Salem Arts Festival – Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4
*Please note – Front Street, the Front Street parking lot, and Essex Street from New Liberty Street to Hawthorne Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8 am to 7 pm on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4
The biggest art collaboration of the year in Salem, the Salem Arts Festival takes place in the heart of Salem at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues. The annual Juried Art Gallery will be held in Old Town Hall throughout the festival weekend, with an artisan street fair in the surrounding areas of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Front Street on Saturday and Sunday. Live performances and pop-up dance stages will take place on Derby Square, Front Street, Artists’ Row, and Armory Park.
This year’s festival kicks off with an opening reception at Salem’s Old Town Hall on Friday, June 2 at 5 p.m. The free event allows visitors to enjoy beautiful artwork in the juried gallery while being entertained by renowned local and regional performers.
In addition to the gallery, street fair, and performance stages, the festival includes multiple multidisciplinary celebrations throughout the festival. This includes the annual Mural Slam on the backside of Artists’ Row, led by The City of Salem Public Art Commission, and features live painting of 12 temporary murals by local artists. A temporary public art project called For the Record — with works of art constructed using up-cycled vinyl records by local artists Alexia Coleman, Claudia Paraschiv, Linda Mullen, and assembled by community participants — will be installed on Derby Square and Artists’ Row for the festival. NEW this year on Saturday, June 3, the festival introduces the first Magic Alley, sponsored by Better Than Fiction Tours, where local Salem magicians and illusionists will be showcasing their skills in Houdini Way off of Front Street.
The Salem Arts festival is rain or shine; in the event of inclement weather, performances will be moved into Old Town Hall, ChagallPAC on Artists’ Row, and the PEM Connect Space at 135 Essex Street. Visitors interested in attending the Salem Arts Festival can find easy access to the downtown by public transportation or parking at one of the many downtown lots in the City. For more information and for the full festival schedule, performer information, and listings of street fair vendors, please visit https://salemartsfestival.com.
Special thank you to Salem Arts Festival sponsors
This program is made possible through American Rescue Plan Act funds provided by the City of Salem and supported by tourism dollars through Destination Salem
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem Five
Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Salem Rainbow Stroll
