April school vacation week is almost here! This list is full of entertaining, local ideas for kids of all ages. At the time of publication all of these events had spots available for registration (if applicable). You can find these and more on our Calendar too.
Fun April Vacation Activities (2025)
Camps/Drop-Off Programs
- DIScover Vacation Camp at Danvers Indoor Sports
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Ages: 3.5-12
Cost: $40 and up
Details: This camp at Danvers Indoor Sports features a variety of sport specific games, different variations of tag, dodge ball, board games and more. Half & Full-Day Options. Advanced registration required. - Painting & Sculpture Workshops at Artcie in Hamilton
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Ages: 6-11
Cost: $50/session
Details: This is a drop-off program. Advanced registration is required. - April Vacation Week Camp at Appleton Farms in Ipswich
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Cost: Member Child: $530/week; Nonmember Child: $610/week
Details: This is a drop-off program for kids who are looking to make friends, explore the forests and fields of the farm, and learn about life in New England in spring, including planting vegetables and caring for the new life on the farm. Every day will include outdoor adventure and farm explorations. Advanced registration required. - April Vacation Fun at Maritime Gloucester
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Ages: 5-10
Cost: $12/day for members, $20 for non-members
Details: Join Maritime Gloucester’s educators for fun hands-on activities exploring different marine life found in Gloucester while discussing the importance of the ocean! This is a drop-off program for 2 hours, with a group for ages 5-7 in the morning from 10am-12pm and then a second group for ages 8-10 from 1-3pm. Advanced registration required. - April Adventure Days at Ipswich River Sanctuary in Topsfield
Dates: 4/22-4/25
Ages: 5-12
Cost: $330/week for members; $400 for non-members
Details: Four sessions of hands-on, educational hikes and activities to explore the natural world in Spring. Drop off program, 8:30am-3pm, advanced registration required. - Fun Art Workshops at Art’s Cool in Middleton
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Ages: 4.5-13
Cost: Starting at $55
Details: Advanced registration is required for these full and half-day drop off programs. - Kids Learn to Ride Series in Melrose
Dates: 4/21-4/25
Ages: 4-8
Cost: $55
Details: This play-based program will use fun games and activities to create independent and confident little bike riders. Advanced registration required. This program is hosted by The Ride Cafe and held indoors at the First Congregational Church in Melrose. This month they’ll be partnering with Nutty Scientists who will be hosting their hands-on science experiment camps, 1-4pm at the church as well. - April Vacation Drop Off Days at Wenham Museum
Dates: 4/22-4/25
Ages: Elementary school students
Cost: Members: $35/day Non-Members: $45/day
Details: Sign up for one day of the whole week. Elementary school students will enjoy VIP seating at a special event, enjoy crafts and activities in the museum’s “secret” room, and explore the galleries with friends. Kids should bring a nut-free snack and get ready for a morning of fun! - April Vacation Workshop – Magical Realms Adventure: Rotten to the Core Edition at Stage 284
Dates: 4/22-4/25
Ages: Grades 1-5
Details: Join Stage 284 for a magical week of creativity and fun as you dive into the world of musical theater! Participants will hone their skills on stage as well as behind the scenes crafting their own enchanted experience with their favorite villains and sidekicks! There will be a short sharing session on the last day at 4 PM for family and friends!
Daily Activities
ONGOING
- Gametime Northshore
Dates: Open daily
Cost: Varies by activity
Details: Enjoy bowling, the arcade, billiards, axe-throwing, shuffleboard and more at the North Shore’s newest indoor entertainment venue. Located at the Northshore Mall in Peabody. - Hike & Seek Sprouts of Spring at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover
Dates: 4/13-4/27
Cost: $9 Member Family, $15 Non-member Family
Details: Grab this self-guided, family-friendly, bundle for use along the Stevens-to-Stevens trail in North Andover to discover what is sprouting around you this Spring! Participants will be emailed an activity bundle to help them look for clues along the trail and work as a team to discover the tiny world beneath their feet and under their nose. Pre-registration required to receive downloadable bundle of spring themed created activities, including maps, scavenger hunt, crafts, additional reading list and recipes. - Mini Masters at MarketStreet in Lynnfield
Dates: 4/21-4/27, 12-4pm
Cost: $7 (proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Metro North)
Details: A weeklong pop-up of putting perfection, right on The Green. With nine holes inspired by iconic North Shore landmarks—yes, the orange dino will make its return—it’s a quirky, creative course for kids, grown-ups, and anyone who takes their mini golf with a side of nostalgia. Advanced registration and walk-ins available. - Special Hours & Programs at North Shore Children’s Museum in Peabody
Dates: 4/22-4/27
Cost: $12
Details: North Shore Children’s Museum will be open Tuesday, 4/22 with two play sessions: 9am–12pm and 14pm. Included with regular admission the following fun events will also be happening at the Museum:
Wed. 4/23: A musical morning with local band Dandelion.
Thurs. 4/24: Explore Nature with Miss. Frizzle.
Fri. 4/25: Join Coach Luke of Danvers Indoor Sports for a morning of sports.
Sun. 4/27: Sunday STEAM Club for ages 5+. Come explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math! - Glow Mini Golf at Aloha Mini Golf in the Northshore Mall
Dates: Open daily
Cost: Ages 4-12, $11.99 for 3 rounds of gold (18 holes), $14.99 for ages 13+. - Cowabunga’s in North Reading
Dates: Open daily except Mondays
Cost: $20/2 hrs, $29.99/3 hours & kids meal
Details: This huge, indoor, inflatable playground in North Reading, encourages families to climb, jump, slide and play together. During April Vacation special characters will visit Cowabunga’s each day at 11am, 1pm & 3pm, including Marshall from Paw Patrol, Sonic the Hedgehog, Poppy from Trolls, and Mickey Mouse. - Hit the Arcade or Ropes Course at In the Game in Peabody
Dates: Open daily
Details: Play laser tag, climb the Ropes Course and Rock Wall and hit the arcade. Half-price games on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. - Golf Lounge 18 at the Northshore Mall in Peabody
Dates: Open daily
Cost: Bay rentals start at $35
Details: Book a bay for the whole family to golf at one of over 210 courses worldwide on Trackman 4 Technology at Golf Lounge 18. You can also enjoy food, drinks, and music at this fun indoor golf lounge. - Nova Adventure in Lynnfield
Dates: Open daily, hours vary by day
Cost: $17
Details: Bounce on the trampolines, jump in the foam pit and play in the arcade. Attractions for all ages in this indoor trampoline park. - Immersive Gamebox at the Northshore Mall
Dates: Open daily
Cost: $29.99+
Details: Dive into a world where you and your group control the action through interactive, tech-driven adventures. Try the new Floor is Lava Batman games!
Saturday, 4/19 & Sunday, 4/20
- 250th Celebration: Lynnfield Welcomes Martin Herrick
Date: 4/19, 11am-2pm
Cost: Free
Details: Join the Lynnfield Historical Society, at the Lynnfield Public Library, as they do a reenactment of Martin Herrick’s ride 250 years ago. Kids will make tricorn hats, get a battle flag, and await the rider as he sounds the alarm that the British troops are on the move. They will march in a parade with him and enjoy a concert after. - Drop-In Art Activity: Earth Kokedamas at the Peabody Essex Museum
Date: 4/19 & 4/20, 1-3pm
Ages: 4+
Cost: Included with Museum Admission: $25 adults/free 16 and under/free for members
Details: A kokedama is a Japanese planting style where soil is wrapped in moss to house the roots of a growing plant. Create a kokedama in the image of our planet to celebrate Earth Day. - Castle Hill Tour: The Cat’s Meow at Crane Estate in Ipswich
Date: 4/19, 10:30-11:30am
Ages: 3-8 with adult
Cost: $8 Members, $16 Non-members
Details: Imagination is one of our greatest treasures…imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family servant find our mischievous Siamese? Once he’s found, we’ll have just enough time to dress for the party! Advanced tickets required.
Monday, 4/21
- Become an Eco-Hero at the Peabody Essex Museum
Dates: 4/21, 4/24, 4/25
Cost: Included with admission: $25 for adults/free for 16 and under/free for members
Details: Join PEM in celebration of Earth Week as they invite the young and the young at heart to explore what it means to be an Eco Hero! Learn about our incredible ocean ecosystem by stepping inside a life-size inflatable humpback whale, and add your art to the canvas walls of a geodesic dome with artist and international eco-educator Pamela Peeters. - Pizza Decorating for Kids at Davio’s Lynnfield
Date: 4/21, 5-9pm
Cost: $25
Details: Little Chefs celebrate the art of authentic pizza making using the freshest ingredients! Each child receives pizza dough, san marzano tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni & their own Davio’s Apron! While the pizza is baking, kids get a mini pizza dough ball to play with! Pizza Kits are also available for pick up after 5 pm on Mondays!
Tuesday, 4/22
- Alice & Wonderland at Wenham Museum
Date: 4/22, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: $8 Member Child/Adults, $12 Nonmember Child, $17 Nonmembers Adult, Free for Under 2 (includes museum admission)
Details: You’re invited to a topsy-turvy, festive and fanciful adventure with Alice in Wonderland — where nothing is quite as it seems, and everything is extraordinary! Together with our special visitor from Wonderland, we’ll enjoy whimsical stories and songs and play a game of Wonderland freeze dance. Plus, you’ll have a chance to snap a photo and get an autograph from Alice herself. Advanced ticket purchase required. - Fairytales with Sleeping Beauty at the Flint Public Library in Middleton
Date: 4/22, 11am-12pm
Cost: Free
Details: Bring your favorite stuffie and enjoy some fairytales in your pajamas with Sleeping Beauty! Pajamas and stuffies are encouraged but not required. No advance registration required. - Earth Day Craft at Danvers Library
Date: 4/22, 10am-12pm
Ages: 4+
Cost: Free
Details: Come celebrate Earth Day and make a craft! Drop in, no registration required.
Wednesday, 4/23
- Intergalactic Dance Party at Danvers Library
Date: 4/23, 10-11am
Ages: All
Cost: Free
Details: Put on your moon boots or your boogie shoes and dance to some space jams! Wear your wildest space-themed outfit. Thanks to gravity, we will be getting down! This is part of Massachusetts Space Week, an annual, week-long celebration seeks to bridge the gap between academia and the broader community and to foster a shared enthusiasm for space science. No registration required. - A Magical Visit from Glinda at Wenham Museum
Date: 4/23, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: $8 Member Child/Adults, $12 Nonmember Child, $17 Nonmembers Adult, Free for Under 2 (includes museum admission)
Details: Straight from Oz, Glinda the Good Witch is coming to the museum! The most popular witch around is taking time off from her studies to enchant us with a magical performance. With games, a dance party, and more it’s sure to be a spellbinding event! Advanced ticket purchase required. - SLIME-Chemistry In Action! at Camp Paradise in Beverly
Date: 4/23, 10:30am-12pm
Cost: $15
Details: Ready to get your hands slimy? Experiment and create 3 awesome types of slime using cool, different ingredients! Ever wondered what Thermochromic slime is? Or how to make it extra fluffy? How about slime that glows in the dark? Dive in, make a mess, and have some serious slime fun! Advanced registration required. - Movie Matinee – Moana 2 at the Hamilton-Wenham Library
Date: 4/23, 1:30-3:15pm
Cost: Free
Details: Families of all ages are invited to watch Moana 2 (PG, 100 min) on the big screen! After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. All ages are welcome. No registration needed. Drinks will be provided, just bring your own snacks! - Funfetti Dip at the Flint Public Library in Middleton
Date: 4/23, 4-4:45pm
Ages: 3-7
Cost: Free
Details: Join Miss Jackie in Meeting Room B to create a fun snack! You will use several ingredients and kitchen utensils to make Funfetti dip! Registration is required.
Thursday, 4/24
- Train with Wonder Woman at Wenham Museum
Date: 4/24, 10:30-11:30am & 2:30-3:30pm
Cost: $8 Member Child/Adults, $12 Nonmember Child, $17 Nonmembers Adult, Free for Under 2 (includes museum admission)
Details: Calling all brave heroes-in-training! Join the one and only Wonder Woman for an action-packed adventure where courage, strength, and kindness save the day! During this epic training session, young heroes will learn powerful superhero poses and moves, complete an action-packed training course, and discover their inner superpowers (confidence, teamwork & heart!). Advanced ticket purchase required. - Spooktacular Dry Ice Show For Kids! at the Boxford Library
Date: 4/24, 2-2:45pm
Cost: Free
Ages: Grades K-5
Details: Enjoy this spooktacular dry ice show presented by “Science Heroes!” Including 6 fun and exciting science experiments, with audience volunteers as helpers. - Magic Show with Society of Magicians at the Danvers Library
Date: 4/24, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: Free
Ages: 4+
Details: No registration required. - Magic Workshop with Society of Magicians at the Danvers Library
Date: 4/24, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: Free
Ages: 5+
Details: Society of Magicians teach their magic tricks to kids! Children must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver. Advanced registration required.
Friday, 4/25
- Captain Jack Sparrow & Captain Molly at Wenham Museum
Date: 4/25, 10:30-11:30am & 2:30-3:30pm
Cost: $8 Member Child/Adults, $12 Nonmember Child, $17 Nonmembers Adult, Free for Under 2 (includes museum admission)
Details: Ahoy, mateys! Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Molly are recruiting young pirates for their next big adventure. Are you ready for the pirate life? Sharpen your skills with daring swordplay, treasure hunting, and more as you join the crew of the Black Pearl! Advanced ticket purchase required. - Reading is Magical with Ed the Wizard at the Flint Public Library in Middleton
Date: 4/25, 11am-12pm
Cost: Free
Details: An interactive magic performance that highlights the importance of reading and how he taught himself to become “Ed the Wizard!” Registration not required. - STEM-sational Fun at the Hamiton-Wenham Library
Date: 4/25, 1-3pm
Ages: 3+
Cost: Free
Details: Join for an afternoon of S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fun and exploration! Rotate through stations that engage S.T.E.M. concepts and activities. All ages welcome, but best for children ages 3 years and up due to some small parts. No registration needed, just drop in!
Saturday, 4/26 & Sunday, 4/27
- North of Boston Book Trail & Independent Bookstore Day
Date: 4/26 & 4/27
Details: On April 26th, independent bookstores across the country – including all 19 stores on the North of Boston Book Trail – will be celebrating the 12th anniversary of Independent Bookstores Day! Visit your local bookstore for exclusive items, sales, and special events. (Activities vary by shop location.) Don’t miss the North of Boston Book Trail Passport Program happening alongside Indie Bookstore Day, April 26th and 27th, where participants are eligible to win over $4,500 in prizes! - Little Sprouts in the Garden: Create a Bug Hotel Workshop at Long Hill in Beverly
Date: 4/26, 10am-12pm
Ages: 6-10
Cost: Member Child: $15; Non-Member Child: $25
Details: Bugs come in all shapes and sizes! From a colorful butterfly to a buzzing bee and so much in between…there are so many places to find these friends of the garden! In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about different kinds of bugs found in the garden, why they are important to our eco-system, and how we can attract them to our gardens by creating their very own bug hotel to take home with you. This is not a drop off program. An adult must attend but there is no additional charge.Pre-registration is required. - Castle Hill Tour: The Cat’s Meow at Crane Estate in Ipswich
Date: 4/26 & 4/27, 10:30-11:30am
Ages: 3-8 with adult
Cost: $8 Members, $16 Non-members
Details: Imagination is one of our greatest treasures…imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family servant find our mischievous Siamese? Once he’s found, we’ll have just enough time to dress for the party! Advanced tickets required. - Salisbury Art Stroll Festival & Fairy Gnome Discovery Walk at Pettengill Farm
Date: 4/26 & 4/27, 11am-3pm
Cost: $8
Details: The 10th annual Fairy Gnome Discovery Walk at Historic Pettengill Farm will host nearly 200 Fairy and Gnome Homes peppered throughout a 1 mile wooded path that leads to the salt marsh and back. Homes are created by very talented professionals, families, school children, and local businesses. This year the Art Stroll has been added to this event and welcomes artists from all over New England to showcase and vend their work.