December 3, 2021

Check Out These Holiday Happenings North of Boston

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There’s Fa-la-la-la-la-la-lots to do this month North of Boston. We’ve rounded up the best of events and Holiday Happenings, making it easy to plan your month and keep an eye on that guy with the bag. He’s a shifty character, always climbing down chimneys and eating your cookies.

A woman wearing a large holiday wreath with red ribbons and berries around her head smiles and waves. Set against festive Christmas decorations, this scene captures holiday happenings North of Boston. The text reads “Sabrina” and “hulu.”.

Holiday Markets

BIPOC Makers Holiday Market | December 11th – 11am – 6pm | Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts

A graphic flyer for the BIPOC Makers Holiday Market, part of North of Boston Holiday Happenings, features a wreath with red berries and a bow. Event: Dec 11 & 12, Lynn Museum, 11am–6pm. Red holly decorates the corners.

Second Saturday is getting a holiday makeover! Lynn Museum/LynnArts and Creative Collective have teamed up once again to bring you a holiday market featuring local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) vendors. Join us Saturday, December 11th from 10am-6pm at the Lynn Museum (590 Washington Street, Lynn, MA, 01901).

Creative Harbor Pop Up Holiday Market | December 11th from 11am – 4pm | Creative Harbor

A promotional flyer for the Creative Harbor Pop-Up Holiday Shop features crafts, gifts, and a woman in a clothing store—spotlighting festive Holiday Happenings North of Boston. Event: 35 Congress St #304, Salem, MA, 12/11, 11am-4pm. Free parking included.

Event Description: This month we’re doing something a little different with our art show. In addition to showcasing artwork, we’ve also added gift and craft vendors for holiday shopping. Looking to buy local? Stop by!
FREE PARKING in downtown Salem.

Lawrence Winter Art Walk | Saturday, December 11th from 10am – 4pm | Downtown Lawrence, MA

Event flyer with illustrated art supplies and winter motifs. Text reads: "Lawrence Winter Art Walk, Saturday, December 11th, 10 am - 4 pm"—a North of Boston Holiday Happening. Event details and Lawrence Arts Collective Instagram handle at the bottom.

Event Description: The Lawrence Arts Collective is thrilled to be a coordinating partner in the Lawrence Winter Art Walk, a free, self-guided tour that allows you to explore art hubs, galleries, and businesses throughout Lawrence’s Historic Downtown District. Lawrence-area artists and creatives are joining together to host this event on Saturday, December 11th from 10 AM-4 PM. The Winter Art Walk will feature open studios, gallery viewings, live demonstrations, performances, and other unique offerings throughout the day for visitors to explore Lawrence’s creative hubs.

Participating organizations include 599 Studios, Ateneo Dominicano, SaludArte (hosted at Colectiva Wellness & Healing), El Taller Cafe & Bookstore, Elevated Thought, Essex Art Center, Lawrence Public Library, and One Broadway Collaborative. Artwork by @katedelaney

Lucille Wine Shop’s Christmas Bazaar! | Sunday, December 12th from 12-4pm

A bright pink Christmas tree adorned with lights stands between two illuminated star decorations and glass display cases. Text on the image reads: "Lucille Christmas Bazaar December 12th." Celebrate festive Holiday Events North of Boston!.

Event Description: Join us for our first Christmas Bazaar as we feature local makers, artisans, artists and crafters. Shop small, shop local while enjoying a selection of wine, beer, warm mulled wine and light snacks alongside listening to some live Christmas jazz music. We are collaborating with local vendors and retail shops to make it a true holiday stroll in DT Lynn. See below for a list of participating vendors.

Very Salty Holiday Fair | Sunday, December 12th from 12-4 pm | Salty Buddha, 58 Pulaski St. Peabody MA

A clothing rack with several black and pink shirts hanging, surrounded by plants on a light-colored wall. Text above reads, "A VERY SALTY HOLIDAY FAIR 12.12 • 12–4PM," part of the North of Boston Holiday Happenings.

Event Description: time for a very salty holiday fair! 🧂 save the date for an afternoon of shopping + more with some of the best local businesses around 🤍 We’ll be hosting dozens of local businesses, artisans, and more. Expect to see some new salty merch ❤️‍🔥✨ and special year end SALES 🧂🤍

Haunt The Halls with Freaks, Antiques, and Uniques | Sunday, December 12th from 12-5 pm | Old Town Hall, Salem

A promotional flyer for "Haunt The Halls" at Old Town Hall in Salem, MA—part of North of Boston Holiday Happenings—shows two skulls in front of a decorated tree. Join us Sunday, 12/12, 12pm-5pm for dark art, oddities, horror, and occult.

Event Description: Enjoy shopping 40+ vendors on two floors! Our vendors offer the strange and unusual. You can find amazing gifts of Oddities, Curiosities, Antiques, Macabre, Horror, Goth, wet specimens, taxidermy, unique jewelry, occult, skulls, bones, steampunk, dark art, creepy dolls and so much more! Satisfy your inner weirdo or shop for the freak in your life with the incredible merchandise our vendors have created. When you take home a handmade gift from our local artists, crafters and creators you are not only receiving an original piece of art, you are supporting our local artists and creative community! Thank you in advance for supporting small businesses, local crafters, creators and artists this holiday season!

Gulu Gulu Cafe Holiday Art Market | Monday and Tuesday, December 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st from 5pm to 8pm | Gulu Gulu Cafe, Salem

A promotional flyer for Gulu Gulu Cafe's First Annual Holiday Art Market, highlighting holiday happenings North of Boston with event dates, times, and photos of festive crafts, all framed by charming holly decorations.

Event Description: Gulu Gulu Cafe is happy to host our first (hopefully annual!) Holiday Art Market! The cafe will feature local Salem artisans and crafters with a wide variety of wares for gifts for friends, family, or you. Come grab a drink and explore!

Notch German Holiday Market | Sunday December 5th and 19th from 12pm – 5pm | Notch, Salem

Event poster for a German Holiday Market at Notch Brewery & Tap Room, North of Boston, 283R Derby St, Salem, MA, on December 5th and 19th from noon to 5 PM. The design features a beer glass and red ribbon—join the holiday happenings!.

Event Description: A holiday sip and shop experience featuring over 20 local artists, makers, craftspeople, vintage vendors, street performers, and more!

Salem Holiday Market | December 18th from 12pm-6pm | Old Town Hall, Salem

A festive poster for the 5th Annual Salem Holiday Market, part of North of Boston holiday happenings, on December 18th from 12PM-6PM at Old Town Hall. Features artwork of a snowy owl, deer, ornaments, and holiday decorations.

Event Description: The one and only Salem Holiday Market is back for its 8th year! Your one stop, last minute holiday shopping bazaar featuring over 60 unique vendors from around the region. Specializing in one-of-kind art, oddities and curiosities, handmade wares, mystical gifts, antiques and vintage and specialty food. Held at the beautifully historic Old Town Hall in downtown Salem Massachusetts. Mark your calendars and save the date for the area’s most unusual holiday gift show.

Shipyard Art Sip & Shop with Hervor Soaps & Glass by Merk. | December 19th from 12pm-6pm | 114 Washington St., Unit 5, Marblehead

Event Description:  Sunday, December 19, 12-5… OPEN STUDIO & SIP AND SHOP at Shipyard Art for you last minute shoppers! We will have some hot spiked cider, and wine to enjoy while you shop with me and TWO guests from out of town. Hervor Soaps and Glass By Merk will be joining me so you can maximize your Christmas shopping. Come see my studio and my guests, and enjoy an adult beverage. If you know me, you know it will be FUN! I’m above Haley’s in Marblehead, and a sandwich board will be out on the sidewalk. Hope to see you next Sunday! 114 Washington St., Unit 5, Marblehead.

Live Performance, Concerts, and Screenings

Holiday Character Meet and Greets, Parties, and Workshops

Kid-Specific Events

Creative Collective’s 2021 #StayLocal Campaign

Initiative encourages community to shop small and support local small businesses this November and December

It’s time for #StayLocal2021 – follow the hashtag for the best of local eats, drinks, experiences, and shopping North of Boston.

The approaching Holiday season is putting people in the shopping, eating, and drinking mood as small businesses across the North Shore are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. Following up the successful 2020 #StayLocal campaign, Creative Collective is launching #StayLocal2021, encouraging individuals to shop and support small this upcoming holiday season. Learn more.

December Events Calendar Announced by The Cabot

City of Salem Announces 2nd Annual Harbor Connector Path Sculpture Garden

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