Explore emergent green technologies in the Museum’s brand-new immersive, interactive exhibit that helps us imagine the ways we’ll live, move, eat, and work in the future.

Explore emergent green technologies in the Museum’s brand-new immersive, interactive exhibit that helps us imagine the ways we’ll live, move, eat, and work in the future.

Saturday, July 18, 3:30pm ~ 5pm Register

Ever wondered what it really takes to run a farm? Roll up your sleeves and find out! Families will help take care of our sheep, goats, and cows by feeding them their evening meals, keeping the barns clean, and making sure everyone is warm and cozy before nightfall.

Activities will vary based on the livestock team’s schedule and what the season brings, which means each session brings something new, connecting families to sustainable farming and the animals that make it all happen.

Sun, Jul. 12, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Register

Do you love to kid around? So do we! Step into the goat pen to meet our resident goats and their kids up close as they play, then help the farmer feed them their afternoon meal while learning what a day in the life of a farm animal caretaker really looks like. Read a cozy storybook about goats to finish the program on a warm note.

Fri, Jul. 24, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Register

It’s peak firefly season and here’s your chance to observe one of nature’s most magical summer displays up close! During this family-friendly program, learn about the life cycle of fireflies, the habitats they need, how they light up, what they are saying, and how you can help them thrive.

Under the evening sky, hike out to the meadows where you’ll get a chance to witness their spectacular light show; we will even use a special tool to help us communicate with them.

You’ll leave not only with a sense of awe, but also a better understanding of how fireflies are crucial for ecosystems as indicators of environmental health, playing a significant role in maintaining biodiversity.

Sat, Jul. 18, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Register
Sat, Jul. 18, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Register

Every summer, Ipswich River’s fields fill with butterflies, and the Monarch is the star of the show. During this family program, you’ll explore the sanctuary’s meadows with field nets, searching for Monarchs and other butterflies.

A naturalist will share the remarkable story of the Monarch’s migration—one of the longest in the insect world—and explain what makes these butterflies such vital contributors to the health of the ecosystems around us. Participants also have the chance to contribute real data through community science data collection, making this a walk where your observations genuinely matter.

Sat, Jul 18, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Register

Gather for a summer nature play session for families to discover who lives in our rivers. Kids will search for wildlife along the Charles River using dip nets and observation tools, discovering firsthand how the river keeps the ecosystem cool during the hottest months and what creatures are hiding under the surface.

Then, play a game with water to cool down and learn about food webs. Through play and hands-on science, the group will explore how the river links every living thing in the park and why keeping it healthy matters for everyone.

Saturday, July. 18 10:00 – 11:30am Register

Some sun themselves on logs while others lurk below the surface, but all of New England’s turtles are full of surprises. Start this family-friendly program with a close-up encounter with one of Drumlin Farm’s turtle wildlife ambassadors, diving into what makes each species so well-suited to its habitat.

Then, head out on the trails, visiting the ponds, forests, and meadows where turtles like to hide, to try to spot them living wild around the sanctuary. Along the way, learn how these remarkable reptiles find food, survive the winter, and what challenges they face in today’s landscape.

Sat, Jul. 25, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Register

Who is the ruler of the hive? Buzz on in and learn about the queen honeybee and her court. She may have as many as 20,000 attendants catering to her needs, and she can lay up to 1,500 eggs each day!

Visit our working honeybee hives on the farm and find out how bees pollinate flowers and make honey. Plant your own flower seeds in a cup to take home, where you can watch them grow into blooms for the queen’s ladies-in-waiting to visit. Finish with a honey-flavored snack made possible by all that incredible effort.

Sat, Jul 18, 9:30am – 12:00pm Register

Ever wondered what it would be like to canoe through a nature preserve? This experience takes you out onto the Ipswich River and into the Great Wenham Swamp, gliding past beaver lodges, waterbirds, and wetland plants that line the banks in every direction.

Led by a canoe instructor, the trip is designed with novice paddlers in mind; basic paddling guidance is provided, and all equipment is included. Perfect for families, first-time canoeists, and anyone who wants to see this remarkable landscape from a different angle.

On view through Oct. 25

For “Can You Hear the City?”, Brooklyn-based artist Kelly Chen (b. 2000) has guided more than 150 students through an auditory and visual journey of the city. Students explored mediums including audio recording, drawing, and mosaic—as well as their own imaginations—to create scenes of city life. The resulting exhibition collects their work in a large-scale collaborative installation in the MFA’s Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art.

Saturdays and Sundays 10am ~ 4pm

Saturdays and Sundays 12 ~ 4pm

Sun, 8/2, 9/6, 10/4
10 AM ~ 3 PM

Join us on the first Sunday of the month for a day of free family fun! Enjoy art-making, gallery activities, performances, and workshops designed to deepen kids and families’ connections with contemporary art. All activities are drop-in, first come first served. Space is limited. Explore our Kids + Families page to help plan your visit!

Saturdays and Sundays in July, 1pm ~ 3pm

Busy animals leave all kinds of footprints as they go about their days. Use your own fingerprints to explore and make tracks of different critters, or imagine your own animal’s unique footprint!

On view through September 27, 2026

Home to 3.7 million people, 85 species of animals, 32,000 species of insects and 2 billion migratory birds, the boreal forest spans nearly the entire Northern Hemisphere, just below the Arctic Circle, and makes up one of the world’s last remaining stretches of true wilderness.

Discover the biodiversity and global importance of our northernmost forests through first-person stories, commissioned objects, interactive experiences and exquisite photography and videography.

A variety of weekend activities across Massachusetts. Many at famous historical buildings and sites. The webpage is updated by the trustees, keep checking for new activities!

On view through September 1, 2029

Features historic and contemporary works of art from several Native American communities in five sections that center the concepts associated with each direction.