Salem Heritage Days Return For 2025 Starting This Weekend

SALEM, MA — The Witch City will celebrate its history, culture and community for eight days of special events during the annual Salem Heritage Days beginning this weekend.

Programs include live music, the Ice Scream Bowl, farmers markets, a car show, touch-a-truck and screening of "Toy Story" at the Salem Common.

"I'm excited that our community will be able to celebrate over the course of this popular festival with so many special events," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "I want to thank all of the organizations that coordinate these festivities to ensure the continuance of Salem's Heritage Days."

The week kicks off on Saturday with the Making of a Witch, a one-act play at St. Peter's Church.

Sunday offers youngsters a chance to climb and explore all sorts of big trucks and emergency vehicles at the 'Tour-a-Truck' event at the Salem Willows.

Miss Shelley will be leading a children’s yoga and mindfulness class for kids ages 4-9 at the Community Life Center on Monday.

On Monday night, the Salem Community Concert Band and Community Jazz Band, under the direction of Cynthia Napierkowski, will take place at the Salem Willows Shell, and on Tuesday, the North Shore Concert Band will perform a 'Red, White and Blue' Concert featuring conductor Robert Chadwick at the Salem Willows.

On Wednesday, residents are invited to the Salem Common for the Ice Scream Bowl. Proceeds will benefit Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem's annual Fourth of July celebration. Wednesday evening, following the Ice Scream Bowl, the Salem Common Neighborhood Association invites all to bring a blanket or a chair to the Common to enjoy a screening of the beloved family-friendly film, "Toy Story."

Salem's Farmers Market is on Thursday on Front Street, which includes musical entertainment and demonstrations, as well as a story time hosted by the Salem Public Library at the market.

Senior events include an ice cream social, a day of Mahjong, a special event designed around getting MBTA Charlie Cards, a BBQ at Winter Island, and a night of dinner and dancing.

On that Saturday, the National Park Service hosts the annual Salem Maritime Festival, which will be anchored by the exciting second-annual Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta at the Historic Derby Wharf. Families can also enjoy visiting historic buildings as well as the Friendship of Salem.

Heritage Days comes to a close on Aug. 10 with the 23rd Annual Phillips House Car Meet on Chestnut Street, the S.C.E.N.E.'s Sunset Hang at the Willows, the annual Fusion Fest at the House of the Seven Gables, celebrating Salem’s immigrant communities, and the City of Salem's Mack Park Farm Fest.

Go here for a complete schedule of events.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)