Ipswich Illumination features a collection of interactive art installations, live music, poetry, projection, bonfires, and more along the Ipswich River. Each evening, Bonfires will blaze on the Ipswich River, which runs through the heart of our downtown & community. Enjoy installations and performances on the Ipswich Riverwalk Mural. Special thanks to all of our musician friends, content creators, performers, the bonfire tenders, and the Town & people of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

This year we will be Celebrating Themes of Civility, MultiCulturalism & Color! Take a look back at the 2025 and 2024 Ipswich Illuminations.

2026 Ipswich Season of Illumination

The 2026 annual Ipswich Illumination will be held on the following dates:

• Friday, October 9 & Saturday, October 10 at the top of Meeting House Green
• Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17 at the downtown Ipswich River Walk
• Closing ceremonies will be held on Sunday, October 18 at Pavilion Beach.

The schedules for some events listed below are tentative.

Friday, Sept  25 & Oct 23, 2026: GemJam

GemJam is a free public outdoor drum, dance, and DJ event held on the 4th Friday of each month at the Ipswich Riverwalk Mural located at 4 Union Street.

• Time and place: 6 to 8 pm at the Riverwalk Mural, 4 Union Street.

Oct. 2,3,4, 2026: 40th Annual Ipswich Cultural Council Annual Art Show & Sale 

The Ipswich Town Art Show is open to all Ipswich resident artists over the age of 17. The Ipswich Art Show and Sale showcases local artists and raises funds for the Ipswich Cultural Council, which in turn funds Ipswich community arts, humanities, and science grants. The Ipswich Cultural Council is a local, appointed council that works in concert with Mass Cultural Council to create cultural opportunities for the people of Ipswich. Click here to submit

Dates & times: October 2-4, 2026
Location: Ipswich Town Hall Gym, 25 Green Street, Ipswich, MA

Friday, October 2: Weights & Measures

In 1847, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contracted with Howard & Davis of Boston to manufacture and distribute to every town in Massachusetts a precision equal-arm balance scale with brass standard weights, and a large wooden cabinet. The official unveiling of the recently restored Ipswich Town Scales will occur during the Annual art show & sale, on the first floor of the Ipswich Town Hall.

Monday, Oct. 5: Gems from The Ipswich Public Library

Heidi Horner, archivist at the Ipswich Public Library, will introduce us to special items from the Ipswich Public Library’s archival collections focused on local history. Heidi studied archives management and library science at Simmons University, and got her start in archives at the Cape Ann Museum and the Harvard University Archives.

• Time and Location: 12:00 noon, Monday, October 5th at the Ipswich Museum, 54 South Main Street.

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Illumination Weekend One October 9, 10, 11, 2026

Celebrating Themes of Civility, MultiCulturalism & Color!

ON~GLOWING INSTALLATIONS  at the Ipswich Meeting House:

• Pieces of Light by Gina Tzizik 
• Windows & Doors of Perception: “If the doors of Perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is infinite. ~ William Blake 
• KaleidoLive, a real-time kaleidoscopic projection, a project in collaboration with ICAM.
• TranscenDance: Mind-body wellness, free-form movement meditation, and expressive arts led by local practitioners.
• Aspire: This Cape Ann Early Intervention program provides family-centered developmental support and home-based services for infants and toddlers.
• High Spirits: Standing 14′ high, the bronze sculpture by Chris Williams on North Main Street honors the town’s creative community.
• Truth is Multi~Faceted StereoOptics: 19th-century dual-lens stereoscopic cards captured three-dimensional views of New England, turning flat landscapes into deep, tangible views.
  

Friday, October 9, 2026

5:45–6:14 pm: Poetry by Pete McDade on the Ipswich Public Library front steps

6:14: Sunset Ringing of the Bells at Meeting House Green

6:15 – 7:00 pm: Nada Brahma Kirtan

7: 00 pm: The Orchestra On the Hill presents “American Tapestry: The Cambodian Spirit,” a collaboration with Angkor Dance Troupe at the Ipswich Community House / Living Faith United Methodist Church on Meeting House Green. The Cambodian music is inspired by Arn Chorn-Pond.

Ravi Sound Bath: Ravi Sirois is a local yogi and sound bath practitioner who leads GEM (Gong Enhanced Meditation) sound bath sessions and Kundalini yoga.

8:00 – 10:30 pm: 2001: A Space Odyssey, presented by 23 Microcine, which is dedicated to bringing people together through thoughtfully curated cinema. We invite you to share an evening of film with us during Ipswich Illumination.

• Location: The Take Out Terrace Truss & Stage, 4 Union Street 

Saturday, October 10, 2026 

1:00-3: 00 pm: Craft Supply Swap at the Ipswich Public Library, 25 N. Main Street. Give your used supplies a new home and pick up materials to try a new hobby for free. 

2:00-3:45 pm: Ipswich Public Library Archives Open House with Heidi Horner 

4:00-5:00 pm: Sound Bath with Ravi Sarois at the Ipswich Meeting House 

5:00- 6:10 pm: Circles, Lines & Squares Family-Friendly Folk Dance.

6:20 pm: Sunset Ringing of the Bells on Meeting House Green

6:25 – 7:30 pm:  Cables & Lines is a trio of dynamic musicians crafting emotionally resonant music that blends rich harmonies with intricate guitar playing.

7:30-9:00 pm: Music by Jah Spirit: The group blends an African-Reggae beat with elements of calypso jazz, blues, and rock. “Together we Aspire, Together we Achieve.”

Sunday, October 11, 2026

1:00 pm- 4:00 pm: Illumination Bazaar Bizarre

• Neighborhood Yard Sale, Meeting House Green and North Main Street
• Brown Paper Grab Bags: 50¢ Curiosity Bag, $1 Mystery Artifact, $5 Treasure Trove 

4:00-6:00 pm: Objects & ArtiFacts

• Location: Ipswich Public Library lawn
• Master Of Ceremonies: Kerry Zagorella with Show & Tell

6:06 pm: Sunset Ringing of the Bells.

6:10 pm: Lantern Walk, led by Ipswich Planner Director Alan Manoian. Meet at the Devil’s Footprint on the rocks by the Congregational Church.

6:10 pm: Ravi SoundBath at the Meeting House 

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Night Market Trade & Swap, Turn a Red Paperclip into a House 

Illumination Weekend Two, October 16 & 17, 2026

Installations at the Downtown Riverwalk 

• OnGlowing 
• Hall-Haskell House Artist in Residence: Brett Gamache, a plein air landscape painter from Ipswich. He holds a MFA from UNH and a BFA from MassArt. 
• A Flock of Seagulls 
• Ipsy the Dragon
• ShadowDance
• KalidoLive 

Friday, October 16, 2026

• 5:25 pm – 5:55 pm: Ipswich Community Band performing “Summer Stars” at the Mural 
• 5:59 pm: Sunset Illumination with Archers Carlos & Kara Junko
• Orville Giddings Band on the Main Stage  

Saturday October 17

• 5:57 pm: Sunset Illumination with Archers Carlos & Kara Junko
• 6:00-8:00 pm: 2-1 Ska on the Main Stage 

Sunday, October 18: Labor-In-Vain Challenge

• The Labor In Vain Challenge this year will start at the Town Wharf and paddle against the incoming tide to Pavilion Beach.
• Closing Ceremonies at Pavilion Beach with OmDrum Circle
• Ocean Plunge
• Lets Sauna Barrel Sauna 
• Time: to be announced

Sunday, October 18, AfterGlow at the Take Out Terrace

23 Microcine presents the film, The Thomas Crown Affair. 23 Microcine is dedicated to bringing people together through thoughtfully curated cinema. We invite you to share an evening of film with us during Ipswich Illumination.

• Date & time: Sunday, October 18 at 8:00 pm
• Location: The Take Out Terrace Truss & Stage, 4 Union Street 

Friday, October 23

GemJam is a free public outdoor drum, dance, and DJ event held on the 4th Friday of each month at the Ipswich Riverwalk Mural located at 4 Union Street.

• Time and place: 6 to 8 pm at the Take~Out Terrace Truss & Stage, 4 Union Street, Ipswich, MA 

Scenes from past Illuminations