Salem Negro Election Day Festivities To Include Lenny Clarke, Tessie

SALEM, MA — Boston Comedian Lenny Clarke, Red Sox mascot Tessie and the USS Constitution Color Guard will all help highlight a day of history and celebration as part of the new official state recognition of the Negro Election Day holiday, which has been observed in Salem dating back 283 years.

Salem United, Inc. will host a parade and daylong festival at Salem Willows Park that honors the first Black voting system in America.

This year's event is set for July 15 with free outdoor concerts and performances in the Band shell area and the parade at noon beginning at Shetland Park.

There will be a funk show from local group Richie Rich and 24-Karat Funk band at 4 p.m. with performances from the 450 Band and the Brothers Walk Band. Headliner Lenny Clarke ("Rescue Me," "Lenny," "Fever Pitch") will entertain with a set at 5 p.m. with supporting performances from the Cultural Dance Academy and Step Into Culture.

Local vendors will set goods with services including blood pressure screenings starting at 10:30 a.m. with entertainment beginning at 10 a.m.

There will also be a Kids' corner with the Boston Red Sox street team, a batting cage and a special appearance by the Sox mascot Tessie.

Salem United, Inc. will present the Negro Election Day parade — featuring the USS Constitution Color Guard — at noon that begins at Shetland Park, turns to Derby Street, Memorial Drive and then circles back to Fort Avenue before concluding at Winter Island.

The Negro Election Day parade will stream live on NECN and Peacock.

There will also be the annual flag raising of the Black American Heritage Flag of 1967 in Riley Plaza at noon on July 14 and a Black History Tour of Salem to follow.

Volunteers are still being sought. Those wishing to do so can sign up through salemunitedinc@gmail.com.

Go here for more information and to learn the history of Negro Election Day.

(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.)