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.

Salem Main Streets is looking for local farmers and food vendors to participate in the 2023 Salem Farmers’ Market located in downtown Salem in Derby Square on Thursdays, 3:00–7:00 p.m. from June 8 through October 12, 2023. 
 
Anyone wishing to sell their products at the market must submit an application for consideration by March 10, 2023.  Applications can be downloaded from www.salemfarmersmarket.org.  Booth space is $30 a week for a 10’ x 10’ spot, $60 for a 10’ x 20’ spot, and $90 for a 10’ by 30’ spot.  There is a discount for prepayment of the entire season.
 
“We are so proud of our market vendors, and we hope to see many returning to us at Derby Square this season, but we’re also always on the look-out for the next up and coming business,” said Salem Main Streets Executive Director Kylie Sullivan. “This is the perfect opportunity for newer businesses looking to get to the next level, as well as established businesses looking to reach a new audience.”
 
All products must be grown or produced in New England. If a farmer is selling any items he/she did not grow, the farm of origin must be listed. Vendors may label items organic only if they are certified. Sullivan notes that the market is especially looking for bread, cheese, and meat vendors.
 
Non-farm products must be high quality, locally made, take skill and creativity, and the vendor must add at least 75% of the total value to the product.  The product(s) should be complementary to a farmers’ market. 
 
Entering its 15th season, the market welcomes an average of 2,000+ customers weekly.  The market is made possible through the leadership of community-focused nonprofit Salem Main Streets and the Farmers’ Market Committee, as well as the generous contributions of numerous volunteers. 
 
For more information please contact Salem Main Streets Executive Director Kylie Sullivan via email at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or phone at 978-744-0004 x115. To get the latest updates about the market, visit our website at www.salemfarmersmarket.org, or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SalemMAFarmersMarket) or on Twitter (@salemfarmersmarket).