Holiday Lights, Festivals And Celebrations Fill The Salem Calendar

SALEM, NH — With Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events in Salem to attend.

Outside these religious and cultural celebrations, there are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs and festivals to attend in Salem.

Here are some to consider:

The Greater Salem Artists Association Winter Art Show and Sale will be held at 9 a.m. on Dec. 4 at the Kelley Library.

Salem High School will be hosting Carols & Cocoa at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, featuring performances and a tree lighting ceremony after the parade.

The Derry-Salem Elks host a craft and vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 6.

Granite United Church will host a ladies only Christmas Craft Night at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6.

A Special Visit with Caring Santa at The Mall at Rockingham Park is slated for 9 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the Mall at Rockingham Park. Reservations are required.

The Holiday Night Market at Tuscan Village will be open through Christmas Eve with dozens of vendors, food trucks, and more.

The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs holiday pops at 2 p.m. on Dec. 21.

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.

• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.

• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.

Also Read

• 2025 Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Highlights: Video
• 2025 Feztival Of Trees, At Bektash Temple In Concord, Runs Through Sunday: Video
• Large, Festive Turnout For 74th Annual Concord Christmas Parade On The Heights: Video

Editor's note: This post was scripted by another Patch staffer, not New Hampshire's editor, for publication on New Hampshire sites.