Salem Heritage Days Back For 2023 With Fun Planned For All Ages

SALEM, MA — Salem Heritage Days return for 2023 with a full lineup of events that includes those geared toward residents and visitors of all ages.

Mayor Dominick Pangallo said there are several senior-centric events added for this year's festival — which runs from Aug. 7 through Aug. 13 — including the ice cream social, a barbecue at Winter Island and a Roaring 20's Ball.

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

The event kicks off on Aug. 7 with the Salem Community Concert Band and Community Jazz Band, under the direction of Cynthia Napierkowski, and on Aug. 8 with the North Shore Concert Band at the Salem Willows Shell.

The Salem police and fire community cookout will be at Palmer Cove Park on Aug. 8.

A free meal at Derby Wharf is available to residents on Aug.9 through the Salem Meet & Eat program, along with the Ice Scream Bowl at Salem Common.

Aug. 9 will also include a family movie night on the Salem Common.

The Salem Farmers Market will be at Frant Street on Aug. 10 with a story time hosted by the Salem Public Library.

The Community Life Center will host a family bingo night on Aug. 11 with all supplies provided and prizes awarded.

Salem's Tour-A-Truck event will be returning to the Salem Willows on Aug. 12 featuring municipal trucks, police cruisers and fire engines, craft activities and giveaways.

The Peabody Essex Museum will host Tree of Care & Wonder/Arbol de Cuido + Maravillas, a collaboration with PEM Pals and Salem’s Public Artist-in-Residence, Claudia Paraschiv. There will be interactive performances and art-making every hour throughout the event.

The closing events on Aug. 13 include the 21st Annual Phillips House Car Meet, while the Willows Sunset Hang will feature Fusion Fest, a new event organized by and hosted at the House of the Seven Gables to celebrate Salem's immigrant communities and current Settlement students' food, music, dancing, and arts and crafts.

Salem residents can enjoy a free Salem Trolley Tour ride or discount Salem Ferry ride, as well as free museum admissions, throughout the event.

Go here for a full schedule and information on free and discount festival programs.

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