Solstice Saturday Family Festival

Included with admission; Free for outdoor programs

Celebrate the upcoming summer solstice, a time of great momentum in the natural world, as well as the longest day of the year and the official start of summer.

Family Yoga

10–11 am | Ropes Mansion Garden, 318 Essex Street, Salem
Free event; All ages welcome
Registration required

Stretch, move and breathe with Tachou, a Beverly native and owner of TACHOUYOGA, Inc. Tachou will lead us in yoga and mindfulness activities for kids and families to practice and enjoy in our beautiful Ropes Mansion Garden. Mats will be provided for children.

Pollinator Garden Walk and Flower Pot Decorating

11:30 am–12:30 pm | Ropes Mansion Garden, 318 Essex Street, Salem
Rain Date: Sunday, June 19
Free event
All ages welcome
Registration required

Join Robin Wilkerson, ​​garden designer and educator from Native Plant Trust, to learn all about pollinator gardens! As we walk through the beautiful Ropes Mansion Garden, learn about the species of plants that attract local bees and butterflies. Following the walk, decorate your own flower pot with pressed flowers. And bring home a packet of native seeds to plant in your pot or a garden space.

Sun Weaving

11 am–3 pm | Create Space
Included with admission
All ages welcome

Join us as we celebrate the most important source of energy for life on earth: the sun! Our seasons, ocean currents, weather patterns and climate are all influenced by this magnificent star. Create your own sun weaving from natural materials, colorful ribbons, and yarn. Bring it home to add vibrancy to your living space.

Tree Trek

1 –1:45 pm | Meet at the front entrance of museum
Free event; All ages welcome

Join Art & Nature Center Program Specialist Doris Richardson on a family-friendly tour around the museum’s campus to meet some of our leafy neighbors in person! Learn about the public installation Konstantin Dimopoulos: The Blue Trees and listen to the trees’ biorhythms.

Please note that space is limited and the tour is subject to cancellation pending weather. Please call the day-of to confirm availability.

Sun Mural Community Art Project

2:30–3:30 pm | Dead Horse Beach, 158 Fort Avenue, Salem
Rain Date: Sunday, June 19
Free event; All ages welcome
Registration required

Join fine art photographer Patricia Scialo to design and create a cyanotype sun mural honoring the solstice. The mural project, Our Ocean, is inspired by PEM’s current exhibition Climate Action: Inspiring Change. Together we will create cut paper designs, and collect found objects and natural beach findings. Participants are also encouraged to place their hands directly on the surface of the fabric mural during the sun exposure. All are welcome to watch the exciting mural development process that uses the ocean tide.