festivals – Page 15 – Salem Main Streets

Salem Mayor Wants to Talk & Walk with You!

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Aug 012014

Recent star of print, broadcast, and the internet, Salem’s own Mayor Kimberley Driscoll will be walking & talking with those of you interested in joining her for an exciting night on the town during our Heritage Days Festival (Aug.1-10)!

That’s right! Salem’s annual Mayor’s Night Out Restaurant Sampler evening is back: Monday, Aug. 4 from 5 pm – 7 pm.

Join Mayor Driscoll on a tour of three of Salem’s hot dining spots, kicking off at Brodie’s Seaport, continuing along to Victoria’s Station, and finishing with a beautiful view of Salem Harbor at Capt’s Waterfront Bar & Grill. The Mayor’s Night Out event, focusing this year on Pickering Wharf, gives residents a unique opportunity to spend time with the Mayor, ask a few questions, chat, hear stories and most tantalizingly a chance to explore and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres from a few of Salem’s popular restaurants.

The Mayor’s Night Out Restaurant Sampler costs $20 to participate— that’s $20 for hors d’oeuvres at three locations— with proceeds to benefit Salem Main Streets. We are a non-profit organization with the goal of revitalizing downtown Salem as a vibrant year-round retail, dining and cultural destination. We organize the Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem Arts Festival, and other events in downtown Salem.

Different from most Heritage Days activities which usually (for example) run the length of the Salem Common and attract hundreds of observers, this is a more intimate, interactive gathering wherein participants actually move the event along.

Pre-registration for the Mayor’s Night Out is required. You may obtain tickets in person at the Salem Main Streets office (265 Essex Street), or by phone at 978-744-0004 or email at kylie@salemmainstreets.org.

Embrace Diversity; It’s On Display at Salem CultureFest

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Jul 182014

Typecast in recent years as solely a Halloween destination, Salem MA has been expanding its appeal with a number of theme festivals throughout the rest of the year. This weekend we offer a diverse event, the 8th Annual Salem CultureFest, courtesy of A3D.

This event features live bands who showcase many cultures and styles, as well as other performers (storytellers, martial artists, dancers, and more) who entertain while you enjoy exploring the unique arts, crafts, and wares of our area’s fine artists and crafters.

Over 2,000 visitors are expected to attend this fun family-friendly event on the Salem Common, Saturday from 10 am – 8 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 6pm.

The mission of A3D (which means literally “African Development through Drum and Dance”) is to raise money, acquire assets, and start microenterprises to help specially targeted West African Non-Profit Organizations. Go to their website to learn more of their beginnings and projects.

Closer to home, proceeds have provided much needed support to local Greater Salem area organizations including HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children), the Salem School Foundation, the Gathering of Salem, and the Plummer School.

Funds raised at Salem CultureFest 2014 will be utilized to further efforts to acquire and distribute medical equipment and educational supplies to areas of need in West Africa. In addition, a portion of all funds raised at Salem CultureFest 2014 are to be set aside to another local non-profit to be announced at a later date.

Saturday Schedule (subject to change)

10 am : Festival begins – Vendors located throughout the Salem Common

10 am – 4 pm : Moon Bounce/Children’s Face Painting/Henna/Assorted International Games – It’s A Small World/Kids section

1 am – 2 pm : J&J Pony Rides – near It’s A Small World/Kids section

11:30 am – 12 pm : Opening Ceremonies: National Anthem sung by Maria Chaves – A3D Drumming – Main Stage

12 pm – 12:30 pm : Sisters In Dance (Belly Dancing) – Main Stage

12:45 pm – 1:15 pm : Joe Hayes (Native American Storytelling) – Near Main Stage

1:15 pm – 1:45 pm : Siren of the Circle (Hoop Dancer) – Near Main Stage

1:45 pm – 2:30 pm : Greg Coles (Dance) – Main Stage

3:15 pm – 3:25 pm : Parade around the Commons, followed by a Mexican piñata party – It’s A Small World/Kids section

3:30 pm – 5 pm : Hot Like Fire (Reggae) – Main Stage

6 pm – 7:30 pm : Michael Gabriel (Reggae) – Main Stage

Sunday Schedule (subject to change)

10 am : Festival begins – Vendors located throughout the Salem Common

10 am – 4 pm : Moon Bounce/Children’s Face Painting/Henna/Assorted International Games – It’s A Small World/Kids section

1 am – 2 pm : J&J Pony Rides – near It’s A Small World/Kids section

11:30 am – 12 pm : Opening Ceremonies: National Anthem sung by Martine Bernard – A3D Drumming – Main Stage

12:pm – 1:15 pm : Hipshot (High Energy Horns) – Main Stage

1:15 pm – 1:35 pm : The Dragon Within (Karate Demonstration) – Near Main Stage

1:35 pm – 2 pm : Police K-9 Demonstration – Near Main Stage

2 pm – 3 pm : Julio Bare (Dominican/Caribbean) – Main Stage

3:15 pm – 3:45 pm : Peter Stewart (Children’s Music) – Near Main Stage

3:45 pm – 4 pm : Parade around the Commons, followed by a Mexican piñata party – It’s A Small World/Kids section – Near Main Stage

4 pm – 5:30 pm : Hills & Valleys Roots Reggae Band (Reggae) – Main Stage

5:30 pm – 6 pm : Closing Ceremonies – Main Stage

Music, dance, laughter, fellowship, fun for the entire family. And donations help people on the other side of the world as well as in Salem. How much more diverse can you get than that? For more info, call 978-306-3142 . (Salem CultureFest photos by Angel Green)

Jazzing Up Salem

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Jul 122014

Jazz is in the air today and being that the weather is expected to be mostly sunny and pleasant, with temperatures in the low 80s, we invite you to feel the beat in person courtesy of the cool folks at The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival organization.

The SJSF is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that produces free concerts and raises money for music education causes on the North Shore; since 2007, it has raised $45,000 for such music-education causes.

First up, MusicKidz, 10am today at the Salem Public Library. An hour of musical learning and fun for kids in grades 1-5 (and parents too!). Today the program that SJSF will present is all about Native American music! There is no charge for admission

Then the Frotations, a band made up of students from the Berklee College of Music, will play the third SJSF/Berklee Summer Series concert of 2014 in Derby Square, 5-7 p.m. Creative Salem and Social Palates will sponsor the free performance.

Forged in 2011 by singer-songwriter Chris Kazarian and bass player Pedro Ribiero (Pedro Zappa), the Frotations were originally called K.A.Z. — A musical experiment centered around the up-and-coming singer songwriter aimed at bringing all of the world’s people together under one sound. Today the Frotations are a concrete blend of Neo-Soul and Rock ’n’ Roll with a little drop of Hip-Hop.

SJSF’s season lasts May through August – putting on monthly, free concerts in partnership with Berklee College of Music – and culminating in a two-day festival at the Salem Willows in mid-August, featuring local, regional and national bands.

For more information, please visit salemjazzsoul.com or call 978-744-8258.

As a side note, we’d like to mention that the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival needs energetic and ambitious volunteers each year to help with the SJSF/Berklee Summer Series. Set up gear, hand out flyers, sell merchandise, and generally promote the festival They might still be able to use you today. If not today, there is always the Aug. 9th event. Interested? E-mail volunteers@salemjazzsoul.com for more information.

10 Minute Turnaround on Plays at STC

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Jul 092014

Ten minutes to see a play. No, not 10 minutes to get there. We are talking about a play from start to finish, enter stage right to exit stage left. And not just one play, the Salem Theatre Company is producing seven such plays with its popular Moments of Play (MoP) festival of original ten-minute plays, Wednesday, July 9 through Sunday, July 13.

What makes these productions even more admirable is that the words come from New England playwrights. Over 200 plays are submitted each year. The festival also features directorial and STC acting debuts alongside STC “regulars.”

The seven 10-Minute Plays to be performed this year are:

Zeno’s Arrow by David Susman of Saco, ME,
The Accidents of Bread by William Orem of Newton, MA,
Baby, It’s Cold Outside! by Jeana Hackman Grady of Rockport, MA,
Crooked Fork by Jonathan Yukich of Hamden, CT,
Just Your Imagination by Lesley Anne Moreau of Allston, MA,
Triumphs of the Heart (Sphere) by Cassie Seinuk of Somerville, MA,
Video Death Chat by Libby Schap of Chelsea, MA

But that’s not the entire package of the Festival. On Saturday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m., three nationally recognized playwrights will gather on the STC stage to discuss and review the seven plays presented this year. The public is invited to this free event featuring Richard Dresser, Ronan Noone and Kate Snodgrass.

The seven selected plays for the Eighth Annual Play Festival will be presented Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday & Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available online at www.salemtheatre.com. The STC Theater is located 90 Lafayette Street in downtown Salem.

Derby Wharf on the 4th at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site

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Jul 012014

Celebrating the 4th of July is an emotional event, be it on The National Mall in Washington DC or the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade— or right here in historic Salem Ma. If you’re looking to honor the founding of our great nation, Salem Ma is very much worth the trip. Just consider this as an exciting backdrop for the festivities: a dozen historic structures, nine acres of waterfront land, all making up the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, which by the way was the first National Historic Site in the National Park System!

Now that we’ve got your attention what exactly are we doing in Salem at Derby Wharf on the 4th of July?

9am – You are invited to join Mayor Kimberly Driscoll on the Salem Common for a patriotic kick off event. “The Star Spangled Banner” will be sung by members of the YMCA of the North Shore Glee Club. The Declaration of Independence will be read by Dann Anthony Maurno, a Salem resident and actor who has appeared onstage in a variety of area venues. Musical selections will be performed by Robert Kendall on keyboard. Salem resident John Howard will lead the audience in singing “America the Beautiful.”

4pm – Children are included in the fun. Kids’ Space, where young ones can play games and get their faces painted, will be provided courtesy of the Gathering, the MeetingHouse Church and the First Universalist Society of Salem. Food tents on site also open at 4pm with hot dogs, French fries, fried dough, kettle corn, and other fair favorites.

5pm – Things begin to heat up as live entertainment begins on the Main Stage with the Pocket Money Orchestra. This amazing young funk group from Salem features energetic original music by Brian Cogger (trumpet), Seth Bailin (tenor and baritone sax), Aidan Scrimgeour (piano), Ben Siwak (bass), Derek Hayden (drums), and Danny Dugan (percussion). The Pocket Money Orchestra has a growing presence on the North Shore music scene and plays regularly at local venues.

7:15pm – Opening Ceremonies! Mayor Driscoll and other local dignitaries will lead a parade down the wharf accompanied by the Salem Veterans Honor Guard and Salem Boy Scout troops. The National Anthem will be sung by Grace Bigus, Sam Bigus, Danielle Lovasco, Chloe Panico, Jacob Pini, Mariella Robinson, Delaney Sprague, and Aly Yanishevsky from the YMCA of the North Shore Glee Club. This is an a cappella group for children ages 12-18 directed by YMCA Music Director Samantha Gambaccini. These students work as a team to create and sing a wide variety of repertoire from classic to contemporary.

This leads up to what we hope will be a Pops experience you will never forget, kicked off by Maestro Dirk Hillyer and his orchestra. This year soloist Jean Danton joins the orchestra with musical selections from Sondheim. Her singing has been described as “stunning,” ”outstanding,” “wonderfully controlled and full-voiced,” and “stylishly stellar.” She is a favorite soloist with Pops orchestras including the Boston Pops Orchestra, North Shore Music Theatre, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, and New England Light Opera.

9:15pm – Salem ends its Independence Day celebration with a fireworks extravaganza, accompanied by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra playing the 1812 Overture and other patriotic music throughout the entire fireworks display.

“Salem is fortunate to have such a generous business community that continues to support this celebration,” Mayor Driscoll commented. “I’d like to express a special thank you to Footprint Power – Salem Harbor Station and to Salem Five, along with Aggregate Industries, Tache Real Estate, Market Basket, Eastern Bank, and KV Associates.”

“There is no better place to be than Salem on the 4th,” Mayor Driscoll stated. “We have consistently put together one of the most spectacular live concerts and fireworks extravaganzas anywhere in Massachusetts.”

For more information go to www.salem.com or call the Salem City Hall at 978-745-9595, ext. 5676. For traveling to Salem we advise taking the mbta.

Get here early. Have a nice meal. Enjoy the day and evening. (Photo courtesy Social Palates)

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