In November, the Trustees run a small number of guided walks that keep a group on World's End after the gates close for the day, and the Hingham Historical Society opens Old Ordinary by candlelight. These are among Hingham's most unusual events of the year. They are scheduled for the early dark, they require advance registration, and most of them are on the calendar for only a handful of dates.
The Full Moon Hike Starts When the Gates Close
The Trustees' Full Moon Hike at World's End invites participants "to stay after our gates have closed" for an hour-long guided walk to the top of Planter's Hill and back along the property's century-old cart paths. The walk catches the sunset and the moonrise together. The guide talks about the traditional meaning of that month's moon and about the history of World's End.
The two dates show how fast the light is going:
- Tuesday, November 24: 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 23: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The December hike starts 15 minutes earlier than the November one. Both are over before most people's workday ends. Dusk is also when animals come out into the open fields. The Trustees list white-tailed deer, red fox, raccoons and barred owls among the animals you might see at that hour.
You have to register ahead of time, and the Trustees ask you to arrive 10 minutes early for parking and check-in. Parking comes with your ticket. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, and dogs can't come on this hike. If bad weather moves or cancels the hike, registrants hear about it by email.
The Owl Prowl Goes Further Into the Dark
On Saturday, November 21, the Trustees run an Owl Prowl at World's End. It begins with a short lesson on the owls that breed in Massachusetts: how to tell them apart by call, where to find them, and how they hunt at night. Then the group goes out on the trails to listen. The guides choose the route that night based on where wildlife is most likely to be heard or seen. The Trustees say plainly that sightings and sounds aren't guaranteed.
The Trustees rate the walk easy to moderate, on dirt trails with some slight inclines, semi-rocky ground and exposed roots. As with the Full Moon Hike, registration is required, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, and dogs aren't allowed.
The moon hike and the Owl Prowl get the most attention, but they aren't the only November programs at World's End. Here is the full November schedule as the Trustees list it:
| Date | Program | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Nov. 6 | Walking Tour of World's End | Required |
| Saturday, Nov. 7 | Geology Walk at World's End | Required |
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | Owl Prowl at World's End | Required |
| Tuesday, Nov. 24 | Full Moon Hike, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. | Required |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | Green Friday Walking Tour | Required |
The Trustees schedule the Green Friday tour for the day after Thanksgiving. If you have family in town that weekend, it's an option that doesn't involve a mall parking lot.
Old Ordinary by Candlelight, Two Weekends Only
The Hingham Historical Society plans its November around the same early evenings. Its 2026 events calendar lists Candlelight Tours of Old Ordinary on two Friday-Saturday pairs: November 6 and 7, then November 13 and 14.
That puts four candlelit evenings in the whole season, and the first pair falls on the same weekend as the Trustees' walking tour and Geology Walk at World's End. A resident could split Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 between the two. The Historical Society's flyer doesn't give tour times. It tells readers to follow the society on social media for "ticketing and updated schedules," so check hinghamhistorical.org before you plan around a specific hour.
The rest of the society's month continues the same pattern:
- Sunday, November 15: Lecture by Kerri Greenidge
- Wednesday, November 18: Harvest Supper
- Friday, December 4: Hingham for the Holidays / Christmas in the Square
- Sunday, December 6: Lecture by Tom Bright
These lectures are part of the society's 2026-2027 lecture series, "Building a New Nation," which began in October.
November 21 Is the Month's Longest Day
Saturday, November 21 runs from morning to after dark. The 2026 Hingham Holiday Fair is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hingham High School. The organizers say the large raffle is back, with themed baskets and one free ticket with event payment. New vendors and food trucks will be set up outside at the school entrance. The fair's website lists the exhibitors, and each vendor name links to that vendor's own site, so you can browse before you go.
The fair closes at 4. That same evening, the Owl Prowl heads into the dark at World's End. Spending the day shopping for handmade gifts at the high school and the evening listening for owls on the cart paths is a very Hingham way to spend a late-November Saturday. You'll need two separate plans: walk in to the fair and pay at the door, but register for the Owl Prowl ahead of time.
Thanksgiving Starts at 7:30 A.M.
Two days after the Full Moon Hike, the calendar jumps to the other end of the day. The Hingham Turkey Trot, a 5K, starts and finishes at Hingham High School at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, according to the organizers' announcement in the Hingham Anchor. Early-bird registration is $38 for adults and $27 for runners under 18 until November 18. Runners, walkers and virtual participants are all welcome. Proceeds go to the Hingham High School cross country and track and field programs, and awards go to the top overall finishers and age-group winners. Registration is at hinghamturkeytrot.com.
Put the Turkey Trot next to the Tuesday moon hike and the Friday Green Friday tour, and Thanksgiving week includes three organized reasons to be outdoors in Hingham within four days.
What's New Between Stops
Some of the places you'd stop between events have changed since summer.
At Derby Street Shops, 94 Derby Street, Union Square Donuts opened its first South Shore store on September 2, the Hingham Anchor reported. It's an easy stop on the way to the Turkey Trot, or after it. Aritzia opened its Derby Street boutique on Monday, September 14, according to the Hingham Anchor. Johnnie-O opened its first Massachusetts store there over the summer, the Anchor reported in July. All three are new for anyone working through a holiday list this year.
The bigger change is at the Hingham Shipyard. The original Wahlburgers, at 19 Shipyard Drive, closed on September 30 after nearly 15 years. Boston Restaurant Talk, via NBC Boston shared the company's statement that its lease at the Shipyard was ending and that it is looking for a new home in the Boston area. The Patriot Ledger reported that a new full-service restaurant will take the space, according to a leasing executive. The restaurant hasn't been named yet. For now, a ferry commuter coming home in the November dark will find a dark storefront where Wahlburgers was.
December 4 in the Square, December 23 on Planter's Hill
The Historical Society's calendar lists Hingham for the Holidays / Christmas in the Square for Friday, December 4. The Hingham Downtown Association describes the event as a first-Friday-in-December tradition, with Santa, food trucks, an ice sculpture, cocoa, performances and shops staying open late. Its holiday page doesn't list a 2026 program yet, so check closer to the date for times.
After that, the last after-hours event of the season is the December 23 Full Moon Hike, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. That's the earliest start time of any program on this list, and it falls two days before Christmas.
If you're planning your November in Hingham and also wondering what your home might be worth come spring, Escalate Real Estate is happy to talk it through on your schedule. Request a Free Home Valuation, and we'll put together a clear, local read on your home's value.
