Family Fest, Community Market Highlight Peabody's Weekend Calendar
Peabody residents have a full slate of community events on tap this weekend and beyond, from a school-fundraising Family Fest at Emerson Park to a City Hall photo exhibit unveiling, while the state's mandatory outdoor water restrictions remain in effect across the city.
TOWN HALL
The city's mandatory outdoor water use restrictions, triggered by the state's critical drought declaration, remain posted as an active alert on the city website, underscoring that Peabody residents should continue to limit lawn watering and other outdoor water use. The city's website also continues to flag ongoing Central Street construction traffic detours and a public meeting notice for the city's Annual CAPER (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report), part of its federal HUD reporting requirements.
SCHOOLS
Peabody Public Schools closed out the 2025-2026 academic year with a message to families thanking the community for a "productive and rewarding" year, according to the district's latest post. Looking ahead, the School Committee has a retreat scheduled for Aug. 13 at the Wylie Center at Endicott College, alongside a PVMHS School-Based Council meeting on Aug. 6 and a regular School Committee meeting set for Aug. 25.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Peabody Institute Library continues to offer online access to resources including Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy and the Boston Globe archive through library cards, alongside its ongoing local history collection in the Sutton Room documenting George Peabody's legacy. The library's South and West branches are operating under updated summer hours effective since July 6, with Wednesday and Friday schedules trimmed at both locations.
Beyond the library, Peabody's cultural calendar includes several new dates. A Portraits of Peabody PhotoVoice Project exhibit will be unveiled at City Hall on Aug. 13, inviting residents to view a community photography project, per Peabody Patch. Music fans can also catch Robert Ellis Orrall performing Aug. 7, with an after-party featuring Funbucket, and a SummerSing performance of Fauré's "Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine" is scheduled for Aug. 10.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Peabody Family Fest Set For Emerson Park This Weekend" reports that an Aug. 8 fundraiser at Emerson Park will benefit the Peabody Education Foundation and the city's public schools, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/peabody-family-fest-set-emerson-park-weekend).
"Peabody Community Market Returns Sunday At Covenant Church" describes a Sunday market running from 3 to 6 p.m. that will also collect shelf-stable food donations tied to a Scout Eagle project, Peabody Patch reports (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/peabody-community-market-returns-sunday-covenant-church).
"Peabody City Hall To Host Portraits Of Peabody PhotoVoice Unveiling" notes that the Aug. 13 event invites residents to City Hall to view the community photo exhibit, per Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/peabody-city-hall-host-portraits-peabody-photovoice-unveiling).
"Salem Shelter Seeks Adopters For 5 Young Dogs Surrendered In Essex County" describes five dogs made available for adoption this week following a welfare response in the region, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://link.patch.com/click/46864609.1708).
COMING UP
The Peabody Family Fest takes place Aug. 8 at Emerson Park, benefiting the Peabody Education Foundation and public schools. Robert Ellis Orrall performs Aug. 7 with an after-party featuring Funbucket. The Peabody Community Market returns Sunday, Aug. 9, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Covenant Church. SummerSing presents Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine on Aug. 10. The Portraits of Peabody PhotoVoice Project unveils at City Hall on Aug. 13, the same day the School Committee holds its retreat at Endicott College's Wylie Center. The PVMHS School-Based Council meets Aug. 6, and the regular School Committee meeting is set for Aug. 25.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.