Pride of Baltimore II Arrives for a Public Welcome, Seaside Soirée, and Salem 400+ Heritage Days Parade and Festival
SALEM, MA – Salem 400+, the city’s quadricentennial initiative, invites the community to a milestone weekend of maritime history, festivity, and civic pride as the tall ship Pride of Baltimore II sails into Salem Harbor, followed, the next day, by the exciting return of the beloved Salem 400+ Heritage Days Parade and Festival.
Public Dockside Welcome for the Pride of Baltimore II
On Friday, July 31 at 1:00 p.m., the public is invited to gather at Central Wharf (160 Derby Street) to welcome the historic tall ship Pride of Baltimore II as she arrives in Salem. This free, family-friendly event offers residents and visitors alike the chance to see the ship make her approach and celebrate the start of a special weekend of Salem 400+ and America’s 250th programming. Commemorative mini-Salem 400+ flags will be available as mementoes for this historic occasion. The mayor and other dignitaries will be on hand to welcome the Pride of Baltimore II crew to Salem.
Seaside Soirée Aboard the Pride of Baltimore II
Later that evening, at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 31, Salem 400+ will host the Seaside Soirée, a ticketed cocktail fundraiser held aboard the Pride of Baltimore II. Guests aboard this limited-capacity event will enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres by Ferreira Foods, two complimentary signature cocktails for the event, and a cash bar, all while taking in ocean breezes and conversation on the deck of one of the most storied replica vessels on the East Coast. Built and launched in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in 1988, Pride II is a faithful reproduction of the sharp-built Baltimore Clippers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries — the fast, sleek ships that gained fame as privateers during the War of 1812. Tickets are on sale now at https://salem-chamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/26518.
Salem400+ Heritage Days Parade and Festival
The milestone Quadricentennial celebration continues Saturday, August 1, with the Salem 400+ Heritage Days Parade and Festival presented by the City of Salem and Salem Maritime National Historical Park. Participants will assemble at the Salem State University O’Keefe Sports Complex, 225 Canal Street, before the parade route concludes at Salem Maritime National Historical Park’s Derby Wharf. The event is free and open to the public, with over 60 community groups, local businesses, and civic organizations slated to take part in the parade.
“This weekend captures everything Salem 400+ is about – honoring our history while bringing the present community together to celebrate their beloved town,” said Salem 400+ coordinator, Virginia Cherol. “We have been planning this weekend for years, and it is going to be something really special!”
At the parade’s end, at Salem Maritime National Historical Park, the Salem Heritage Days Festival will be in full swing, starting at 11am to celebrate Salem’s 400+ and America’s 250th. Here, the community is welcome to board the Pride of Baltimore II, witness over 20 historical demonstrators, visit food trucks, and so much more! At 1:00pm the community will gather to watch the always exciting 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta! Come watch cardboard boats sink or swim and make memories to last for another 400 years!
Event Summary
- Friday, July 31, 1:00 p.m. – Public Dockside Welcome for the Pride of Baltimore II (free, open to the public)
- Friday, July 31, evening – Seaside Soirée aboard the Pride of Baltimore II (ticketed)
- Saturday, August 1 – Heritage Days Parade and Festival, assembling at Salem State University O’Keefe Sports Complex, traveling down Lafayette and Derby Streets, and ending at Salem Maritime National Historical Park’s Derby Wharf (free, open to the public)
- Sunday, August 2, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pride of Baltimore II open for public tours during regular Salem Maritime National Historical Parks hours
