Free events return Sept. 12–27 across Essex County with new Revolution-themed programs
SALEM — As Essex Heritage prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Trails & Sails, the organization has launched a new website designed to help visitors plan and experience the annual event series. Trails & Sails will take place this Sept. 12–27 across all 34 cities and towns of Essex County, a region recognized as a National Heritage Area for its rich history, cultural treasures, and natural landscapes.
Each fall, the series offers hundreds of free events inviting the public to explore their own backyards. Activities include coastal hikes and cycling tours, museum programs, historic site visits, birdwatching outings, and other unique experiences hosted by organizations across the county.
The 2026 season will have an added dimension. As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, many Trails & Sails programs will highlight Essex County’s role in the founding of the United States, offering visitors new opportunities to connect with the region’s history. Essex County Rev250 is just one of several featured themes that highlight the important stories being told and work being done in this Heritage Area.
The website allows event hosts to submit programs that will appear in the online event calendar. Each listing includes details such as location, accessibility information, and potential reservation requirements. The site also offers resources for organizations interested in hosting events.
Event submissions will be approved and added on a rolling basis over the coming months as the 2026 Trails & Sails lineup continues to grow.
Essex Heritage CEO Annie Harris says, “The updated website for the 25th Anniversary for Trails & Sails is the public’s passport to nearly endless activities across Essex County, and all the incredible places Essex County has to offer. It’s going to be added to constantly leading up to September, so keep checking back!”
The website also provides information about Essex Heritage membership. While all Trails & Sails events are free to attend, membership helps support the program and ensures the event series can remain free and accessible to the public.
About Essex Heritage
Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) is a non-profit organization that has been federally authorized to manage and 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 as an act of Congress in 1996 and encompasses the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, Massachusetts. It includes two National Parks (Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site) and the 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 non-profit organizations and municipal governments.
About Trails & SailsTrails & Sails is an annual signature event of Essex Heritage that encourages people to explore the Essex National Heritage Area — a 500-square-mile region of extraordinary historical, cultural, and natural assets in northeastern Massachusetts. Through community partnerships, Trails & Sails offers accessible experiences that connect people with the stories, landscapes, and traditions that define the region.
