Santa Claus is coming back to town in 2023! Join Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as we celebrate two of our most beloved annual traditions – Santa’s Arrival and the lighting of Salem’s Holiday Tree – all in one evening. Bring the whole family out for carols, festivities, and fun!

Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square W) promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, with assistance from the Salem Fire Department, of course. Organizers recommend arriving to the Salem Common by 5:45 p.m. to catch the arrival. Brass carols will be provided by Coventry Brass.

Santa’s arrival will be followed by a procession down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall to Lappin Park (next to the Bewitched Statue at the intersection of Essex Street and Washington Street) for the Holiday Tree Lighting and carols by History Alive performers. Participants are encouraged to bring lanterns (store-bought or homemade) to carry in the procession. Safety first, though – electric candles are highly recommended!

The tree this year has been generously donated by Rebekah H. Murphy and Jozef R. Kluczkiewicz of Salem. The tree was secured and decorated by the City of Salem Department of Public Works, and installed with help from Iron Tree Service and Quinn Brothers Iron Works. Lights and decorations for the Holiday Tree were made possible in part by contributions from our local business community, including Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe, Coon’s Card & Gifts, Derby Square Architects, Emporium 32, Harrison’s Comics, The House of the Seven Gables, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Laura Lanes Skin Care, Modern Millie, Nocturne, Witch City Walking Tours, and Witch City Wicks. Salem Main Streets would like to thank the City of Salem, the Hawthorne Hotel, and the many other community partners who make these special events possible.

For more information about any of these events, contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director, at (978)744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org, or visit http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/holiday-happenings/santa-arrives-in-salem and follow Salem Main Streets on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

We are currently looking for local Salem enthusiasts to help greet visitors at the October Information Booth.  Volunteers will staff two booths at central locations in the downtown district, handing out maps and sharing information about Salem’s wide variety of attractions, events, and businesses.

Volunteers are needed for two hour shifts throughout the day each weekend in October, as well as Friday afternoons and some additional days as needed. If you have availability some of these days, enjoy helping visitors by showing them your enthusiasm for our cultured and historic city, and want to make it fun and safe for visitors to explore all of Salem’s sites and attractions, please join us!

All volunteers are asked to be available for a minimum of two shifts for two hours each and are required to complete a one hour (in-person or virtual) orientation session. The in-person orientation will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10 am at the National Park Service Visitor Center. The virtual orientation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 pm. Interested volunteers may sign up at https://signup.com/go/UkghUOH

If you are interested in any other volunteer needs or to be added to our volunteer list, please contact Elise at elise@salemmainstreets.org.

Salem’s Ice Scream Bowl is back! It’s time to sample some of the best ice cream in the North Shore from some of the many ice cream shops the area has to offer. Salem’s Ice Scream Bowl event will be held on Wednesday, August 9 on the Salem Common from 6:00-7:30 p.m., rain or shine. A Heritage Days favorite, this annual event is a chance to taste some classic flavors and new combinations from the area’s premier ice cream shops.

A few of the homegrown local businesses serving samples at the event will include Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream, Cherry Farm Creamery, Holy Cow Ice Cream Café, Melt Ice Cream, Whimsy’s Sweet Life, and more. Local DJs the Salem Halloween Girls will be spinning some sweet tunes to keep you dancing!

The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are purchased on site on the day of the event, cash only.  A spoon and napkins will be supplied with the purchase of a ticket. All of our materials are recyclable or compostable in an effort to reduce the impact of this popular event.

This year’s Ice Scream Bowl will be directly followed by the Salem Common Neighborhood Association’s Movie Night! The evening’s movie will be “Holes,” starting at 8 pm. Bring a blanket and camp chairs so you can settle in after your ice cream to catch an outdoor movie with your neighbors.

The 2023 Ice Scream Bowl is made possible thanks to the support of Broad Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Coon’s Card & Gift Shop, Emporium 32, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Modern Millie, Silly Bunny, and Witch City Wicks, as well as the generous donation of product and staff time by the participating ice cream shops! 

Proceeds go to support Salem Main Streets, a nonprofit organization focusing on the continued revitalization of downtown Salem as a vibrant year-round retail, dining, and cultural destination. Salem Main Streets organizes the Salem Farmers’ Market and many other events in downtown Salem, as well as offering direct business support to downtown businesses. The Ice Scream Bowl is coordinated in partnership between Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as part of Salem Heritage Days.

For any other questions or comments regarding this event, please contact Kylie Sullivan at Salem Main Streets at (978) 744-0004 x115 or email at kylie@salemmainstreets.org.