Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour featuring architectural treasures from PEM’s collection! The only walking tours in Salem that offer entry into historic buildings, PEM’s tours cover five centuries of happenings and characters from Witch City, including the infamous trials of 1692. Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories explores Salem’s notable structures, from a Daniel Bray House, and learn about Salem landmarks like Derby Square, the Lyceum and the courthouses on Federal Street. Along the way, learn how the city’s history of colonization, revolution and maritime trade shaped its people and architecture. This is an indoor/outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. We’ll see you rain or shine! This tour involves walking around 1.5 miles, standing on hard surfaces and the use of stairs. Historic structures are not ADA accessible. Strollers may be used on the tours, but may not be brought into any of the historic structures. Historic houses may include areas of low lighting and uneven surfaces. Assisted listening devices are available, and tour guides will use microphones. You can also follow our expert guides into the dark side of Salem history with Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders and Literary Legends, and walk through landmarks of 1692, plus the site of a gruesome murder that made headlines in 1830 and inspired Edgar Allan Poe.

Peabody Essex Museum

Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders & Literary Legends

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour featuring architectural treasures from PEM’s collection! The only walking tours in Salem that offer entry into historic buildings, PEM’s tours cover five centuries of happenings and characters from Witch City, including the infamous trials of 1692. Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders and Literary Legends starts by painting the picture of life in 1692 by examining the <a href="https://www.pem.org/historic-houses/john-ward-house">Gardner-Pingree House</a>. The killing of Joseph White gripped Salem and the country in 1830 with its brawling brothers, custom-built murder weapons, conspiring family members and a body that was autopsied three times. Follow PEM’s expert guides into the room where it happened – if you dare! This is an indoor/outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. We’ll see you rain or shine! This tour involves walking around 0.5 miles, standing on hard surfaces and the use of stairs. Historic structures are not ADA accessible. Strollers may be used on the tours, but may not be brought into any of the historic structures. Historic houses may include areas of low lighting and uneven surfaces. Assisted listening devices are available, and tour guides will use microphones. You can also follow our expert guides on <a href="https://www.pem.org/events/brick-by-brick-salems-hidden-architectural-stories">Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories</a> for an in-depth look at architecture across downtown Salem, from a millionaire’s mansion to a working-class sailor’s house.

Holiday Food Drive for the Salem Pantry

This holiday season, PEM is proud to host a food drive benefitting the Salem Pantry! From November 10 through December 7, visitors are invited to drop off a non-perishable food donation at the Admissions desk and receive a voucher for a free cookie at the Atrium Café, courtesy of Gourmet Caterers. Accepted items include: Local grocery store gift cards (in $5, $10, or $15 increments) Holiday sides: Stuffing mix, canned gravy, canned cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, shelf-stable pie shells, baking mixes Pantry staples: Canned goods, spices, cooking oil, flour All items must be non-perishable, unopened and non-expired. Visitors who donate will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a free one-year family membership to PEM. Members who donate may enter a raffle to win a mystery prize. Thank you for helping PEM give back to our Salem community! PEM’s food drive is organized by the museum’s Climate + Environment Initiative. This is a Weekly Recurring Event Runs from Nov 10, 2025 to Dec 7, 2025 and happens every: Mondays:	10:00am - 5:00pm&nbsp; Thursdays:	10:00am - 5:00pm&nbsp; Fridays:	10:00am - 5:00pm&nbsp; Saturdays:	10:00am - 5:00pm&nbsp; Sundays:	10:00am - 5:00pm

Native American Heritage Month

Join us for a happy, vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed on November 15. Author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and artist Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) celebrate the joy and power of wearing moccasins—and the Native pride that comes with them. A perfect book for Native American Heritage Month and year round! This American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award Honor book contains an author’s note with additional information about moccasins and Rock Your Mocs day, for readers curious to learn more about intertribal pride and the joy found in different Native identities. Designed for children (5 and under) and their caregivers, PEM Pals aims to engage and excite all of the senses through books, movement, music, art and hands-on activities. Held on the first Friday of the month at 10:30 am.

Wheelock Variations in Concert

Guitarist Alexander Lassa and composer Charles Shadle present Wheelock Variations: The Choctaw Hymn Tradition in a Contemporary Context, a concert that celebrates both musicians’ tribal identity as enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The central work on the program is Shadle’s Wheelock Variations, a 25-minute work for solo guitar, commissioned by Lassa, that is based on “Vba Isht Taloa 139” (Choctaw Hymn 139). The title of Wheelock Variations references the historic Wheelock Academy near Millerton Oklahoma/Choctaw Nation, and the nearby Wheelock Church. Both bear the name of Eleazar Wheelock (1711–1779), Congregational minister and founder of Dartmouth college, and an important advocate for the education of Native American people. Wheelock Academy was established by the respected early missionary to the Choctaws, Alfred Wright (1788-1853), who founded the school in 1832. He and his congregation built the stone Wheelock Church in 1845–46. Very much in the severe style of the New England country meeting house, it is the oldest church building in Oklahoma. It has recently been returned to the ownership of the Choctaw Nation. In part, Wheelock Variations memorializes this event, while also engaging, through musical means, with the complex history of the place and its people. Wheelock Variations can be heard as an act of cultural preservation that understands that the past, in order to stay viable, must be continually reimagined, so that it remains accessible to both Choctaw and non-Choctaw listeners.

Birding Iceland, Land of Midnight Sun — Grímsey & Flatey Islands

Iceland abounds with natural splendor: waterfalls and glaciers, panoramic views and otherworldly landscapes. During the summer months, Iceland’s round-the-clock sunlight draws in a panoply of nesting birds: Atlantic puffins, razorbills, guillemots, phalaropes, godwits and more. Come along with wildlife photographer and Mass Audubon instructor Shawn Carey as he shares images and stories from his journey to Iceland, with a focus on two Icelandic islands that attract thousands of nesting seabirds each summer. You’ll learn some helpful wildlife photography tips along the way. This event is co-hosted by the Essex County Ornithological Club. All are welcome to attend!

A Fashion Design Experience

Celebrate Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World with an introduction to fashion design and sketching! Let this dazzling exhibition serve as inspiration for a day of hands-on drawing and creativity. The session begins with a guided tour led by Petra Slinkard, PEM's Chief Curator and the Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles, who will offer an exclusive look at the stunning works in the exhibition. Afterward, participants will engage in a creative workshop led by Jay Calderin, author, fashion designer, educator and the founder of Boston Fashion Week. Start the process of learning how to sketch your own fashion ideas using many of Andrew Gn’s signature design elements, including vibrant color and bold patterns, as well as a variety of silhouettes, all punctuated by frills, flounces and embellishment. All are welcome — no previous drawing experience necessary. All supplies are provided, and participants will take home essential materials so they can continue to practice at home. Happens on the following Dates: Nov 15, 2025, 10:00am to 3:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canada) Dec 6, 2025, 10:00am to 3:30pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canada)

Creative Neighbors | Vecinos Creativos: Punto Urban Art Museum

Join us for an artist talk with Punto Urban Art Museum’s (PUAM) Creative Neighbors muralists to celebrate their work and strengthen the bridge between local artists and the museum. The Creative Neighbors project brings in local and regional artists to create a series of murals in Salem's Point neighborhood (El Punto). The theme for this year's murals, "Raíces | Roots," prompted the selected muralists to reflect on their heritage and the concept of being rooted. In addition to their large-scale murals, six of the muralists created accompanying canvas works for display at PEM. This project is made possible by PEM’s partnership and is an official part of Punto Urban Art Museum’s Salem 400+ offerings. Canvases by six of the muralists will be on display in PEM’s Main Atrium from November 15–December 2, with potential remounts in 2026 as part of PEM’s Salem 400+ celebrations.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil

Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR) is an internationally recognized, annual day to commemorate the lives of trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people we have lost to anti-trans violence and discrimination. Organized and led by members of the trans community, this vigil will feature trans speakers and the traditional reading of names, followed by an open mic. This vigil is presented by the North Shore LGBTQ Network in partnership with NAGLY and the Peabody Essex Museum. This event is open to all ages and all gender identities. Supportive allies are welcome. Please note attendees are prohibited from taking photos during the vigil.

Creative Foundations: Inside the Fashion Design Process

Be inspired by Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World and let fashion educator Jay Calderin guide you through an inside look at the fashion design process. Engage in a creative workshop led by founder of Boston Fashion week Jay Calderin. His fashion design primer will be equal parts lecture, drawing demonstration and Q&amp;A. Enjoy a professional introduction to the steps involved in developing a concept for a collection and follow along at home with your included materials kit. All are welcome. No previous drawing experience is necessary! Registration for this event closes on November 11.

Online

Queer Community Gathering: Kiki on the High Seas

Join us for a pirates-themed queer history trivia night at PEM, featuring local LGBTQIA+ historian Sebastian Crane! Show off your knowledge of pop-culture pirates and find out how accurate those modern-day mateys are. Grab a bite to eat, don your gayest apparel, and come prepared for a battle of wits. We’ll name our pirate queen, king or thing at the end of the night for best costume! Costumes are highly encouraged, but please leave prop weapons and extra-large hats at home. This program is free to the public and appropriate for all ages. The day before this event, November 20, marks North Shore LGBTQ+ Network. The vigil is free and open to the public. For resources on how to expand trans inclusion in your school or community, explore GLSEN's Trans Action toolkit.

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Wakefield, MA

North America's largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing in Wakefield! Solve a hilarious true crime murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it! Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults. Each ticket includes our signature award-winning mystery dinner theatre show, along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of surprises during the show. Happens on the following Dates:<ul><li>Jan 3, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canada)</li><li>Jan 31, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canad</li></ul>

The Lakeside Inn

North America's largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing in Wakefield! Solve a hilarious true crime murder mystery while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it! Join us for an event that is very different from a traditional mystery dinner show. Our actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience! This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults. Each ticket includes our signature award-winning mystery dinner theatre show, along with a full plated dinner, waitstaff gratuity, and plenty of surprises during the show. Happens on the following Dates:<ul><li>Jan 3, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canada)</li><li>Jan 31, 2026, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Eastern Time (US &amp; Canada)</li></ul>

Hocus Pocus Decorations at Ropes Mansion

Get into the Halloween spirit and visit the Ropes Mansion (318 Essex Street) to see the exterior decorated in the style of the ‘90s cult classic Hocus Pocus. You won’t have to bob for apples during this visit to Allison’s house, but it’s a must-see for any fan this October! Please note: The decor will be up from 10/23 - 11/3 from 10-5pm for viewing. We encourage you to visit the mansion’s historic garden, which is open every day from dawn to dusk.

Ropes Mansion and Garden

Photo Op with Jellycat Ghost

Join us this fall for a fun selfie moment with our newest arrival: a PEM-exclusive Halloween Jellycat Mysti Ghost! Enjoy a photo op with a larger-than-life friend and be among the first to shop PEM’s new seasonal Jellycat arrivals. The PEM Shop is a leading New England distributor of Jellycat toys, including exclusive and hard-to-find plushies. All proceeds benefit the Peabody Essex Museum.

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

vestasalem

Experiences

Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories

Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders & Literary Legends

Hocus Pocus Decorations at Ropes Mansion

Holiday Food Drive for the Salem Pantry

Native American Heritage Month

Birding Iceland, Land of Midnight Sun — Grímsey & Flatey Islands

A Fashion Design Experience

Creative Neighbors | Vecinos Creativos: Punto Urban Art Museum

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil

Creative Foundations: Inside the Fashion Design Process

Queer Community Gathering: Kiki on the High Seas

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Wakefield, MA

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Wakefield, MA

Photo Op with Jellycat Ghost

Nosferatu Screening with Live Orchestra