Downtown Salem is full of activity now that Haunted Happenings has begun. This weekend is the Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Biz Baz. The street fair is on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and continues down Essex Street to Hawthorne Blvd. and downt Hawthorne Blvd. Throughout the weekend there are many fun events and activities, great shopping and dining.
For a full list of events visit www.hauntedhappenings.org.
Tonight is the Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Parade. This event is the official kick off of Haunted Happenings, a month long celebration of all things Halloween. The parade includes high school bands, Salem school groups, local bands, businesses and much more. If you can’t make the parade in Salem you can watch local coverage on SATV. For more details about the parade visit www.salem-chamber.org. For a full Haunted Happenings Schedule visit www.hauntedhappenings.org.
(The SALEM FARMERS’ MARKET will be open today but closing early due to the parade.)
Friday, October 5 Haunted Happenings events will continue with Mayor’s Night Out Trick or Treating starting at 5:30 at the entrance to the Museum Place Mall on Essex Street. Many local attractions will be open free to Salem residents. Don’t miss First Friday events where over 30 downtown businesses will have entertainment and actvities or promotions until at least 8 p.m.
Volunteers Needed as Visitor Ambassadors
Salem Main Streets is looking for volunteers with enthusiasm for Salem to help greet visitors at the Downtown Salem Information Booth in October. Volunteers will staff the booth at the start of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall handing out maps and giving out information about Salem’s wide variety of attractions, events and businesses. Last year volunteers assisted over 25,000 visitors during the weekends and holidays. Volunteers will be trained.
All volunteers are asked to be available for a minimum of two shifts for two hours each and will be required to complete a one hour training session. The training will take place on Saturday, September 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center. If you enjoy helping visitors by showing them your enthusiasm for our cultured and historic city and want to make it fun 
and easy for visitors to explore all of Salem’s sites and attractions, please join us.
For more information or to become a volunteer please email Volunteer Coordinators, Judy Kearney at judykearney830@gmail.com or Mira Riggin at mriggin2@comcast.com or call Salem Main Streets at (978)744-0004. This program, which assists visitors to Salem in October, is a partnership between Salem Main Streets, the National Park Service, the City of Salem, Destination Salem and the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
The 24th annual Maritime Festival will host an exciting array of free family fun festivities, including live music, free harbor cruises, traditional craft demonstrations, story-telling, dancing, theatre and much more! The Festival is organized and hosted by Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
While at the festival stop by the Salem Farmers’ Market booth for some delicious fresh local fruits and vegetables.
Tonight enjoy a free Sunset Concert at Historic Derby Wharf from 6:30 – 9 featuring the highly acclaimed jazz, funk and blues ensemble – The Boston Horns!
On Saturday, free rides on the Schooner Fame and & Finback starting at 9:30 a.m. Get the details at www.nps.gov/sama.
SALEM MARITME FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 4th, 10am-5pm
Live Music and Storytelling
Free 90-minute Harbor Cruises
Friendship of Salem Ship Tours and Junior Ranger Program
Boat Tours & Demonstrations
Opportunities to Cruise, Sail, Paddle, Row Salem Harbor
Traditional Craft Demonstrations
Seaside Kite-flying
Children’s Face Painting
Tide Pool Exhibit
Muck Walk, featuring “Life at Low Tide”
Hayrides around Historic Salem
Outdoor Theatre and Scottish Country Dancers
On Saturday, August 4th, live music continues 11:00am-5:00pm with back-to-back concerts:
11:00am Annie and the Natural Wonder Band [ www.wonderband.com/mainpage.html ]
Featuring interactive song and dance focusing on marine life
12:30pm The Squid Jiggers [http://squidjiggers.com/ ]
A salty, high-energy folk duo hailing from Maine
1:30pm Debra Cowan [www.DebraCowan.com]
A provocative woman vocalist and her “Women and the Sea” program
2:30pm Salem ChanteySing [ www.wonderband.com/mainpage.html ]
An impromptu selection of traditional sea chanteys
3:30pm Squeezebox Stompers [www.squeezeboxstompers.com ]
A spicy blend of Lousiana roots music: Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans R&B
Look for the Salem Farmers’ Market Table!
Historic Derby Wharf and Central Wharf will be abuzz with activities. For more information, or a full schedule visit: www.nps.gov/sama or call 978-740-1650.
At 9 a.m. join Mayor Kimberley Driscoll on Salem Common for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, read by Neil Chayet. Followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Salem High School’s a cappella group, Witch Pitch.
At 4 p.m. the festivities begin at the Salem Maritime Historic Site on Derby Wharf kick off. There will also be a Kids’ Space with free face painting, games, crafts, contests and prizes.
4:00 Music by Julie Dougherty and Friends
5:30 Music by Britannica
7:15 Opening Ceremonies – Music by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra and U.S. Military Flyover
9:15 Fireworks Extravaganza!
For more information visit www.Salem.com