Salem’s So Sweet
Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival – Feb. 9 through Feb. 11, 2024
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to participate in the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 22nd year, we are continuing to evolve the signature elements of our event to better reflect the challenges and opportunities within our business community and incorporate best practices learned over the years.
Elements of this year’s festival will include:
- Ice sculptures around town, starting with installation on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall on Friday, Feb. 9th
- Evening illumination of ice sculptures on Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 from 5 pm to 9 pm
- A Kickoff Party (tickets on sale SOON) and late night shopping on Friday, Feb. 9
- The Chocolate Hearts Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11 – an QR code game in businesses around town with prizes for participants
- Sweet treats and deals at many of the amazing local shops and eateries all weekend!
The 2024 festival is made possible by support from local businesses, including Blackcraft, Moons Gift Shop, Salem Witch Museum, Witch City Walking Tours, Peabody Essex Museum, Gourmet Caterers, Retonica, St. Jean’s Credit Union, Annie’s Asian Mart, Die With Your Boots On, Nocturne, Re-Find, and Witch City Wicks. The festival is sponsored in part by the Salem Public Art Commission, and is supported by tourism dollars through Destination Salem.
Salem’s So Sweet Kickoff Event, Friday, Feb. 9 – THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Salem’s So Sweet starts with a Kickoff Event fundraiser on Friday, February 9. Ticket holders will begin the evening at a private downtown location where guests will receive a commemorative glass, a complementary pour of wine, and a goodie bag of sweet treats before heading out to explore. Multiple downtown businesses join the fun by providing beverage tastings and free treats for ticket holders, plus participants can enjoy the illuminated ice sculptures and live music on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. Tickets to this fundraiser are $40. Tickets must be purchased for one of three different timed sessions, starting at 4:50 pm. Ticket buyers may arrive any time during their selected session. This event has been generously sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry.
You don’t need to have a ticket to have a great time on Friday night! Viewing the ice sculptures and enjoying the roaming musicians is free to all and is not ticketed. Many businesses will be staying open late and offering special treats for anyone, not just ticketholders.
The following businesses will all be staying open until 8 pm Friday night for the Kickoff! Tickets are not required to visit businesses.
Businesses with a * are serving a special treat or offering for ANYONE who comes in that night.
Businesses with a ** have a treat or tasting JUST for kickoff ticketholders, bring your glass!
Annie’s Asian Mart*, 72 Washington Street
Artemisia Botanicals**, 3 Hawthorne Boulevard
ASCEND, 192 Essex Street
Bewitched in Salem, 180 Essex Street
Biss, 12 Front Street
Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe*, 234 Essex Street
Blackcraft Salem*, 253 Essex Street
Circle of Stitches, 66 Wharf Street
Couch Dog Brewing**, 76 Lafayette Street
Die With Your Boots On, 9 Church Street
East Regiment Beer Company**, 30 Church Street
Enchanted Shop*, 98 Wharf Street
Flying Saucer Pizza Company, 118 Washington Street
Garcon Super Slice*, 24 New Derby Street
Harrison’s Comics & Pop Culture**, 252 Essex Street
Hauswitch*, 144 Washington Street
House of Boo*, 75 Wharf Street
Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry**, 79 Washington Street
Kakawa Chocolate House*, 173 Essex Street
Koto**, 90 Washington Street
Melt**, 60 Washington Street
Modern Millie, 3 Central Street
Moons Gift Shop, 226 Essex Street
Nocturne**, 18 Front Street
Pamplemousse**, 185-189 Essex Street
Real Pirates**, 285 Derby Street
Re-find*, 72 Washington Street
Rockafellas**, 231 Essex Street
Salem Art Gallery, 64 Bridge Street
Salem Bespoke Boutique*, 127 Essex Street
Salem Wine Imports**, 32 Church Street
Stardust Salem*, 29 Congress Street
The Finery Shop*, 63A Wharf Street
The Hotel Salem**, 209 Essex Street
Whimsy’s Sweet Life*, 26 Front Street
Ice Sculptures, installation beginning Friday, Feb. 9
Over 25 ice sculptures will be on display for viewing around town during the festival. A special sneak peek with a limited number of sculptures will be illuminated on Friday night on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Lappin Park only, and on Saturday night all of the sculptures will be lit. Sculptures will be illuminated between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. both nights, weather permitting.
Viewing the ice sculptures is free to all and is not a ticketed event.
The Salem Trolley is providing transportation throughout the downtown for sculpture viewing Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm for $3 per person, weather permitting.
Chocolate Hearts Challenge, Feb. 10 and 11
Play the “Chocolate Hearts Challenge” for a chance to win prizes! Snap a picture of at least 5 of our special Chocolate Hearts logos at a participating business and upload them before the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 11. The following businesses are participating in the Chocolate Hearts Challenge:
A&J King Artisan Bakers, 48 Central Street
Amazing Pizza, 62 Wharf Street
ASCEND, 192 Essex Street
Biss, 12 Front Street
Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe, 234 Essex Street
Blackcraft Salem, 253 Essex Street
Brew Box, 131 Essex Street
Circle of Stitches, 66 Wharf Street
Coffee Time Bake Shop, 96 Bridge Street
Die With Your Boots On, 9 Church Street
Enchanted Shop, 98 Wharf Street
Finz Seafood & Grill, 86 Wharf Street
First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist (Sunday only), 316 Essex Street
Good Witch of Salem, 2 North Street
Harbor Sweets, 85 Leavitt Street
Harrison’s Comics & Pop Culture, 252 Essex Street
HausWitch, 125 Washington Street
Heart Lynx, 227 Washington Street, Suite 11
House of Boo, 75 Wharf Street
Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry (Saturday only), 24 Front Street
Jolie Tea Company, 316 Derby Street
Kakawa Chocolate House, 173 Essex Street
Modern Millie, 3 Central Street
Moody’s Home & Gifts, 109 Essex Street
Moons Gift Shop, 226 Essex Street
Nocturne, 18 Front Street
Real Pirates, 285 Derby Street
Re-find, 72 Washington Street
Roseadela’s, 7 Church Street
Salem Art Gallery, 64 Bridge Street
Salem Bespoke Boutique, 127 Essex Street
Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North
Sea Level Oyster Bar, 94 Wharf Street
Stardust Salem, 29 Congress Street
The Chocolate Pantry, Derby Street
The Finery Shop, 63A Wharf Street
The Marble Faun Books & Gifts, 102 Wharf Street
The Salem Flea Winter Market, 290 Essex Street (Ames Hall, Saturday only)
The Salem Flea Marketplace, 11 Dodge Street
Thistle Piercing, 17 Canal street, Suite C
Timeless Life Treasures, 68 Wharf Street
Trolley Depot, 191 Essex Street
Whimsy’s Sweet Life, 26 Front Street
Wicked Good Books and Silly Bunny, 260 Essex Street
Witch and Fairy Emporium, 178 Essex Street
Witch City Wicks, 302A Essex Street
Wolf Next Door Coffee, 142 Derby Street
Zitelle 1 1/2 Church Street
[…] For more information go to our Salem’s So Sweet page. […]
[…] Fantastic Shopping…and much more. For more information about the festival visit the SMS So Sweet Festival Page. This page will be updated periodically and currently highlights last year’s 2010 festival. […]
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[…] Events include: Sunday, January 8th, 2012 4:00PM-5:30PM – ONE STORY at The Griffen Theatre Baze will share her story through classical piano, cover songs, and original tunes. $20 – ALL proceeds go to The Yellow Umbrella Organization Call 978.317.1169 for reservations Monday, January 9th, 2012 11:30AM-1:00PM Yellow Luncheon at FINZ Restaurant Press conference and luncheon with Mayor Kim Driscoll, Christine Baze will be sharing her music and message. $10 – ALL proceeds go to The Yellow Umbrella Organization Call 978.744.8485 for reservations 8:00PM-11:00PM Comedy Club for the Hooch! at FINZ Restaurant Christopher Keating and other special guests will lend their humor to help save the Hooch Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 8:00PM-12:00AM Guys for the Hooch! at Seaport Cafe Qwill, Christopher Keating, Ross Livermore, HDJ, Jeff Buckridge, and David Bailin step up and sing for the cervix Thursday, January 12th, 2012 9:00PM-11:30PM Girls for the Hooch! at In a Pig’s Eye Sarah Seminski, Erinn Brown, and special guest Jacyn from JADA will join Baze as sirens singing to save the cervix Friday, January 13th, 2012 9:30PM-12:30AM BAZE BAND at Vic’s Boathouse The BAZE BAND rocks lots of your favorite chick cover songs for the Hooch Saturday, January 14th, 2012 9:30PM-12:30AM SAFETY, an 80’s cover band will play for Yellow at Rockafellas with special guest Christine Baze Sunday, January 15th, 2012 11:00AM – 2:00PM Classical Christine’s Yellow Brunch at 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar Hear a one-of-a-kind special performance by Christine Baze as she revisits her classical roots, have your makeup done by celebrity makeup artist Debra Macki and shop the latest fashion from Glitterati Start preparing for Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival click here. […]
[…] the last few years. For more information about the whole festival February 10 – 14 visit the So Sweet Link. Wine and Chocolate Event Participating businesses include: Adriatic Restaurant & Bar Ben […]
[…] The Salem’s So Sweet Wine and Chocolate Tasting for Friday, February 10 is now sold out. Thank you to all the fabulous Salem businesses who donate delicious wine and/or chocolate to the event making it so scrumptious that the event has sold out over a week ahead of time. Participating businesses include: 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Adriatic Restaurant & Bar, Ben & Jerry’s, Busa Wine and Spirits, Café Polonia, Caffe Graziani, Capt.’s Premium Steak & Seafood Grill, Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream, Finz Seafood & Grill, The Great Escape, Green Land Café, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, Pamplemousse, Rockafellas, Salem Waterfront Hotel, Sweet Adeline’s, Thai Place, Victoria Station. and Ye Olde Pepper Co. For more information about the whole Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival February 10 – 14 visit the So Sweet Link. […]
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[…] Stop downtown to see the 17 beautiful ice sculptures. With clouds in the sky and a little bit of flurries it is the perfect atmosphere for a winter festival with chocolate and ice. Stop in downtown shops for delicious samples, great discounts and more. Do your valentine shopping and make dinner reservations while you are downtown. Visit Old Town Hall to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog on Saturday 11 – 5, be serenaded by a violinist at 12 at the romantic gift shop on Derby Square and much more. For a full list of events, discounts and promotions click here. […]
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[…] Varies; Click here for a full schedule of events and participating […]
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[…] awaited a capacity crowd at Rockafella’s Colonial Hall, Friday evening. It was a successful Salem’s So Sweet launch party for the 12th Annual Chocolate & Ice Sculpture […]
[…] aside, this week also marks Salem's So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival (February 7-16). It was timely, then, when we took a trip to Harbor Sweets, which has […]
[…] Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival February 6-15, 2015 Salem, MA Ice, chocolate and wine. Salem’s So Sweet isn’t your typical New England winter festival— and that’s what makes it so special. It kicks off with a wine and chocolate tasting that is wildly popular (and often sells out—so check the website for ticket information). Later in the week, large ice sculptures populate the downtown landscape. You can view them all from the Salem Trolley, which offers transportation along the festival route. […]
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[…] can now be purchased online, by calling 978-744-0004, or at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street, Suite […]
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The websites are not speaking of delays or rescheduling of events in conjunction with the parking issues and volume of snow in the Essex st area. How is this being handled? Has the schedule been modified? Thank-you
Marie – the only adjustment is that the Trolley will not be running this weekend. Everything else should be as planned for now.
[…] as part of the now traditional pre-Valentine’s Day “Salem’s so Sweet” festival: a great idea designed to drum up commercial activity in the doldrums of February. With all this […]
[…] First, if you and/or your significant other are into sweets, there’s no better place to be this weekend than the Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. The Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival is an annual tradition in Salem, Massachusetts that typically runs the week before Valentine’s Day, and this year is no different. This festival, which runs until 6:30 P.M. on Sunday (February 15, 2015), features over 15 ice sculptures (including some that aren’t completely buried in snow yet), chocolate tastings, discounts at local museums and restaurants, a raffle, wine tastings, and more. For more information on the Salem So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival, please visit the Salem Main Streets Festival page. […]
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[…] Click here for more information. […]
When will the 2016 map be up of where to see the ice sculptures?
Sometime in the next few days!
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[…] Be sure to check out this site for more information: http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/salem-so-sweet/ […]
[…] Read all about it HERE! and Download the Brochure HERE […]
[…] This is because the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival is scheduled to begin at 6:30 P.M. tonight (Friday, February 5, 2016). This festival, which runs until Sunday evening (February 7, 2016), will feature 23 ice sculptures (weather permitting), discounted trolley rides (also weather permitting), and discounts at a number of locations throughout downtown Salem. As a result, if you’re looking for a great way to check out Salem or you’re just looking for a way to take your significant other out for the night without breaking the bank, the Salem So Sweet Festival is definitely the way to go. For more information on the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, please visit Salem’s So Sweet on Facebook or visit the Salem Main Streets website. […]
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[…] – The 14th annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival will bring a record-breaking 23 beautiful ice sculptures to downtown Salem starting February […]
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[…] Salem State’s ice sculpture downtown while enjoying chocolate and wine at the City’s Oh, So Sweet Festival from February 10th to the […]
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[…] Every February, local shops and businesses downtown have Valentine's day specials involving lots of chocolate and ice sculptures! You can take the trolley around town to see them, or bundle up and walk around to view them yourself. Here's a link to the 2021 Ice Sculptures festival to see a map of where the sculptures are usually p… […]
[…] Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival is an annual winter festival and Valentine’s day event in Salem. The festival features ice sculptures, Valentine’s Day parties at the Hawthorne Hotel and the House of Seven Gables, a chocolate and beer pairing at a local brewery and a drag show. […]