Christmas, Hanukkah Events In Salem: Lights, Santa, More

SALEM, MA — There are plenty of things going on around Salem to celebrate the 2023 winter holidays.

Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts at sundown on Dec. 7, and ends at nightfall on Dec. 15. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the season.

(Also on Patch: Where Are The Best Holiday Lights In Salem?)

The Salem menorah lighting will be on Dec. 9 at Lappin Park at 237 Essex Street at 6 p.m.

The lighting is set to include local politicians, Hanukkah music, kids crafts, latkes, donuts, chocolate coins and more.

Downtown is lit up for Holiday Happenings after Santa's arrival atop the Hawthorne Hotel this past Friday, which was followed by the municipal tree lighting and lantern parade.

Rockland Trust on Washington Street will offer complimentary photos with Santa Claus on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Frozen Fire Festival, which includes flaming-arrow exhibitions, cirque performers, live ice
sculpting, fire pits, heated igloos, food trucks, a S'mores and Hot Chocolate Garden, bbq smokehouse, and The Polar Bar, featuring local and international craft beer, wine and specialty drinks, is back for a second year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

Those wishing to pay Santa a special visit can do so daily at the Northshore Mall in Peabody.

(Anyone who has another holiday event in Salem that readers should know about can email information to scott.souza@patch.com for inclusion in future versions of this post.)