Negro Election Day Returns For 283rd Year and Inaugural Commemoration as State Holiday.
One-day festival includes music, dance, live performances, and a parade.
A new beginning to an old history. Salem United, Inc. presents this year’s festival, which celebrates and honors the first black voting system and its annual coronation.
SALEM, MA — July 3, 2023
The daylong celebration at Salem Willows Park, Salem, MA, on July 15, 2023, will return for its 283rd year but has the honor of being observed this 2023, as the Inaugural year, as a State Holiday.
The festival is held on Saturday, July 15th, and includes free events with outdoor concerts at the Bandshell and performance area, with a funk show from local group Richie Rich and 24-Karat Funk band at 4:00 p.m. Following will be visiting groups, 450 Band and Brothers Walk Band. Salem United, Inc. welcomes Comedic headliner Boston’s own Lenny Clarke, performing at 5:00 p.m. Opening performance events run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. which include youth dance groups, including Cultural Latino Dance Academy and visiting group Step Into Culture.
The event will present local and visiting vendors who will not only sell but bring service information to our attendees and offer free blood pressure screenings, starting at 1030 a.m. The Kids Corner will present the Boston Red Sox street team, hosting a Batting Cage to add to the family fun and games throughout the day.
At 12:00 p.m., Salem United Inc. will feature the Negro Election Day parade. Its parade route will begin at Shetland Park, turn onto Derby Street, travel down Memorial Drive, and return to Fort Avenue ending at the corner of Winter Island and Fort Avenue. If you have questions about the parade or its route, contact Salem United, Inc. liaison, Captain John Burke at 978-590-7625. And if you are a Red Sox fan, come out and cheer on Red Sox’s own “Tessie”. But if you cannot make it, check out the Negro Election Day parade, streaming live on NECN and Peacock. To find the link for streaming, keep checking www.salemunitedinc.org.
If you want to learn about the Black American Heritage Flag of 1967, come out Friday, July 14, 2023, at Reilly Plaza, downtown Salem, MA, at 12:00 noon for our annual flag raising. After the flag raising, a Black History Tour will be hosted by Salem Historical Tour.
Volunteers are still being sought; you can sign up through salemunitedinc@gmail.com. A full schedule of events and more can be found at www.salemunitedinc.org
For more information and to learn the history of Negro Election Day www.salemunitedinc.org
Contact info:
Name: Rene Marchando
Press Contact
ramsui2023@gmail..com
