The town of Salem, Massachusetts, may get a lot of attention come October and Halloween, but this year-round destination offers a full schedule of festivals perfect for any season.
“Salem offers rich and diverse programming throughout the year,” said Kate Fox, executive director, Destination Salem. “Whether you want to research genealogy, celebrate the arts, dive into a documentary film, or chill out at the Ice Cream Bowl, there is something for all ages and interests.”
You’ll have to decide “witch” festivals fit your schedule, of course, but here’s a quick sampling to consider (a full schedule can be found here):

© John Andrews
Salem Arts Festival (June 2–4)
It’s all there: painting, sculpture, photography, dance, film, writing, theater and more. Enjoy staged, outdoor performances; a street fair; indoor performances; and a gallery of juried artists’ works.
Salem Farmers’ Market (Through Oct. 12)
With roots dating all the way back to 1634, this popular marketplace showcases local farm products. The market is held in Derby Square every Thursday, 3–7 p.m.
North Shore Pride Parade and Festival (June 24)
This annual festival is in its fifth year and celebrates Pride with a parade and plenty of community unity, featuring local businesses, faith groups and area organizations.
Salem Heritage Days (Aug. 7–13)
It’s fun, food, outdoor movies, live music and activities, including National Night Out and Ice Cream Bowl.

Salem Film Festival © Salem, Massachusetts
Salem Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival (Sept. 23–24)
Come hungry and treat yourself to an afternoon of sampling from the area’s most-loved food trucks, plus both regional and national breweries.
Salem Haunted Happenings (Oct. 1–31)
That’s right — it’s Halloween in Salem, the location of the brutal 1692 witch trials. Now ranked as the world’s largest Halloween celebration, events include parades, Family Film Nights on Salem Common, ghost tours, costume balls, haunted houses, dark and scary theater productions and plenty of live music.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedSponsored Content
Why Buy Travel Insurance for U.S. Destinations?
If you’re traveling stateside, travel insurance is a must.
April/May 2023
May 31, 2023Festivities Draw Crowds to Celebrate Awareness and Acceptance
An estimated 1 million people pack Times Square to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, but the NYC Pride March draws the largest annual crowd for the city, boasting 2.5 million spectators in a normal year and more than 5 million during 2019’s WorldPride celebration. Pride events flood the Big Apple for the entire month of June, as they do in several cities across the country, bringing marches, symposiums, performances, parties and more to venues citywide.
eFlyer Reviews
May 31, 2023Homer and Janet by Homer Review
The Marais District, covering swaths of Paris’ 3rd and 4th arrondissments, has a distinctively gritty glamour that reveals it to be one of the city’s great incubators for new French food, fashion and lifestyle trends. It is here Moïse Sfez took on the challenge of creating street food establishments Homer in 2017 and Janet by Homer in 2022, doing it in such a way they both transcend the novelty of being regional American comfort food offered at stylized lunch counters matching up with New England lobster shacks and New York delis. Overwhelming local response and Sfez winning the 2018 Lobster Roll World’s Championship title in Portland, Maine, solidified him as a Paris restaurateur and one of France’s hottest culinary stars.
Sponsored Content
Fill Your Heart with Ireland
Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?
eFlyer News
May 31, 2023Air New Zealand to Introduce Skynest Sleeping Pods on Ultra-Long-Haul Flights in 2024
Starting September 2024, Air New Zealand introduces its new Skynest full-length sleeping pods on its ultra-long-haul routes. The new feature will begin on routes between New York and Chicago.
eFlyer Lead
May 31, 2023Lufthansa Group Reaches Deal to Acquire Stake in ITA Airways
Lufthansa Group and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance reached an agreement last week for the group to acquire a minority stake, at 41 percent, in Italy’s national carrier, ITA Airways. The percentage came with a price tag of 325 million euros through a capital increase.
Sponsored Content
Treasure Every Moment in The Islands of Tahiti
Welcome to The Islands of Tahiti, where every moment is a treasure waiting to be discovered. From the moment you arrive, you will be greeted with warm hospitality, time-honored traditions and an awe-inspiring landscape that will take your breath away.
April/May 2023
May 31, 2023Review: InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: Shortly after 1 p.m., our Uber driver delivered my husband and me to the drive-up entrance of the Wilshire Grand building, the tallest building on the West Coast and home to InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. Attentive valets greeted us and directed us to the dedicated elevator, which whisked us up to the 70th-floor lobby. Though it was early afternoon, our room was ready, and the desk staff checked us in quickly and directed us to the elevator to our 53rd-floor room. We strolled past several comfortable seating areas and a large bar and lounge, tastefully adorned with understated holiday décor. All were wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, affording stunning views of the sun-splashed city and the ocean beyond.
ShareThis