Santa Claus Arrives In Downtown Salem This Weekend

SALEM, MA — The Witch City holiday season will officially kick off Friday night with the annual traditions of Salem's Arrival and the lighting of Salem's Holiday Tree.

Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel promptly at 6 p.m. The Salem Fire Department will assist the big man in the bright red suit as he greets Salem residents and downtown visitors.

Salem Main Streets and organizers recommend arriving to the Salem Common by 5:45 to catch the arrival and carols from Coventry Brass.

A procession will then take place down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall for the lighting of the city's official holiday tree at Lappin Park next to the Bewitched Statue at the intersection of Essex Street and Washington Street.

(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.)