Picnic at Winnekenni Basin (click picture for larger image)

Northern Essex Community College is a hub of educational and cultural activity in Haverhill. Students, alumni, and the general public enjoy exhibits, plays, concerts, dance and choral performances, and lectures by renowned authors. Music lovers from throughout the region tap their feet during free summer "concerts on the lawn."

High atop a hill overlooking Kenoza Lake and Winnekenni Basin sits the medieval-style Winnekenni Castle, home to indoor and outdoor cultural events from April until November. Soak up some sun with cool blues and jazz on a summer Sunday afternoon, or catch a mystery dinner theater production inside the 125-year-old castle.

Children and adults hone their artistic skills with workshops on painting and drawing, ceramics, sculpting, and more at the Pentucket Arts Center. And the world awaits you in books, online, or at events and lectures at the Haverhill Public Library.

Teens, children and adults watch movies and enjoy dinner at the cinema pub, view arts films

and live performances at a cozy theatre, or hear live music at several nightclubs.

Each year, thousands of families delight in Haverhill's events. Children rule the day at KidsFest in May, a celebration featuring free entertainment, including amusement rides, games, food, and activities. The city's Fourth of July celebration and exceptional fireworks display draw families from throughout Greater Haverhill. The community welcomes fall with SeptemberFest, a downtown gathering of performers, vendors, and kids' activities. And Haverhill ushers in the holiday season with two events: the popular Santa Parade, which winds down Main Street just before Thanksgiving; and the Christmas Stroll, an early December evening of caroling, hot cocoa, and cookies that's topped off with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh.

Education is important to Haverhill families. Six state-of-the-art middle schools; a high school system that consistently produces state championship sports teams and offers six foreign languages; the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, which serves 11 communities; and several faith-based schools are just a few of the choices parents appreciate when selecting the learning experience that best suits their child.