences, but also inspire social change. Lisa and Nancy will interweave excerpts from their acclaimed work to show how subjects as diverse as a disabled cyclist from Ghana, Muhammad Ali, President George H.W. Bush, Pat Summitt and Sesame Street’s Muppets can inspire governments, fellow citizens, fans, and communities around the world to do the right thing.
EmpowerHER Summit 2026
Inspiring keynotes and panel discussion featuring local businesswomen, plus networking throughout the event.
Salem Film Fest
The 19th annual Salem Film Film will take place March 26-29, 2026, with filmmaker Q&As, parties, and other special events. Advance Ticket Packs for SFF 2026 are on sale now.
Revolutionary Privateers at Sea Symposium: Newburyport and the Wider World
Join experts from around the world for a one-day symposium on Revolutionary War privateers and Newburyport’s Atlantic impact!
Sustainability for Life Sciences Conference 2026
The Second Annual North Shore Technology Council Sustainability for Life Science Conference will focus on how private companies and institutions are driving sustainability within their labs. With federal funding and investment capital at an all-time low, we will examine how Massachusetts and local biotech companies are not only maintaining their goals but making strides in operating sustainable labs.
First Friday: The Journey of Mail Post History and the Zip Code
As the Revolutionary War unfolded and a new nation struggled toward independence, the Continental Congress took a decisive step to bind the colonies together: it established the United States Post Office. In the midst of conflict, leaders understood that communication was essential. Letters carried military intelligence, political ideas, personal news, and the connective tissue of a growing republic. The postal system became one of the earliest and most enduring institutions of the United States.
Through the Looking Glass: MAA Spring Gala
Follow us down the rabbit hole into a fantasy world of surreal experiences on Saturday, April 11th, and join us for our Spring Gala to benefit the Marblehead Arts Association!
Swampscott Weekly Rally for Pro-Democracy
Please join us every Thursday in Swampscott from 3PM-4PM at the Monument-100 Humphrey St to show we do not to accept tRUMP's deportations, corruption, cuts to Social Security/Medicare and his total disregard for human beings.
Hats & Heels Tea
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
CAM Talk: To Live like an Artist, Cape Ann of the 1920s, by Martha Oaks
The talk will explore Milton Avery and Sally Michel’s earliest visits to Gloucester, setting the stage for future stays with artist friends. What was it that drew the couple here and inspired them to keep coming back? Who did they rub shoulders with on Cape Ann and who was taking note of their work? Learn what has changed in the local art colony over the past century and what has stayed the same.
Plastic People - Earth Day Community Screening
Join us at the Cabot Theatre this Earth Day 2026 for a FREE screening of Plastic People! Green Beverly is proud to sponsor this special event.
Celesong 2026 Fundraiser
For event details and ticket inquiries, please contact Anne-Marie Wickey at amwickey@wellspringhouse.org. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lisa Robinson at lbrobinson@wellspringhouse.org.
First Fridays: Women's Rights (and Wrongs)
Four women. Four centuries. 400 years of Beverly history.
Nature in Your Neighborhood: All About Birds
Mass Audubon is pleased to once again offer this series of free birdwatching walks made possible by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the local cultural councils of the participating towns, as noted below.
CAM Talk: Joseph Solman – A Leader of Expressionism in the Early 20th Century Who Never Stopped Finding Pattern, Poetry, and Drama in “the Subject,” by Heather Atwood
As the Cape Ann Museum opens its newly renovated space with an exhibition of American Abstraction greats Mark Rothko, Milton Avery, and Adolph Gottlieb, it’s worth remembering their New York friend and colleague Joseph Solman, a leader of 20th‑century American Expressionism. In 1935, Solman, Rothko, and Gottlieb were all members of “The Ten,” a group that challenged New York museums’ resistance to European Expressionism. While Rothko and Gottlieb later shifted toward Abstraction, Solman spent his life creating Modernist works celebrated nationwide. On May 9, Heather Atwood will screen her Color of Light video on Solman, followed by a conversation with his son, Emmy Award–winning journalist Paul Solman.
Black Excellence 5K
Our first Black Excellence 5k was held in 2018! The mission of this run is to highlight positive images of Black Americans. Prominent figures in Black American culture a pictured along the route. Local Black Americans of note can be viewed at the starting line.
BLOOM - Express Yourself's 32nd Annual Performance
Our annual spring performance for family, friends, and the public at the Boch Center–Wang Theatre in Boston is the culmination...
34th Annual HAWC Walk & 5K Run
Join as as we come together to raise critical funds for HAWC's life saving programs and services while celebrating HAWC's work and the resilience of survivors of domestic/partner abuse.
Juneteenth Flag Raising
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Juneteenth Cocktail Party
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Beverly Arts Festival
Arts Fest will return on Saturday, 6/20/26 from 10am–5pm (one hour longer than previous years)!
Juneteenth Family Fun Day
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Frederick Douglass Reading
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Diversity Matters Festival
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Inclusive Santa Party
North Shore Juneteenth Association is dedicated to spreading awareness of Juneteenth and uplifting positive images of Black American culture and the African diaspora. Through our events and programs, we use education, celebration, and unity as tools in the fight against systemic racism.
Gloucester Food Pantry Tuesdays
The Open Door Gloucester Food Pantry offers weekly custom grocery orders. Quick-Trip, 3-5 day supplies of groceries are also available for those with or without a kitchen who need food as soon as possible.
Drive Green Electric Vehicle Q&A "Office Hours"
Regular Q&As on our Drive Green program
Jazz at the Arts: Eden Rewa w/ Joey Barbato
The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present a very special performance by Eden Rewa with Joey Barbato as a part of our Jazz at the Arts concert series.
Free HIV Testing
Open to anyone aged 18+ Free with no appointment necessary Testing managed by Health Innovations. Resources from Health Q and Community Resource Initiative
3 in 30: Marvels of Engineering
Welcome to this month’s 3 in 30, where we explore the theme Marvels of Engineering through some of the most technical and fascinating objects in the Historic Beverly collection.
Historic Beverly Annual Meeting
Horace Mann observed in 1845, “The people of Massachusetts, to a greater extent than those of any other State in the Union, are a mechanical people.” Across the Commonwealth, networks of manufacturers were as innovative and entrepreneurial as today’s firms in Silicon Valley and along Routes 128 and 495.
Clay Pigeons Saint Patrick’s Day Special
Local bluegrass legends Clay Pigeons bring you a special Saint Patrick’s day show at the Gulu Gulu Cafe!
How to Be Financially Free (Queer Adulting)
LGBTQIA+ young adults, ages 18-23, are welcome.
Concert of Irish Folk Music Present by Tom O'Carroll
Tom O’Carroll is a Dublin born folklorist, folksinger, and instrumentalist. He has performed at countless concerts, festivals, colleges, and pubs in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and South Korea. Tom captivates audiences with his traditional Irish songs and his stories interwoven with humor, history, and wit.
Ellie Fund's 30th Annual Red Carpet Gala
Mark your calendar for Ellie Fund’s 30th Annual Red Carpet Gala on Sunday, March 15th! It’s an evening where glamour meets purpose to provide essentials like groceries, child care, transportation to treatment, and relief for breast cancer patients & their families.
Easter Bunny at Harbor Sweets
The Easter Bunny will be visiting Harbor Sweets on Rantoul Street on Sunday, March 15th from 11 AM–1 PM. Hop on by for free photos, sweet treats, and a little fun! Each child will receive a free photo with the Easter Bunny and an egg filled wtih a piece of solid chocolate.
Blues on Tap
Blues On Tap brings their unique blend of blues & rock to the Gulu Gulu Cafe! Check out their powerful lead vocals, driving guitar, drums that give the band a punch and bass with great bottom!
The Orchestra on the Hill Concert Images 26: From Chaos to Unity (Copy)
The Orchestra on the Hill and MustArt Studios presents this powerful fusion of original music, visual art, poetry, narration, and dance – all created and performed by exceptional North Shore artists. Audiences will experience a powerful journey from fragmentation to harmony, expressed through an inspiring convergence of artistic disciplines and perspectives.
The Orchestra on the Hill Concert Images 26: From Chaos to Unity
The Orchestra on the Hill and MustArt Studios presents this powerful fusion of original music, visual art, poetry, narration, and dance – all created and performed by exceptional North Shore artists. Audiences will experience a powerful journey from fragmentation to harmony, expressed through an inspiring convergence of artistic disciplines and perspectives.
Wheel Throwing Pottery Workshop
If you worked with clay before or not, the one-time workshops are great idea for a fun time where you try something new and little messy. The teacher will lead the demos and assist you throughout the workshop. You make many pots you want and will choose to keep your 2 favorite. You choose the glaze and the studio staff will handle the rest of the process. Pots will be ready in few weeks. Will notify you when ready for pick up.
March Special Lecture: Plum Island and the Story of John Boyle O'Reilly Presented by James Russell, CHMM Director
March Special Lecture: Plum Island and the Story of John Boyle O'Reilly Presented by James Russell, CHMM Director
Open Studios at The Bower
Visit the second floor of The Bower for our monthly Open Studios, held every second Friday. It is a wonderful chance to meet the artists and see their practices up close. Friday, March 13, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Clothing Upcycling & Patch Making
Open to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 11-23. Part of our Queer Joy Workshop Series Presented by the Hometown Queerios, with generous support from the Peabody Essex Museum.
Clothing Upcycling & Patch Making
Open to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 11-23. Part of our Queer Joy Workshop Series Presented by the Hometown Queerios, with generous support from the Peabody Essex Museum.
Spring into Action! MIRA's Annual Immigrants' Rights Conference
Join us on March 13, 2026 at Boston University and Spring Into Action with MIRA Coalition at our annual immigrant rights conference! The Spring Into Action Conference is focused on education and advocacy. In preparation for our annual lobbying day, Immigrants Day at the State House, MIRA Coalition member organizations and those active in the immigrant rights space gather at the conference to share our legislative priorities, develop our advocacy skills, network with other members, and celebrate our communities. This year we are offering 8 total workshops along 2 tracks, focused on sustaining yourself and your organization and movement building. Together, we are leading with courage over fear.
Crime of the Truest Kind – MA Unsolved
Missing. Unsolved. Unidentified. The national missing and unidentified persons system (NAMUS) currently lists 224 open missing persons cases in Massachusetts, with many more unidentified and unclaimed individuals across The Commonwealth. These cases represent real people, real families, and years of unanswered questions. In this live podcast recording, Crime of the Truest Kind host Anngelle Wood returns to Off Cabot for a focused, heartfelt presentation on the stories that still need attention. As a longtime advocate for families of the missing and murdered, she brings context, clarity, and compassion to cases that no longer appear in headlines, and in many instances never did.This live show explores the realities of unresolved cases in Massachusetts, and the ways community awareness and everyday advocacy truly make a difference. These stories don’t fade because they’re solved; they fade because they’re forgotten. Bringing them forward matters.
Amplifying Voices Film Festival
Amplifying Voices brings impactful stories and voices to the North Shore, and beyond, by presenting films made by and about people of color. These two days of films are curated by Sabrina Avilés, Executive Director of CineFest Latino Boston and Lisa Simmons, Executive Director of The Roxbury International Film Festival.
Francis Cabot Lowell, his Cabot Family, and the Birth of American Industry
Francis Cabot Lowell is most often remembered through the institutions and places that bear his name: the City of Lowell, the Lowell Institute, and the Waltham-Lowell System of textile manufacturing. What is less often explored is how Lowell’s pioneering industrial work emerged directly from the Massachusetts merchant world of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a world shaped by families like his mother’s side – the Cabots of Beverly.
"Master Your Money" Series: Funding College Across Generations
College funding decisions don’t exist in a vacuum. This webinar on Wednesday, 3/11 at 6PM EST, explores how families and grandparents can support undergraduate and graduate education across generations while balancing retirement, legacy goals, and long-term financial planning.
Resilience, Now.
In this interactive webinar, Tufts alum and Life Coach Michael Bolognino will offer a practical, human approach to dusting off, defining, and channeling our inner resilience. You’ll reflect, discuss, and walk away with concrete tools you can use immediately to navigate work and life with more steadiness, perspective, and agency.
Family Pride Picnic
Celebrate Cape Ann Pride Weekend with the whole family through books, art, and music! Bring your own picnic blanket and spread out on CAM Green while enjoying Rainbow Story Time and music from Jammin’ with You. Get your face painted and enjoy free art activities with CAM Education Staff.
OmDrum Circle
The OmDrum Circle is a fully facilitated instructional drum circle where we use the Drum as a tool for meditation and self-healing. A “judgment free” zone. African and Western styles of hand drumming. All ages and experience levels welcome. Bring a drum if you have one, or rent one from us.
Civic Life Lunch - The Democracy Dilemma: Civic Simulation with VF-GLADi
How can you listen strategically to navigate disagreement, power, and complex institutions?
14th Annual Charles Olson Lecture
Born in Worcester, MA, and a long-time resident of Gloucester, Charles Olson (1910-1970) was an innovative poet and essayist; he is widely recognized as a major figure in postmodern poetry and a leading voice of the Black Mountain Poets. Olson is best known for his Maximus Poems which were inspired by Gloucester and Cape Ann and explored the relation of self to place.