Upcoming Special Events in Shirley, Massachusetts 
Listing is updated weekly at the Shirley Historical Society Museum.
Please contact us to have your event added to the list – mail@shirleyhistory.org
The Shirley Historical Society MUSEUM IS OPEN for visitors, researchers, and volunteers.
most Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
You may email or phone ahead to double check or to make an appointment 978-425-9328.
Sunday August 9th – 1:00 pm – Music on the Meeting House Porch featuring Pat Kenneally
Friday August 21 – 6:00 pm – Concert on the Common – Billy & the Jets – Billy Joel and Elton John Tribute Band
Sunday September 20th – 1:00 pm – Music on the Meeting House Porch featuring Bob Morse
Sunday, September 20th 2:00 pm at Shirley Historical Society Museum – Shirley Barns See a model of a barn, barn-building tools, and photos of early Shirley barns. Learn how Shirley builders constructed colonial era English style barns.
Sunday September 27th on the Common – Holdenwood Trail Run to benefit Education Foundation
Sunday September 27th 12:30 – 2:30 pm – Guided Tour of the site of the Shirley Shaker Village. Reservations must be made in advance for $20 per person. Contact mail@shirleyhistory.org.
Saturday, October 3rd – 8:00 am – 2:00 pm at Shirley Historical Society Museum – Annual Town – Wide Autumn Yard Sale Donations of flea market items are needed. We will also be selling Shirley souvenirs plus hot chili and we will need volunteers to help.
Saturday October 10th, 1:00 pm – at the Museum – Benton MacKaye presentation followed by Foliage Hike.
Sunday October 11th – 3 pm – 8 pm On the Common – Pumpkinfest, details TBA
Saturday November 7th – at Shirley Meeting House Shirley Film Fest Details TBA
Sunday, November 15th 2:00 pm at Shirley Historical Society Museum – Annual Meeting and Program Hear annual reports and vote for officers. View President Suspender’s 1910 pattern books and learn about their marketing materials.
Sunday November 29th – 4:00 – 6:00 pm – Lighting the Trees at Whiteley Park – Music, food, and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Sunday December 6th – 6:30 pm – at Shirley Meeting House Candlelight Noel
Guided Tours of the Site of
The Shirley Shaker Village
For 2026, tours will be held on Sundays at 12:30 on September 27th, October 11th, and October 25th .
The Shaker Village property is part of the state prison system and it can only be accessed by special arrangement. Our tour begins inside a Shaker building with a brief illustrated lecture on the history of the Shakers and the Shirley Shaker Village. Visitors go inside two other Shaker buildings and travel by prison van to various locations around the property.
Reservations must be made in advance for a cost of $20 per person, or $15 for Historical Society members.
Private tours may be arranged for groups of 8 on an agreed-upon Sunday afternoon.
Mail payment and contact information to Shirley Historical Society, PO Box 217, Shirley, MA 01464
Historic Shirley
Pub Crawls
Make arrangements to start at the Museum for a slide talk explanation of early New England taverns, the effects of prohibition, and the growth of local drinking clubs. Then load your car with the tour leader and your guests and visit the sites of 21 Shirley drinking establishments. Cost is $75 per car for the private two hour talk and tour.
Telephone during open hours or Email mail@shirleyhistory.org to make arrangements.