Flag Raising and Weekend of Free Community Programming at Old Town Hall
SALEM, MA – Mayor Dominick Pangallo invites community members to join the City of Salem in celebrating Black History Month in 2026 with a series of free, public events honoring Black history, culture, and contributions. The month’s celebrations will begin with a flag raising ceremony at City Hall, followed by a weekend of engaging programming at Old Town Hall.
Monday, February 2: Black History Month Flag Raising
Salem’s Black History Month celebrations will officially begin on Monday, February 2 at 3:30 p.m. with the raising of the African American Heritage Flag at City Hall. The ceremony will take place inside the City Council Chambers and will include remarks from local officials and community members and is open to the public.
“It is a great honor to not only be celebrating Salem’s 400+ anniversary in 2026, but also to be marking 100 years of recognizing and celebrating Black history,” said Mayor Pangallo. “From the establishment of Negro History Week in 1926 to its formal recognition as Black History Month in 1976, the year 2026 presents a meaningful opportunity to honor these milestones through both celebration and education.”
Saturday, February 7 – Community Celebration at Old Town Hall
Black History Month programming continues on Saturday, February 7, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Old Town Hall, with a keynote address written and delivered by Vick Breedy.
Breedy is a local author, poet, speaker, entrepreneur, and self-care advocate whose work centers healing, resilience, and empowerment. A recipient of Local Black Excellence Award, Breedy has published novels, poetry albums, and journals and leads community initiatives such as the Selfish Women’s Group and the Stereotyped* Men’s Group.
At 1:00 p.m., Anti-Racist Educator and Organizer Toni Waldron will present a program on the Freeman Family of West Gloucester. This presentation highlights the work of community members, researchers, and archivists who uncovered the “hidden history” of a prominent Black family that lived as free landowners in Massachusetts for more than a century. The program will explore archival silences, primary source materials, and the importance of sharing these stories. This work is supported by Mass Humanities through its Uncovering Hidden Histories grant.
Waldron, a multiracial, multiethnic immigrant born and raised in London, England, brings a decolonial, gender-expansive, and anti-racist framework to her work. A graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School and Tufts University, she is a longtime educator and community organizer and was instrumental in organizing Gloucester’s first citywide Juneteenth celebration.
At 2:30 p.m., the celebration continues with live music from Coco Brown and The Invitation featuring Craig Powe, led by Nicole Harris, generously sponsored by Salem Fire Department Local 172, and Ascend–Get Lifted.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees can enjoy free food from Ivory Bakery, a local Black-owned bakery, along with hot chocolate, family-friendly activities, and live hand-drawn caricatures. A Black Pop-Up Market and Resource Fair, featuring Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, and service organizations, will be open from 1:30 p.m. until the end of the event.
Saturday’s programming concludes at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 8 – Culture, Dance, and Music
The weekend concludes on Sunday, February 8 at Old Town Hall, beginning at 1:30 p.m. with an interactive session led by world-class dance instructor Greg Coles. Trained in ballet, jazz, modern, African, and Latin dance, Coles will introduce the djembe drum and explore its role in African culture, storytelling, and community-making through movement and rhythm.
Live music from Coco Brown and The Invitation featuring Craig Powe, led by Nicole Harris, returns at 2:30 p.m., again sponsored by The House of the Seven Gables and Ascend–Get Lifted.
As on Saturday, Sunday’s event will feature free food from Ivory Bakery, hot chocolate, all-ages activities and the Black Pop-Up Market and Resource Fair from 1:30 p.m. through 4:00 p.m.
