Go & do
Events & experiences
Performances, workshops, tours, family activities, markets, and community celebrations with a date and time.
Holiday Happenings 2026
Salem’s holiday calendar starts here.
Plan around Salem’s signature downtown traditions, from the Tree Lighting to New Year’s Eve, then come back as more 2026 events are added.
Two ways to explore
Events and offers, each in the right place.
Choose what you are looking for without sorting through a mixed calendar. The main calendar is reserved for things you can attend; seasonal deals have their own collection.
Save & discover
Deals & promotions
Discounts, gift-card bonuses, dining specials, shopping offers, and other limited-time ways to enjoy Salem.
Save these dates
Five dates to plan your season around.
Salem Main Streets’ signature holiday events run from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Eve. Times and lineups are added to each event as they’re confirmed.
Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
Gather downtown as Salem welcomes Santa and lights the tree to open the holiday season.
Small Business Saturday
Spend the day shopping, dining, and celebrating the independent businesses that make Salem distinctive.
Holiday Window Contest
Take a walk downtown and see which storefronts went all out for Salem Main Streets’ friendly window competition.
Wassail Weekend
Salem Main Streets’ merriest shop-local weekend: brunch, browsing, and holiday cheer all over downtown.
New Year’s Eve LAUNCH!
Ring in 2027 early at Charlotte Forten Park with a family-friendly party and a countdown just before 6 p.m.
More to come
A full season of reasons to return
Markets, performances, family activities, workshops, and community celebrations will join the calendar as they are confirmed.
Plan your visit
The 2026 events calendar
The calendar opens to November 2026 and is reserved for events you can attend. Looking for discounts and specials? Browse holiday deals.
42 events found.
Events
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Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Saturday, November 21, 2026, 10 AM–11:30 AM, at the Artist's Row studio (24 New Derby Street, Salem). Make fused glass holiday ornaments at North Shore Glass School's Artist's Row studio on New Derby Street. Fused glass is kiln-fired after class, so there is no hot shop involved. What to expect ... Read More
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Glassblowing & Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Saturday, November 21, 2026, 3 PM–5 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A two-hour holiday class that combines glassblowing and fused glass ornament making at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio. What to expect Open to beginners. This is one of the holiday ... Read More |
1 event,
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Stained Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, November 22, 2026, 10 AM–1 PM, at the Artist's Row studio (24 New Derby Street, Salem). Make stained glass holiday ornaments at North Shore Glass School's Artist's Row studio on New Derby Street. What to expect Open to beginners. This is one of the holiday ornament classes North Shore ... Read More |
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Featured
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Featured
Salem’s Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival returns Friday, November 27, 2026. Arrive at Salem Common by 5:45 p.m.; Santa arrives at 6:00 p.m.
FREE
History Alive, Inc. presents 'Tis the Season on Friday, November 27, 2026 at 7 PM at the Woman's Friend Society, 12 Hawthorne Boulevard, Salem. An original piece from Salem's History Alive theater company about the Christmas culture wars in New England's history, performed at the Woman's Friend Society's Emmerton House on Tree Lighting weekend. The Friday performance follows Salem's Tree ... Read More |
3 events,
Featured
Save the date: Small Business Saturday returns to downtown Salem on November 28, 2026. Participating businesses and full details are coming soon.
Free
Salem Trolley and The Gallows Hill Theatre bring their interactive A Christmas Carol to Salem from November 28–December 23, 2026, with multiple daily performances.
$36
History Alive, Inc. presents 'Tis the Season on Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 4 PM at the Woman's Friend Society, 12 Hawthorne Boulevard, Salem. An original piece from Salem's History Alive theater company about the Christmas culture wars in New England's history, performed at the Woman's Friend Society's Emmerton House on Tree Lighting weekend. What to expect History Alive, Inc., ... Read More |
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Salem Main Streets' Holiday Window Contest begins Friday, December 4, 2026, in downtown Salem. Every year, downtown businesses dress their windows for the holidays in a friendly competition, and judges selected by Salem Main Streets make the rounds to pick the best. It's one of the easiest ways to enjoy downtown in December: take a walk and see who went ... Read More
Free
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Blow Your Own Ornament Workshop with North Shore Glass School on Friday, December 4, 2026, 2 PM–6 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). Make your own blown-glass holiday ornament in North Shore Glass School's hot shop on Proctor Street. Blow Your Own Ornament workshops run every weekend in November and December, plus Wednesdays and Fridays in ... Read More
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Glassblowing & Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Friday, December 4, 2026, 7 PM–9 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A two-hour holiday class that combines glassblowing and fused glass ornament making at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio. What to expect Open to beginners. This is one of the holiday ... Read More
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Learn the history and lore of the witch ball and make your own with ocean elements, herbs and salts on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Sea Wych in Salem. Plan your visit When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 7–9 p.m. Where: The Sea Wych Salem Who it's for: Ages 13 and up. The Sea Wych ... Read More |
7 events,
Salem's annual Krampuslauf and Krampusnacht is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., starting at Salem Ink. Krampus, the horned figure of Alpine holiday folklore, gets his night out in Salem: see the Holidays Horrors art show, walk with the crowd to Notch, then finish at the Mari Macabre ball at BitBar. Festive, frightful costumes are very ... Read More
Free
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Blow Your Own Ornament Workshop with North Shore Glass School on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10 AM–4 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). Make your own blown-glass holiday ornament in North Shore Glass School's hot shop on Proctor Street. Blow Your Own Ornament workshops run every weekend in November and December, plus Wednesdays and Fridays in ... Read More
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The Peabody Essex Museum opens its Origami Unfolded exhibition with a celebration on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Salem. The day Watch origami artists at work, handle folded pieces at a discovery cart, and learn to fold your own. Workshops range from a beginner hermit crab to an intermediate pattern for sculpting animals, ... Read More
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Flameworking Christmas Trees and Stars with North Shore Glass School on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 2 PM–4 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A holiday flameworking class at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio, shaping glass in a torch flame into Christmas trees and stars. What to expect Flameworking classes are for ages 12 and ... Read More
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Glassblowing & Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5 PM–7 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A two-hour holiday class that combines glassblowing and fused glass ornament making at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio. What to expect Open to beginners. This is one of the holiday ... Read More
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Learn the history and lore of the witch ball and make your own with ocean elements, herbs and salts on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Sea Wych in Salem. Plan your visit When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 7–9 p.m. Where: The Sea Wych Salem Who it's for: Ages 13 and up. The Sea Wych ... Read More |
7 events,
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Glassblowing & Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 10 AM–12 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A two-hour holiday class that combines glassblowing and fused glass ornament making at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio. What to expect Open to beginners. This is one of the holiday ... Read More
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Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 10 AM–11:30 AM, at the Artist's Row studio (24 New Derby Street, Salem). Make fused glass holiday ornaments at North Shore Glass School's Artist's Row studio on New Derby Street. Fused glass is kiln-fired after class, so there is no hot shop involved. What to expect ... Read More
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Fused Glass Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 1 PM–2:30 PM, at the Artist's Row studio (24 New Derby Street, Salem). Make fused glass holiday ornaments at North Shore Glass School's Artist's Row studio on New Derby Street. Fused glass is kiln-fired after class, so there is no hot shop involved. What to expect ... Read More
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Blow Your Own Ornament Workshop with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 1 PM–5 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). Make your own blown-glass holiday ornament in North Shore Glass School's hot shop on Proctor Street. Blow Your Own Ornament workshops run every weekend in November and December, plus Wednesdays and Fridays in ... Read More
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Flameworking Ornament Class with North Shore Glass School on Sunday, December 6, 2026, 2 PM–4 PM, at the Proctor Street studio (16 Proctor Street, Salem). A holiday flameworking class at North Shore Glass School's Proctor Street studio, shaping glass in a torch flame into ornaments. What to expect Flameworking classes are for ages 12 and up. This is one of ... Read More |
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