Essex Heritage Welcomes Community to Attend Hundreds of Events During 25th Anniversary Celebration |
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Essex National Heritage Area is celebrating the success of the opening days of its signature Trails & Sails, with events across Essex County’s 34 communities.
Attendees enjoyed more than 40 events on Saturday, Sept. 12, the opening day of the 16-day, 25th anniversary celebration, and more than 25 events on Sunday, Sept. 13.
From guided hikes and tours to cultural programs and opportunities to explore some of Essex County’s historic sites, the opening weekend offered a preview of what is still to come as Trails & Sails celebrates its 25th year.
“We were thrilled to see people getting out and exploring Essex County during the opening weekend of Trails & Sails,” said Annie Harris, Essex Heritage CEO. “One of the things that makes this event so special is the incredible variety of experiences our community partners make available for free. We had a great first weekend, and there is still so much for people to see and do through Sept. 27.”
More than 200 events are scheduled throughout this year’s Trails & Sails, with programs continuing through Sunday, Sept. 27. Events are organized around four themes: Essex County Revolution 250, Outdoor Explorations, Life by the Water, and Stories We Share.
All events are free, including guided hikes, behind-the-scenes tours of historic and cultural sites, boat trips, cultural celebrations, and family-friendly adventures for all ages. (Some events require registration.) Through community partnerships, Trails & Sails offers accessible experiences that connect people with the stories, landscapes, and traditions that define the region.
A full calendar of events may be found at the Trails & Sails website.
Several outdoor events originally planned for Sept. 13 have been rescheduled, so check the calendar for more information.
About Trails & Sails
Since 2002, Trails & Sails has welcomed more than 175,000 visitors who have experienced the places that make Essex County special: from birdwatching on Plum Island to exploring Den Rock Park in Lawrence, to historical sites from Saugus to Salem. The Essex National Heritage Area is an incredible place to explore with family and friends, offering a rich combination of natural beauty and history.
This milestone year marks a shared history of community engagement, exploration, empowerment and connection with the region’s parks, waterways, historic sites and iconic cultural institutions.
This year, as the nation commemorates America250, participants can expect to see historical reenactments, historic artisan demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and a wide variety of community-driven experiences designed for all ages and interests.
Many organizations have already committed to participating this year, with more than 200 events listed on the Trails & Sails event calendar.
Printed copies of the 2026 Trails & Sails guidebook are available at local libraries and host sites.
Trails & Sails is your ticket to adventure across Essex County, Massachusetts — a region recognized as a National Heritage Area for its rich history, cultural treasures, and natural landscapes. Each September, this vibrant event series provides access to hundreds of unique experiences, from guided hikes and paddles to behind-the-scenes tours, historic reenactments, interactive exhibits, artisan demonstrations and community celebrations. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover or simply curious to discover something new in your own backyard, Trails & Sails has something for everyone.
About Essex Heritage Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) is a nonprofit organization that has been federally authorized to work in partnership to oversee the unique heritage resources of the Essex National Heritage Area. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the Essex National Heritage Area located in Essex County, Massachusetts. The Essex National Heritage Area was created by an act of Congress in 1996 and encompasses the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, Massachusetts. It includes two National Park Service sites — Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site — and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. There are also several state parks, thousands of acres of conservation land, and numerous museums, historic houses and heritage sites that are open to the public and owned/managed by nonprofit organizations and municipal governments.
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