Salem's So Sweet Festival Returns For 23rd Year In February

SALEM, MA — North Shore residents have a little more than a week to get their sweet teeth ready for the return of the Salem's So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival.

The 23rd annual event will run in downtown Salem from Feb. 7 through Feb. 9 with an array of chocolate, ice sculptures, winter treats and Valentine's Day shopping and specials.

The event from Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce begins Friday night with the installation of the ice sculptures on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. The sculptures will be lit up on Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.

A kickoff party and late-night shopping party will happen on Friday with the Chocolate Hearts Challenge — an interactive game with prizes for visiting businesses around town — set for Saturday and Sunday.

There will be treats and deals at many Salem businesses throughout the weekend.

The Salem's So Sweet Kickoff fundraiser is set for the Peabody Essex Museum Connect Space on Essex Street Friday night at 7. Ticket holders will have access to a private party, a commemorative glass, a complimentary pour of wine, and a goodie bag of sweet treats before heading out to explore.

Multiple downtown businesses will host wine tastings and free treats for ticket holders, plus participants can enjoy the illuminated ice sculptures and live music on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall.

Tickets for the fundraiser portion are $40 with access to the outdoor ice sculptures free.

The ice sculpture presentation is back this year with two nights of illumination. Ice
sculptures remain standing as long as the weather allows. A map of all ice sculptures and more information will be available on the website closer to the festival.

Visitors can also play the "Chocolate Hearts Challenge" by locating special Salem's So Sweet signage at participating businesses to be entered for prizes. A purchase by the customer is not required but is highly encouraged.

East Regiment Brewing will host a guided pairing featuring four different chocolates and beers on Feb. 9 at 12:30 p.m. Take home a little knowledge about both beer and chocolate. Just like the past, the chocolate is from Salem's own Harbor Sweets.

The 2025 festival is made possible by support from local businesses, including Salem Witch Museum, Witch City Walking Tours, Peabody Essex Museum, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Nocturne, Gourmet Caterers, Retonica,and St. Jean's Credit Union, and is supported by tourism dollars
through Destination Salem.

(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.)