Salem is known for being a famous destination during Halloween season, but the breadth and depth of retail in the downtown district also make it the ideal destination for your holiday shopping. Salem Main Streets works with local partners and businesses to encourage local shopping opportunities all season long. From established brick and mortar storefronts to artisan products at holiday markets, you can find a range of options for everyone on your list!               

Everyone knows that the weekend after Thanksgiving is when people’s holiday shopping starts going into overdrive, and this is especially true in downtown Salem. On Saturday, November 24, between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Salem Main Streets is partnering with the Salem Chamber of Commerce to organize Salem’s annual Small Business Saturday event. Small Business Saturday is part of the “Shop Small” movement initiated by American Express to encourage holiday shoppers to shop local on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We are tracking a list of various promotions and discounts that local businesses will be offering all across town, so be sure to check!

If you missed our first Salem Winter Market, don’t fret – we’ll be back again in December! To help kick off the holiday shopping season, the Salem Winter Market, which is a seasonal extension of the Salem Farmers’ Market, gives community members and tourists alike access to over 20 different vendors. Some of the vendors will be familiar faces, and some of them are new to this event, but rest assured, they all want to help you prepare for Thanksgiving and the busy holiday season. The December market will take place on Saturday, Dec. 15^th between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, which is located on 32 Derby Square.         

The holiday festivities don’t end there for the business district. Salem Main Streets will be hauling out the holly very seriously this year on the first weekend of December. If you are around on Saturday, December 1^st, you will likely see a hardy group of SMS and Beautification Committee volunteers out climbing lampposts to hang 100 wreaths and wrap almost 200 poles with festive red ribbon. In addition, the first weekend of December will serve as the kickoff for Salem Main Streets’ annual Holiday Window Contest. Over 30 storefronts participate annually, and the SMS judges will be making the rounds on Sunday, Dec. 2^nd to decide which business has the best windows. The competition for this contest can get fierce, but the result is a business community that resonates with a festive holiday spirit. And if you are also enjoying Christmas in Salem, Historic Salem’s beloved historic house tour, don’t forget that some businesses are offering promotions to anyone with a Christmas in Salem program book!

As you can see, Salem is a shopper’s paradise during the holiday season. The city is host an incredible scene featuring numerous innovative businesses that you just don’t find at your local mall. There is a reason Salem is considered to be the hotspot in the North Shore. Come down to join us at one or all of our fantastic shopping events, and you can find out why.

It is no secret that October in Salem is commonly referred to as our “fifth season” – it’s just drastically different than any other month of the year. The weeks leading up in September can feel equally intense at times, and even the first week of November is often still buzzing. Add Election Day to that, and it usually takes over a week after Halloween for the downtown energy to feel back to “normal.”

That’s when the real local love kicks in. There is just something special about November in Salem. We asked around a bit, and here are just a few reasons why #localslovenovember!

– Getting back to your favorite local businesses – sometimes, with the high foot traffic in October, it can be hard to get into your favorite restaurant, or grab that quick cup of coffee you’re used to, or check in with your favorite shopowner. November means being able to catch your favorite table that’s always available at 11 am, or having time to chat with a salesperson about new products they got in.

Pro tip: October is a great time for our businesses, but it can be tough on their social media reviews. Our downtown businesses traditionally get lower ratings in October than any time of year, due to long lines, tired servers, and an increase in visitors who may have unrealistic expectations (this is true for many communities during their busiest times, not taking a dig at our October visitors here!). Take a tip from Octocog’s Five Star Fridays and fight back by leaving positive reviews on social media for your favorite businesses. 

– Time to reflect – a number of locals noted how much they love having the time to slow down and truly enjoy the beauty of Salem during November. Beautiful foliage frames the harbor, the parks, and the streets. Take time out in the morning on the Custom House steps with a cup of coffee to soak it all in.

– Traffic and parking – this almost goes without saying, and it’s not like every traffic or parking problem is solved the second the Halloween fireworks end. But things become infinitely more predictable, and your usual shortcuts and secret parking spots are there waiting for you.

– Sales galore – a lot of our retailers are swiftly trying to off-load their Halloween merchandise to make more room for their holiday merchandise. This is great news for you! Visit any of our local shops this time of year and you’re likely to find lots of great deals, AND maybe get a scoop on the new holiday goods. And speaking of…

– The holidays are here! – November also means that we start hauling out the holly and the good cheer. Some residents told us that they love watching the winter greenery pop up on historic homes, others love the big community events like Santas Arrival and the Holiday Tree Lighting,  and others love smaller less-official community traditions, like grabbing a drink with friends at The Lobster Shanty on Thanksgiving Day. Which leads us to…

– Community spirit – consistently, the thing Salemites seem to love the most about November is the chance to spend time with each other.  From bumping into each other on the street, to making time to catch a movie, to showing up to light the tree on Lappin Park with your neighbors, on of the very best things about downtown Salem in November and all year round are the people who call it home.

To celebrate November, we are bringing back our #localslovenovember social media challenge for this long weekend. Between Friday, Nov. 9 and Monday, Nov. 12th, just post a pic of yourself, a storeowner, or an item you are purchasing while at a downtown shop or service (dentist, salon, etc.) with the tag #localslovenovember. Two lucky winners will be selected to win a whole roll of quarters to help with that still-existing parking 😉