The Salem’s So Sweet festival kicked off on Friday night with a magical evening in downtown Salem, MA. Despite the cold and snow, the streets came alive with illuminated ice sculptures glowing in pink, blue, and purple lights, live saxophone music from Chagall PAC, and a warm kickoff event hosted by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Local artisans showcased their

By John Andrews | Content Director, Creative Collective | February 2026 On Wednesday night, a group of us stood inside something historic. The Peabody Essex Museum opened its doors for a press and influencer preview of Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone — the first major retrospective devoted to a nineteenth-century sculptor who was told, in every way a society can tell someone, that

Salem and East Budleigh Celebrate 400 Years of Transatlantic Connection A 400-Year-Old Bond Becomes Official Four centuries after Roger Conant left his Devon village to establish what would become Salem, Massachusetts, the two communities he connects are making their bond official. In February 2026, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo and East Budleigh Parish Council Chair John Tresidder formalized a Sister City

Mayor Pangallo begins second term at PEM ceremony as poets and performers frame the moment—and the creative sector speaks without being named. On a Monday morning in January, just days before Salem’s official 400+ anniversary kickoff, the city inaugurated its 2026 leadership the way this city does so many things: surrounded by art, grounded in history, and looking resolutely forward.

Salem poetry events are flourishing as the city approaches its 400th anniversary celebration. On Sunday, January 11, the city’s first Poet Laureate, J.D. Scrimgeour, will launch his new book at the Peabody Essex Museum. This special reading marks nearly three decades of literary engagement with Salem. For poetry lovers and community members alike, it’s a meaningful moment. Salem’s First Poet

When maritime history meets community spirit, remarkable things happen. The recent Baker’s Island Light restoration project proves this perfectly. Additionally, this $30,000 preservation effort has saved one of America’s oldest lighthouses from structural decline. Through generous donations and expert craftsmanship, Essex Heritage has completed critical masonry work on the 1820 lighthouse. Furthermore, the project addressed urgent needs in both the

As Salem prepares to commemorate its quadricentennial in 2026, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) has announced an impressive slate of exhibitions and programming that will enrich the Salem 400+ celebration. These initiatives perfectly embody the core mission of Salem 400+ to honor our past, celebrate our present, and envision our future by weaving together the diverse stories of our community