Can you believe it’s been 400 years since Roger Conant landed where the Naumkeag people had already built their home? Fast-forward to Salem Heritage Days 2026, and we’ve got nine days packed with energy: dozens of events, a tall ship, a parade making its comeback after thirty years, and a whole fleet of cardboard boats ready to race. Learn more

Salem has never seen a tour like this! Four historic buildings, one price, all proceeds go to support the organizations. Salem Kids Tours is thrilled to be partnering with four jewels of the McIntire District for a family tour that will allow guests to peek inside four historic properties for one low price. This 75-minute family friendly adventure is open

Join bootmaker Sarah Madeleine T. Guerin for an artist talk as part of our “Salem as Muse” lecture series. Guerin will discuss her bootmaking process in PEM’s Lye-Tapley Shoe Shop, as well as her background, artistic practice and work. PEM’s Curator-at-Large Paula Richter will join her a presentation on PEM’s impressive shoe collection and the history of shoemaking. This program

Stop by Old Town Hall to hear voices from across Salem share stories and poems about the city. This event features local residents reading their contributions to Pieces of Salem: An Anthology of Salem Voices, a book edited by Salem Poet Laureate, J.D. Scrimgeour, to commemorate the city’s 400th anniversary. The readers range from 9 to 90, from award-winning writers

Connect with someplace familiar, learn about someone new, and share your Salem stories. Salem State University presents Mapping a Century of Salem, 1926 – 2026, from June 18 to September 14 at Old Town Hall in downtown Salem. Developed as part of Salem’s quadricentennial celebration, this free, public history exhibit examines the transformation of Salem over the past 100 years, combining

There are days when you can feel a whole city show up for each other — and Juneteenth Jam 2026 in Salem was one of them. On Friday, June 19, Charlotte Forten Park filled up with music, crafts, a Black-owned pop-up market, and a community honoring freedom together. We grabbed our cameras and spent the day soaking it in, and

Sunday brought blue skies and sunshine to wrap up the Salem’s So Sweet festival weekend — and what a finish it was. The ice sculptures glistened in the sunlight as visitors made their way through downtown Salem and beyond to landmarks like the House of the Seven Gables and the Salem Witch Museum. The sculpture trail stretched across the city,

Saturday brought heavy snowfall to downtown Salem — and it made Salem’s So Sweet ice sculpture trail even more spectacular. Dozens of hand-carved ice sculptures lined the streets, each one sponsored by a local Salem business and adding a unique touch to the winter wonderland atmosphere. Highlights included a stunning replica of Old Town Hall sponsored by Derby Square Architects,

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

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