November 20, 2018

Santa’s Arrival at the Hawthorne and Holiday Tree Lighting

by cns2020

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Join Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem as we celebrate two of our most beloved annual traditions – Santa’s Arrival and the lighting of Salem’s Holiday Tree – all in one evening.

Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square W) promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, with assistance from the Salem Fire Department, of course. Organizers recommend arriving to the Salem Common by 5:45 p.m. to catch the arrival. Bring the whole family out for carols, festivities, and fun!

Santa’s arrival will be followed by a procession down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall to Lappin Park (next to the Bewitched Statue at the intersection of Essex Street and Washington Street), where we will join Santa and Mayor Kimberley Driscoll for the Holiday Tree Lighting. Participants are encouraged to bring lanterns (store-bought or homemade) to carry in the procession. Safety first, though – electric candles are highly recommended!

“Ever since we combined these two events in 2015, the evening has really taken on a whole new life of its own,” says Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets. “It has truly become the community’s way of welcoming in the holidays together.”

This year’s tree is graciously donated by Salem resident Caroline Ouellette in memory of her late husband Roger Ouellette. A Salem native and great lover of trees his whole life, Mr. Ouellette received the tree as an Arbor Day cutting and planted in their yard almost 30 years ago. The tree was secured and decorated by the City of Salem Tree Department. Lights and decorations for the Holiday Tree were made possible in part by support from Alternative Therapies Group and significant donations from Salem’s October visitors via Gigi Gill. Salem Main Streets is incredibly grateful to all the partners and supporters who help make these special events possible.

For more information about any of these events, contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director, at (978)744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org, or visit http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/holiday-happenings/santa-arrives-in-salem/ and follow Salem Main Streets on Facebook and Twitter.

About Salem Main Streets

Salem Main Streets’ mission is the continued revitalization of downtown Salem as a vibrant, year-round, retail, dining and cultural destination through business retention, recruitment, and the promotion of the downtown district.  SMS provides support to downtown businesses and produces numerous community initiatives throughout the year, including the Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem Arts Festival, Salem’s So Sweet, and the October Information Booth.  SMS operates thanks to the generosity and partnership of the City of Salem and Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Destination Salem, Creative Collective, and many other local business sponsors and community volunteers.  


Kylie Sullivan
Executive Director, Salem Main Streets
265 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970
978/744-0004 x15
www.salemmainstreets.org