The City of Salem Kicks Off Juneteenth Festival Preparations with Community Movie Poll

Residents invited to rank-choice vote on films for outdoor screening at Salem Common 

SALEM – Mayor Dominick Pangallo is inviting community members to participate in a ranked-choice vote to select the featured film for the City of Salem’s third annual Juneteenth Jam Festival. The winning film will be screened on Salem Common as the festival’s closing event this June.

Community Voting Now Open

“Salem 400+ encompasses many different ways to engage with our city’s history and future,” said Mayor Pangallo. “While the initiative includes preservation projects, scholarly programming, and comprehensive historical documentation, we also want to engage residents in fun and creative ways that bring the community together.”

Since 2024, the City has concluded its Juneteenth Jam Festival with a family-friendly outdoor movie night on Salem Common. Past screenings have included Black Panther (2024) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025).

This year, residents are invited to vote using ranked-choice voting on the following film options:

  • Soul (2018)
  • Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
  • The Princess and the Frog (2009)
  • Respect (2021)

Community members can view the movie trailers and cast their votes here.

Voting will remain open through June 1, with the winning film announced later that week.

This year’s movie night is generously sponsored by the Peabody Essex Museum, with Cinema Salem once again providing complimentary popcorn for attendees. Additional details about the 2026 Juneteenth Jam Festival will be announced in the coming weeks. All Juneteenth events in Salem are free, family-friendly, and open to all.

 

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