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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Salem Holiday Happenings
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261127T174500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261127T183000
DTSTAMP:20261105T210717Z
CREATED:20260902T163000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261105T210717Z
UID:10001109-1795801500-1795804200@www.salemholidayhappenings.org
SUMMARY:Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
DESCRIPTION:Salem’s Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival is Friday\, November 27\, 2026\, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Two of the city’s favorite holiday traditions happen in one evening: Santa arrives at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel at 6:00 p.m. with help from the Salem Fire Department\, then leads a procession down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall to light Salem’s Holiday Tree at Lappin Park. \nThe evening\nGet to Salem Common\, across from the Hawthorne Hotel\, by 5:45 p.m. to catch Santa’s arrival at 6:00 p.m. The procession then heads down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall to Lappin Park\, next to the Bewitched statue at Essex and Washington Streets\, where we’ll join Santa\, Mayor Dominick Pangallo\, and period carolers from History Alive for the Holiday Tree Lighting. \nPlan your visit\n\nDate: Friday\, November 27\, 2026\nTime: Arrive at Salem Common by 5:45 p.m.; Santa arrives at 6:00 p.m.\nWhere: Salem Common and the Hawthorne Hotel (18 Washington Square West) for Santa’s arrival\, then Lappin Park for the tree lighting\nAdmission: Free and not ticketed\n\nMake a night of it\nHistory Alive\, Inc. performs ‘Tis the Season at 7 p.m. that evening at the Woman’s Friend Society\, timed to follow the Tree Lighting. Small Business Saturday follows the next day\, and the rest of the season is on our Holiday Happenings events calendar. \nOfficial information\nTree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival is a free Salem Main Streets event. This event is not ticketed. If you see a listing asking you to buy tickets or sign up by email\, it isn’t official. Follow Salem Main Streets for official updates. \nDetails last checked: November 5\, 2026 (times and program confirmed by Salem Main Streets).
URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/event/tree-lighting-santas-arrival-2026/
LOCATION:Salem Common
CATEGORIES:Community Celebration,Family,Featured Events,Free,Holidays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/santa-arrival-event.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261128
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261129
DTSTAMP:20261103T015903Z
CREATED:20260902T163001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261103T015903Z
UID:10001110-1795824000-1795910399@www.salemholidayhappenings.org
SUMMARY:Small Business Saturday
DESCRIPTION:Small Business Saturday is Saturday\, November 28\, 2026\, in downtown Salem. The day after the Tree Lighting is the official start of the holiday shopping season downtown: a day to shop\, eat\, and celebrate the independent businesses that make Salem distinctive. \nThe day\nSpend the day on Essex Street\, Front Street\, Derby Street\, and the rest of downtown\, where Salem’s independent shops\, restaurants\, makers\, and galleries are open for the season. Salem Main Streets isn’t publishing a business-by-business promotions list this year. Holiday Happenings will be out all day capturing the scene to share throughout the season\, and you can find current offers anytime on our holiday deals page. \nPlan your visit\n\nDate: Saturday\, November 28\, 2026\nWhere: Throughout downtown Salem\nHours: Set by each business\nAdmission: Free to stroll\n\nFor downtown businesses\nDoing something special for Small Business Saturday or the season? Let Salem Main Streets know through its 2026 holiday survey so it can be shared. \nOfficial information\nSmall Business Saturday in downtown Salem is a Salem Main Streets event. Follow Salem Main Streets for official updates\, and see the whole season on our Holiday Happenings events calendar. \nDetails last checked: November 2\, 2026 (Salem Main Streets’ October 30 announcement to downtown businesses).
URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/event/small-business-saturday-2026/
LOCATION:Downtown Salem\, 32 Derby Square\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Celebration,Featured Events,Free,Holidays,Shopping,Shopping Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Whimsys-Salem-Photos-by-Creative-Collective-1880-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261204
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261205
DTSTAMP:20261103T015502Z
CREATED:20261103T015127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261103T015502Z
UID:10001148-1796342400-1796428799@www.salemholidayhappenings.org
SUMMARY:Holiday Window Contest 2026
DESCRIPTION: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 all out. \nIn the windows\nDecorated storefront windows throughout downtown Salem. Award categories have recognized good retail practice\, like using products or lighting in the display\, along with themes and styles such as most nostalgic. The 2026 list of participating businesses will be added here as Salem Main Streets confirms it. \nPlan your visit\n\nBegins: Friday\, December 4\, 2026\nWhere: Storefronts throughout downtown Salem\nAdmission: Free. Window-shopping is on the house.\nParticipating businesses: to be announced\n\nFor downtown businesses\nThe Window Contest is free to enter. Businesses that want to take part should notify Salem Main Streets by Wednesday\, December 2\, 2026 at kylie@salemmainstreets.org. \nOfficial information\nThe Holiday Window Contest is a Salem Main Streets event. See Salem Main Streets’ Window Contest page for official updates\, and find more of the season on our Holiday Happenings events calendar. \nDetails last checked: November 2\, 2026 (dates confirmed in Salem Main Streets’ October 30 announcement to downtown businesses).
URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/event/holiday-window-contest-2026/
LOCATION:Downtown Salem\, 32 Derby Square\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Celebration,Featured Events,Free,Holidays,Shopping
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Peabody-Essex-Mercanitle-Shop-Photos-by-Creative-Collective-1807-scaled.jpg
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261212
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261214
DTSTAMP:20261024T172642Z
CREATED:20261024T172642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261024T172642Z
UID:10001112-1797033600-1797206399@www.salemholidayhappenings.org
SUMMARY:Wassail Weekend 2026
DESCRIPTION:Wassail Weekend returns to downtown Salem on Saturday\, December 12 and Sunday\, December 13\, 2026. Salem Main Streets’ annual shop-local weekend is an invitation to slow down and enjoy your downtown in the thick of the holiday season: grab brunch\, wander Essex Street\, and check a few names off your list at Salem’s independent shops. \nWhat to expect\nThe 2026 lineup of participating businesses\, special offers\, and events is to be announced. We’ll add each one here as Salem Main Streets confirms it\, so check back as December gets closer. \nPlan your visit\n\nDates: Saturday\, December 12 – Sunday\, December 13\, 2026\nTimes: to be announced\nWhere: Throughout downtown Salem; individual locations to be announced\nAdmission: Strolling downtown is free. Prices for any ticketed activities will be listed as they’re announced.\nSanta\, carolers\, and special activities: to be announced\n\nOfficial information\nWassail Weekend is a Salem Main Streets event. Follow Salem Main Streets for official updates\, and see more of the season on our Holiday Happenings events calendar. \nDetails last checked: October 24\, 2026.
URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/event/wassail-weekend-2026/
LOCATION:Downtown Salem\, 32 Derby Square\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
CATEGORIES:Entertainment,Featured Events,Shopping
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HOLIDAY-HELPER-SPONSOR.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261231T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261231T180000
DTSTAMP:20261105T210717Z
CREATED:20261103T015129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261105T210717Z
UID:10001149-1798736400-1798740000@www.salemholidayhappenings.org
SUMMARY:New Year's Eve LAUNCH! 2026
DESCRIPTION:New Year’s Eve LAUNCH! is Thursday\, December 31\, 2026\, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Charlotte Forten Park in downtown Salem. Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem throw a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party with an early countdown just before 6 p.m.\, so the whole family can ring in 2027 and still make it home for dinner. \nThe program\nProgramming has included art-making activities\, magic shows\, face painting and temporary tattoos\, a silent disco\, and more. The 2026 lineup will be added here as Salem Main Streets announces it. \nPlan your visit\n\nWhen: Thursday\, December 31\, 2026\, 5:00–6:00 p.m.\, with an early countdown just before 6 p.m.\nWhere: Charlotte Forten Park\, 289 Derby Street\, Salem\nWho it’s for: Families and all ages\nAdmission: to be announced by Salem Main Streets\n\nOfficial information\nLAUNCH! is a Salem Main Streets event presented with the City of Salem. See Salem Main Streets’ LAUNCH! page for official updates\, and find more of the season on our Holiday Happenings events calendar. \nDetails last checked: November 5\, 2026 (date\, time\, and location confirmed by Salem Main Streets).
URL:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/event/new-years-eve-launch-2026/
LOCATION:Charlotte Forten Park\, 289 Derby Street\, Salem\, MA\, 01970\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Celebration,Family,Featured Events,Holidays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.salemholidayhappenings.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/67ca5c21b33904e0cf519516_nye1-xtTOMF.jpg
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