To all of you,
residents,
neighbors
and visitors,
From all of us at
Salem Main Streets,
we wish you
Happy Holidays!
Dec 242016
Dec 152016
Not one, but two winter holiday markets take place this weekend in Salem and they are easily within walking distance of each other so you can see it all and bring home the best in crafts and foods.
Salem Winter Market
Salem Main Streets is pleased to announce the return of the Salem Winter Market!! A seasonal extension of the Salem Farmers’ Market, this year’s final Salem Winter Market will take place Saturday, December 17th, from 1-5 pm inside the Museum Place Mall (1 Church Street).
“The Winter Market is a fantastic opportunity to support local farms and artisans through the holiday season, and is a chance to find some truly unique holiday gifts,” states Kylie Sullivan, executive director of Salem Main Streets and organizer of the market.
“We’re also very excited to showcase our vendors in the Museum Place Mall this year, where we can complement and highlight the variety of great year-round tenants in the mall.”
A diversity of local vendors will be present at the Salem Winter Market this season. Patrons can expect to find an assortment of foods and artisan crafts including locally-caught lobster, dried fruit and nuts, chowder, baked goods (including vegan and dairy-free options), wreaths, handmade soaps, spices, honey, pickles, gourmet ravioli, almond butter, eggs, jewelry, and various produce.
In addition, both Santa and The Grinch will be stopping by throughout this Saturday’s event to spread cheer and grumpiness (respectively).
The Salem Farmers’ Market and Winter Market are organized by Salem Main Streets, thanks to the support of the City of Salem and Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Destination Salem, and many other local business sponsors and community volunteers. For further information regarding current vendors and Winter Market updates, refer to the Market’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, or contact Kylie Sullivan directly.
Salem Holiday Market
But that’s not all folks. You say you want more? Look no farther than across the road to Old Town Hall. Where you will discover this weekend The Salem Holiday Market! This has become a much-anticipated annual indie craft show, featuring over 90 of the best local and regional designers and artists from all over New England.
The Salem Holiday Market will be presented by New England Open Markets, from noon-6pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 17th and 18th.
For a look at the vendors’ list and pictures of their wares, check out their website.
Kylie adds, “We were so thrilled with the success of our November market where we saw over 1,600 visitors! Between the diversity of market vendors and the mall tenants, this December’s market will most definitely have something for everyone on your list.”
Then mix in the Salem Holiday Market and no matter the weather this weekend, you have a real good chance at a very rewarding walk or drive to Salem. You definitely will come away with your hands full of good bargains, good food, and good gifts!
Nov 262016
As different as night and day, so too are the approaches to the stressful intensity of Black Friday and the laid-back pick & choose aspect of Small Business Saturday (which takes place, Nov 26, this year.)
A large number of Salem businesses await you with specials and good deals, plus giveaways and refreshments as a way of saying thank you for patronage all year long to regular customers— and a way of greeting new customers with open arms in hopes of facilitating customer engagement.
Did you drag yourself away from Thanksgiving Dinner or from a pleasant full- stomach midnight sleep to stand in line in hopes of being among the lucky few to nab a door-buster of a deal? Feeling tired about now? Get some rest and walk– not elbow– your way into many, many stores in Salem on Saturday as they participate in Small Business Saturday.
What was created in 2010 by American Express to give a kick in the pants to a recession-suffering economy has grown into a “big deal” day with shoppers last year spending $16.2 billion at small retailers, up from $5.5 billion just three years earlier.
Reportedly, 95 million shoppers and 1.3 million retailers participated in 2015!
By supporting small business retailers on Small Business Saturday you will be participating in a local event that is at the same time being enacted in every community across America.
As they say on a TV game show, “come on down” and as an extra incentive, there is free parking at all Salem city garages, parking lots and meters today.
Jul 162016
History surrounds us in Salem Ma. You really can’t walk around much without bumping into it. It’s in the walls. It’s on the streets. For example, this month’s edition of the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market Saturday, July 16 (10am to 5pm), which normally features eclectic vendors of vintage, salvage, fashion, art & up-cycled objects, will also celebrate Derby Square’s 200th anniversary.
- 10:30am Ribbon Cutting with Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll
- 2pm Birthday Cake courtesy of CoffeeTime Bakery
- 3:30pm Drawing of vintage limited-edition signed print of Old Town Hall by Eleanor Meadowcroft
- 5pm Happy Hour around the Square
Yes, that little patch of land where farmers’ markets, flea markets, summer concerts, Salem Arts Festival and other events take place, has a history.
According to historian Dona Seger, in a very informative piece she wrote recently for the Streets of Salem website, “John Derby III and Benjamin Pickman, Jr., scions of wealthy Salem families, business partners and brothers-in-law, offered the land on which the majestic and short-lived Derby Mansion formerly stood to the town of Salem in 1816 with the provision that a suitable civic building be built–civic in this context clearly implying both public and commercial functions. The city accepted the offer, and so the new Derby Square was developed over 1816-1817 with the new Town Hall/Market House at its center.”
She goes on to tell an interesting tale of how it developed, changed, flowed with the times, buckled a little, but still kept to tradition.
In keeping with that tradition of Derby Square housing a marketplace, the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market came into existence.
Becky Putnam, Carol Hedstrom and Stacia Kraft took their shared passion for “history, architecture and all things vintage” to create a one time pop up market in September 2015. So successful was it that they formed CDP Productions and proposed a full season of outdoor vintage and art markets to the City. A May-September schedule was established.
At this month’s edition of the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art market, you will find both local Salem and traveling vendors, presented with a backdrop of vintage music and interactive vendors.
For additional info, go to derbysquarefleasalvageart.com.
Jun 052016
Get ready to fill the cupboards, shelves and refrigerator with the best of the best of fresh, nutritious and diverse foods that local farmers can produce as the Salem Ma Farmers’ Market returns this Thursday, June 9th.
A who’s who of local farms will help kick off the 8th season in Derby Square, along with music and pop up booths from community organizations. (Vendors with a red asterisk* will be here every other week)
FARMS
Clark Farm In the Hobart/Clark family since 1728, Clark Farm is one of America’s Founding Farms. Out of Danvers. website | facebook
Gibney Gardens One of our many awesome farms. Out of Danvers.
Grant Family Farm Produces vegetables, cut flowers, and eggs. Out of Essex. website | facebook
Heavens Harvest Farm A 17 year and counting Organic Farm, certified by Baystate Organic Certifiers. Out of New Braintree. website | facebook
Long Hill Orchard Growing since 1896. Out of West Newbury. website | facebook
Maitland Mountain Farm An Urban Small-Plot Farm (with pickles). Out of Salem. website | facebook
Wally’s Vegetables One of our many awesome farms. Out of Haverill.
SEAFOOD
A&J Lobsters Lobster. Out of Danvers.
Rowand’s Fisheries Serving the Northshore with fresh seafood since 1959. Out of Beverly. website | facebook
BREAD
When Pigs Fly Many kinds of bread. Out of York, ME.
PASTA
Valicenti Pasta Farm Fresh pasta, seasonal ravioli & farmstead sauces made with ingredients grown on the Farm and sourced in New England. Out of Hollis, NH. website | facebook
CHOWDERS
Fishwives (Mandy’s Wicked Chowdah) All Natural – Gluten Free Chowders & Bisques. Out of Marblehead. website | facebook
SAVORIES & SWEETS
Auntie Elsie Oatmeal Crisps* A modern take on the classic oatmeal cookies, a handcrafted premium crisp. Out of Belchertown. website | facebook
Grammy’s Bakery Baked goods (cheesecake, cupcakes, and a variety of cookies.) Out of Salem.
Honey Pot Maple Farm* A Massachusetts producer of Honey and Maple Syrup and Maple products. Out of Wilmington. website | facebook
Jodi Bee Bakes A vegetarian bakery & café that specializes in all-natural pastries and savory items, including several vegan and gluten-free selections. Out of Salem. website | facebook
La Creperie Sweet and Savory Crêpes made to order. Out of Beverly. facebook
Powerhouse Juice An all natural juice bar offering cold pressed juice, smoothies. Out of Lowell. website | facebook
PREPARED FOODS
All Fruit Inc* Dried fruit and nut mixes. Out of Salem. website | facebook
Cauldron Fermented Foods Fermented foods: Black and White Sauerkraut, Firecracker Carrots, Dilly Green Beans. Out of Boston. website | facebook
Milk and Honey Cheeses and meats. Out of Salem. website | facebook
TEAS, HERBS, SPICES
Salem Spice Spices and spice blends. Out of Salem. website | facebook
WINES & HARD CIDERS
1634 Meadery* Honey-wines made from local ingredients and specialty meads from varietal honeys. Out of Ipswich. website | facebook
Far From The Tree Cider Making small batch craft hard cider. Out of Salem. website | facebook
Mill River Winery Wine. Out of Rowley. website | facebook
JEWELRY
Heritage Handmade Handcrafted Items made by artists with disabilities, Primarily Jewelry. Out of Peabody. website | facebook
BED, BATH & HOME PRODUCTS
Bare Cheek Beauty* Handcrafted natural skincare products. Out of Gloucester. website | facebook
Just Herbals* Herbal Teas (Locally grown), Fine Cider, Elderberry Syrup, Herbal Body Care Products, Medicinal Herb Starts. Out of Ipswich. website | facebook
Salem Soapworks Handmade goat’s milk soaps, bath and body products. Out of Salem. website | facebook
SNAP/EBT CARD
And being on a tight budget is no excuse to not eat healthy if you want to. The Salem Farmers’ Market also accepts the SNAP/EBT card.
Just head over to the designated Farmers’ Market table (located off Front St, on the Lobster Shanty side). Ask for the Market Manager. Select how much you wish to spend using your SNAP/EBT card and he will give you tokens valued at $1, $2, or $5. Then shop using the tokens as cash. Certain restrictions apply. Information provided at the table.
The 2016 Edition of the Salem Ma Farmers’ Market is made possible by Salem Main Streets, City of Salem, Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Five, and Endless Energy.
Be there this Thursday from 3-7pm. Over 2000 people shopped last season at our Farmers’ Market. Join the crowd!