Haunted Histories: Condemned

Know before you go In-person event Location: 128 Essex Street, Salem $49 members and Salem residents (with valid ID); $59 nonmembers Tickets are nonrefundable. © 2024 Peabody Essex Museum. Photo by Michaela Berry. The courtyard is haunted... again. You came to Salem to enjoy the Halloween season, but have you enjoyed yourself a little too much? Enter a prison existing in liminal space, holding murderers, cult leaders and madmen. Tonight you will find yourself “locked” in the courtyard until sunrise, unless you can assist the Warden to find a crucial piece of evidence to tie a murderer to the most dastardly of crimes, which took place steps away from where you stand... Houses featured in this program include the Gardner-Pingree House (1806), John Ward House (1684), Quaker Meeting House (about 1688) and Derby–Beebe Summer House (1799). Playwright and Co-Director: Arielle Kaplan Showrunner / The Warden: Cari Keebaugh This performance includes sudden flashes, loud noises and fire effects. These historic properties are not wheelchair accessible and will require visitors to ascend several steps to enter. Once inside, floors may be uneven and the space will be tight. Guests will need to stand while in some houses. This program includes low lighting in the houses and courtyard. Actors will not be using microphones. No restrooms are available on PEM property. The storytelling experience lasts about 70 minutes. Please note, these stories are intended for mature audiences and contain themes (murder, violence and gore, suicide, cult activity) that some may find disturbing. Discretion is advised. Guests must arrive 15 minutes prior to their ticketed time. Tickets are single-entry; guests are not permitted to leave and return except to seek out restroom facilities. Rain or shine, we’ll see you there! Learn more about all our events happening this fall at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/halloween">pem.org/halloween</a>.

Courtyard

Curator-Led Tour: The Salem Witch Trials 1692

Know before you go In person event Location:&nbsp;The Salem Witch Trials 1692&nbsp;exhibition gallery $20 members and Salem residents ; $50 nonmembers Join us before opening hours for a special curator-led tour of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/the-salem-witch-trials-1692">The Salem Witch Trials 1692</a>. Explore the extraordinary series of events between June 1692 and March 1693 that led to the deaths of 25 innocent women, men and children who were wrongfully convicted of crimes. More than 300 years later, the personal tragedies and grievous wrongs that occurred still provoke us to reflect and reckon with the experiences of those involved. This ongoing installation tells this story through tangible fragments directly tied to people in Salem and nearby communities in the 1690s. A handwritten petition, a carved loom, a walking stick — each illuminates an aspect of individuals who lived through Salem’s witch trials and serves as a reminder of the real people impacted by these harrowing events. Don’t miss this chance to ask the exhibition curators your questions!

Peabody Essex Museum

Phillips Library Open House: Recent Acquisitions

Know before you go In person event Phillips Library Reading Room, 306 Newburyport Turnpike, Rowley, MA 01969 Free. No reservations needed, drop in anytime. Join Phillips Library staff members for an informal, hands-on viewing of materials acquired during the past year. The wide variety of objects on display (manuscripts, pamphlets, photographs, maps, broadsides, ephemera, artists’ books and more!) will reflect the local and global scope of our collections. Visitors are welcome to handle the items on view, and there will be something of interest for everyone! The program is part of the Trails and Sails event series hosted across the Essex National Heritage Area.

Phillips Library Reading Room

PEM PRESENTS: Artists For Humanity

Know before you go In-person event Location: Morse Auditorium and Morse Alcove Included with admission Join us for a presentation and reception celebrating the 2025 Artists for Humanity Fellows. These multidisciplinary artists will share new works made over the course of their fellowship in response to their own sustainability research and their preview of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/andrew-gn-fashioning-the-world">Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World</a>,&nbsp;on view at PEM beginning September 13.

Plein Air Watercolor Landscape Sketching

Know before you go In-person event Location: Meet inside the museum's Main Atrium The group will walk together to Derby Wharf (0.5 miles). Members $39; nonmembers $49; plus $30 for materials Ages 18+ There will be a break for participants to buy lunch at the Atrium Café or nearby in Salem. Celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/making-history-200-years-of-american-art-from-the-pennsylvania-academy-of-the-fine-arts">Making History: 200 Years of American Art from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts</a>&nbsp;with an al fresco introduction to watercolor sketching! The session begins with a guided tour led by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll, PEM’s George Putnam Curator of American Art, who will offer an exclusive look at the iconic works in the exhibition. Afterward, participants will engage in a creative workshop led by artist Jessica Yurwitz of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.slowriverstudio.com/">Slow River Studio</a>. This class is perfect for beginners with no painting experience, or those returning to art after a break. All supplies are provided, and participants will take home essential materials so they can continue painting at home. In the event of rain, this class will take place in PEM’s Create Space Studios.

Peabody Essex Museum & Derby Wharf 

Drop-in Art Making: Boreal-Inspired Patches at PEM

Know before you go In-person event Location: Create Space, Studio 1 Included with admission As you’ll discover in the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/knowing-nature-stories-of-the-boreal-forest">Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest</a>&nbsp;exhibition, 31% of the world’s forest is found in the boreal zone. Home to many species and a host of migratory birds, the boreal forest is also essential to regulating Earth’s climate. Spread the word about this vitally important forest by screen printing your own boreal animal and plant patch that you can wear and share with friends!

Art is Love: A Talk and Concert at PEM

Know before you go In-person event Location: Morse Auditorium Included with admission; preregistration encouraged. This program includes moderately loud live music (amplified sound and percussion). Join us for an afternoon of music and dialogue exploring the creative process in contemporary songwriting and performance. This conversation among original works by artists Muriel Teodori, Kessada and Steve Nieve pays tribute to two of the most iconic figures in modern music: Tom Waits and Elvis Costello. Through conversation, live performance and personal storytelling, the trio invites the audience to reflect on the art of creation, the power of love and the eternal interplay between control and spontaneity in artistic expression. The Talk: Three Angles on Artistic Creation 1. What is the process of creation in art? Muriel Teodori explores the psychological and philosophical dimensions of creativity. 2. Improvisation: Does it really exist? Is improvisation truly spontaneous, or is it the result of years of structure and discipline? Steve Nieve draws from his classical training and rock experience to explore improvisation as both freedom and illusion. 3. Production: Can it be Perfect? Control or Freedom? In the age of digital tools and infinite takes, Kessada questions the obsession with perfection. The Concert: Art is Love Original songs are woven together with deeply personal interpretations of works by Tom Waits and Elvis Costello — two masters of storytelling through music. Each song, each note, is a continuation of the conversation.

Opening Celebration: Knowing Nature at PEM

Know before you go In-person event Location: Main Atrium, Create Space Studios Included with admission The exhibition gallery will be open for self-guided exploration from 10 am–5 pm. ABOVE IMAGE: Wolf © Tom Walker. All Rights Reserved. Join us in celebrating the opening of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/knowing-nature-stories-of-the-boreal-forest">Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest</a>, on view in The Dotty Brown Art &amp; Nature Center! Meet one of the featured artists as she creates new quillwork art, explore a boreal forest discovery cart and take part in forest-related hands-on activities! Tree Trek 11 am–Noon | Meet in front of the museum Preregistration required. Join PEM’s Garden and Grounds team to discover the incredible trees that are part of our campus, a newly accredited&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/gardens/arboretum">Level II Arboretum</a>. The Caterpillar Lab 11 am–3 pm | Create Space 1 Join The Caterpillar Lab in an open exploration of the incredible world of New England caterpillars, some of which are also found in the boreal forest — including monarch butterfly caterpillars! This drop-in will feature a variety of live caterpillars in various stages of development. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab will share incredible but true stories about these creatures' strange and surprising adaptations, and there will be plenty to see and touch. Check out some little-known native critters munching on their food plants right in front of you. You're sure to see something new! Woven Quillwork Demonstration by Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) 11 am–3 pm | Main Atrium Join Aquinnah Wampanoag artist Elizabeth James-Perry for a demonstration of quillwork: a Native American art form that uses porcupine quills to decorate clothing, jewelry and other objects. James-Perry is also a restoration ecologist, and she will discuss how she sustainably harvests and prepares natural materials (including plant dyes) for her artworks in&nbsp;Knowing Nature&nbsp;and beyond. Drop-in Art Making: Air Plant Wire Sculptures 11 am–3 pm | Create Space 2 Using a rock, wire and air plants, create a unique nature sculpture to enjoy indoors! Boreal Short Film Showings 2 pm-4 pm | Morse Auditorium

PEM Reads: Nothing More of this Land

Know before you go In-person event Location: Morse Auditorium Included with admission Join Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag), author of&nbsp;Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search&nbsp;for Indigenous Identity&nbsp;for an author talk and Q&amp;A that sparks conversations about Indigenous history and identity and raises awareness of contemporary Indigenous issues. Before Martha’s Vineyard became one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the country, it was home to the Wampanoag people. Today, as tourists flock to the idyllic beaches, the island has become increasingly unaffordable for tribal members, with nearly three-quarters now living off-island. Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, journalist Joseph Lee grappled with what this situation meant for his tribe. He asks how the community can continue to grow and more broadly, what it means to be Indigenous. About the Book In&nbsp;Nothing More of This Land, Lee weaves his family story into a panoramic narrative of Indigenous life around the world. He takes us from the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the icy Alaskan tundra, the smoky forests of Northern California to the halls of the United Nations and beyond. Along the way, he meets activists fighting to protect their land, families clashing with their own tribal leaders and communities working to reclaim tradition. Together, these stories reject stereotypes to show the diversity of Indigenous people today and chart a way past the stubborn legacy of colonialism. The author and Q&amp;A will take place from 2–3 pm, followed by a book signing and reception from 3–4 pm.

Yoga and Meditation in the Galleries at PEM

Know before you go In-person event Location: East India Marine Hall Members $5; nonmembers $10 Advance tickets are required; space is limited. Please note that this session will begin with meditation, followed by yoga. This class is designed to be accessible to all ages and abilities. No prior experience with yoga or meditation is necessary – all are welcome! Limited seating will be available in the gallery during meditation. Sealed water is permitted in the gallery during yoga and meditation. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing and silence your phone or devices for this program to get the most out of this mindfulness practice. Join us for a morning of yoga and meditation! Deepen your breath and take in the serenity of the historic East India Marine Hall during a yoga class led by Soul City Yoga. Then, stick around for a special guided mindfulness session in the gallery from 10:15–10:45 am. About the Gallery East India Marine Hall was built using local Cape Ann granite in 1824-25 by the architect Thomas Waldron Sumner. It was the headquarters for the East India Marine Society, PEM’s founding organization. This group of 22 sea captains and traders sailed all over the world from Salem and started the oldest collecting museum in America in 1799. East India Marine Hall is the historical and physical heart of the museum; over time, added gallery spaces have surrounded it. Recently restored to its original elegance, the building is a National Historic Landmark. East India Marine Hall currently houses nine carved ship’s figureheads that are juxtaposed with amplified music and sea ballads as a part of Scottish artist Susan Philipsz’s exhibition <a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/susan-philipsz-if-i-with-you-would-go">If I With You Would Go</a>. Philipsz uses sound to heighten awareness of space, emotion and memory. Her choice of a song about a young woman lured away to sea is a mythical and cautionary echo of the mercantile and maritime history embodied in this historic hall. Observing art can induce a “flow state” of mindfulness and activate the same part of the brain that more traditional mindfulness practices, like meditation and yoga, do. Join us on the first Sunday morning of every month (second Sundays for holiday weekends) in a guided practice of “mindful looking.” Come be still, relax and connect more deeply with artworks from PEM’s collection.

Nature Immersion & Dreamscapes in Ropes Mansion Garden

Know before you go In-person event Location: Ropes Mansion Garden, 318 Essex St, Salem $5 members; $10 nonmembers Slow down, unplug and awaken your senses on a guided nature immersion in the Ropes Mansion Garden. The program will begin with a facilitated journey through the senses, inviting rest and wandering. Then, explore the colors and shapes you observe in the garden through watercolor "dreamscapes.” All the prompts, ways of sharing and participating are optional and open to interpretation. Art supplies will be provided. Note: We will be sitting on the ground for a portion of this program. Please feel free to bring a mat, towel or pillow. We recommend bringing sunscreen and a closed container of water.

PEM Create Night: Dream Vision Boards

Know before you go In-person event Location: Main Atrium and&nbsp;Building Dreams&nbsp;Exhibition Gallery $10 members, $20 nonmembers Join us for an evening of mindful creativity that celebrates the recent opening of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/jung-yeondoo-building-dreams">Jung Yeondoo: Building Dreams</a>! Go on a curator-led tour of the exhibition and then bring your dreams to life by exploring a visual manifestation practice. If you could create a visual representation of your wildest dreams, what would it look like? Think about your dreams and bring them to life through the use of photographic media and collage. Photo: Jung Yeondoo. © Ahn Sangkyum. Courtesy of the Jung Yeondoo Studio.

PEM Pride: Rainbow Rager

Know before you go In-person event Location: Main Atrium $35; $20 Salem residents Guests must be ages 18 and up, with valid ID, in order to attend. This program includes amplified music, live music (singing), participants dancing and jumping on a hard floor and flashing or strobing lights. Festive neon attire is encouraged, but wide-brimmed hats and masks that fully cover the face are not permitted in the museum. No glitter, please. Tipping performers is encouraged; please come prepared. Join us as we celebrate our cherished LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month in partnership with Miz Diamond Wigfall and other local drag artists! Our after-hours dance party and drag show will feature refreshments, a cash bar with specialized cocktails and mocktails, music by DJ Maxine Harrison and a fantastical immersive photo booth by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lightwitch.com/">Courtney B Hall, the “Light Witch”.</a>&nbsp;Enjoy a start-studded a drag show hosted by Miz Diamond Wigfall and Maxine Harrison, featuring Buster Pants, Dick Kayin, Miss Michael, Peewee Vermin, Chanel The Angel, Chola Spears, Geya Jenda, Julie J, Izzy Ready, Kelly Shoes, Killah Croc, Lilly Rose Valore, Misster, Tequila Cowboy and Violencia!

76 Days Adrift Film Screening and Q&A

Know before you go In-person event Location: Morse Auditorium Included with admission Recommended for ages 13 and up. This film is in English with English subtitles. Join Daniel Finamore, Associate Director–Exhibitions and the Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History, for a screening of&nbsp;76 Days Adrift, the gripping film based on Steve Callahan's harrowing survival at sea. Hear firsthand from Callahan and Executive Producer Robert Sennott as they discuss the making of the film, the emotional and physical challenges Callahan faced during his 76-day ordeal and the deeper themes of resilience and the human spirit. This intimate Q&amp;A offers a rare opportunity to explore the incredible story behind this extraordinary tale of survival — a story perfectly suited to Salem, a city steeped in maritime history, where the spirit of exploration, endurance and the sea has shaped its rich heritage. 76 Days Adrift&nbsp;is 105 minutes in length.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

peabodyessexmuseum

Experiences

Haunted Histories: Condemned

Curator-Led Tour: The Salem Witch Trials 1692

Phillips Library Open House: Recent Acquisitions

PEM PRESENTS: Artists For Humanity

Plein Air Watercolor Landscape Sketching

Drop-in Art Making: Boreal-Inspired Patches at PEM

Art is Love: A Talk and Concert at PEM

Opening Celebration: Knowing Nature at PEM

PEM Reads: Nothing More of this Land

Plein Air Watercolor Landscape Sketching

Yoga and Meditation in the Galleries at PEM

Nature Immersion & Dreamscapes in Ropes Mansion Garden

PEM Create Night: Dream Vision Boards

PEM Pride: Rainbow Rager

76 Days Adrift Film Screening and Q&A