Essex Heritage, Trails & Sails To Include More Than 150 Free Events

SALEM, MA — Essex Heritage, Trails & Sails is back with a full slate of in-person events this year with more than 150 free activities available across the North Shore for 10 days beginning on Sept. 16.

The events celebrate the historic, cultural and natural resources of the Essex National Heritage Area — which covers a 500-square-mile region across 34 cities and towns north of Boston.

"Trails & Sails was created 21 years ago to encourage residents to experience some of the wonderful trails, museums, historic sites, and water-based activities that abound in this region," Essex Heritage CEO Annie Harris said. "All the events are free, so there is plenty of incentive for locals to visit these special places that they drive by every day."

The 10-day calendar features garden tours, guided hikes, historical walks, lectures, boat rides and other activities happening mornings and evenings through Sept. 25.

This year's themes are the sustainability of natural resources, the importance of our coastal salt marshes, the variety of available outdoor recreational activities, and new discoveries being uncovered by our local history.

A full list of events can be found here or in the guidebook available at one of 13 visitor centers in Essex County as well as most local libraries.

All Trails & Sails events are free and most are available on a first-come, first-served basis except for a few reservation-required events.

Trails & Sails 2022 is generously sponsored by Eastern Bank, Salem Five Charitable Foundation, and Institution for Savings.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)