Salem's So Sweet Festival Returns Downtown For 2024

SALEM, MA — The annual downtown Salem winter celebration of chocolate, ice sculptures and Valentine's Day shopping — Salem's So Sweet — will return for a 22nd year next month.

Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring and organizing the event that will begin on Feb. 9 and run through Feb. 11.

This year's event includes the ice sculptures at the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, evening illumination of the sculptures on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10 after 5 p.m., a special ticketed kickoff party on Feb. 9, the Chocolate Hearts Challenge on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, and sweet treats and deals from many local shops.

The ticketed event will take place at PEM's Connect Space on Essex Street with tasting sessions at 4:50 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.

Attendees can pick up a commemorative wine glass and a complimentary pour before proceeding to other participating locations to receive chocolate and wine tastings - all while enjoying the illuminated ice sculptures, roaming musicians, and evening shopping opportunities.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online here.

This event has been sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry.

Viewing the ice sculptures is free to all and is not a ticketed event. A map of all ice sculptures and more information will be available here closer to the event.

(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.)