Salem Heritage Days Parade To Return For 400+ Witch City Celebration This Summer

SALEM, MA — The yearlong Salem 400+ Celebration in 2026 will include the return of the Salem Heritage Days Parade after more than 30 years.

Organizers said the parade is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 10 a.m., rain or shine, and is being brought back "due to overwhelming community feedback."

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The parade theme is "Salem Through the Centuries" and will represent the city's indigenous roots, colonial times, maritime heritage, the industrial revolution and its modern-day standing as a North Shore hub.

"I'm so pleased that the city and Salem 400+ are able to bring the Heritage Days parade back to our community in our quadricentennial year," Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "For many of us, memories of the Heritage Days parade are a special part of what it meant to grow up in Salem. This fun and family-friendly event will celebrate all that it means to be a diverse, optimistic, and vibrant city. I hope everyone will be a part of the parade in 2026, whether as a participant or a spectator."

Local organizations, schools, cultural groups, and businesses are invited to participate and bring their creative interpretations to the various time periods that encapsulate Salem.

Participants can create floats representing different eras, showcase immigrant communities that have shaped Salem, highlight themes such as architecture, arts and culture, and innovation, or imagine Salem in the future.

"We're providing the framework, but we want each organization to showcase what's meaningful to them within these guidelines," said Gini Cherol, Salem 400+ Coordinator. "This approach allows for both historical structure and creative expression. It's really about letting our community tell the parts of Salem's story that matter most to them."

The parade route will begin at the O'Keefe Center at 225 Canal Street and proceed down Forest Avenue to Lafayette Street, continuing along Lafayette to Derby Street, and concluding at Salem Maritime National Historical Park.

Organizations interested in participating can register now here. Once participation is confirmed, registrants will receive a detailed packet with parking and logistics information.