Salem Celebrates the 4th
City of Salem Ready to Celebrate July 4th
Free concert, fireworks, and other festivities take place on historic Derby Wharf starting at 5:00 p.m.
Mayor Kimberley Driscoll is pleased to announce that Salem will hold its Independence Day celebration at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Derby Wharf on Thursday, July 4th.
“Salem is a special place to celebrate Independence Day.” said Mayor Driscoll. “There is so much history here, much of which played prominently in the early beginnings of our great nation.”
“I’d like to express a special thank you to our Skyrocket Sponsors: Footprint Power - Salem Harbor Station, Salem Five and Tropical Products, along with our Star-Spangled Sponsors: Aggregate Industries, Eastern Bank, KV Associates, Market Basket, Tache Real Estate, and Thermal Circuits,” said Mayor Driscoll. “This event does not happen without their and many others continued support.”
Free children's activities begin at 5:00 p.m. with the opening of the Kids' Space, where little ones can play games, win prizes and get their faces painted.
Live entertainment on the Main Stage begins at 5:00 p.m. The DITTO band will entertain the crowd on main stage. Lead vocalists and guitarists Gary Santarella and Roger Kimball have entertained audiences for over forty years and play mainstream music classics of James Taylor, Neil Young, Harry Chapin, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beatles, and many others.
Food tents will be on site selling hot dogs, French fries, fried dough, kettle corn, and other fair favorites.
Opening Ceremonies begin at 7:15 p.m. when Mayor Driscoll and other local dignitaries will lead a parade down the wharf accompanied by the Salem Veterans Honor Guard and Salem Boy Scout troops.
The National Anthem will be sung by members of the Salem High School’s a cappella group Witch Pitch?.
Immediately following opening ceremonies Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra (HFO) will take center stage and perform a program packed with Broadway show tunes and patriotic music featuring soprano Jacyn Tremblay.
For intermission entertainment, we have some talented singers from Salem’s Collins Middle School Chorus.
At 9:15 p.m., Salem ends its Independence Day celebration with a fireworks extravaganza, accompanied live by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra playing the 1812 Overture and other patriotic tunes throughout the entire fireworks display.
Please note the following information for those planning to attend the July 4th celebrations in Salem:
- Be safe. To ensure a safe and fun celebration, the Salem Police Department will have enhanced security in place on July 4th. Guests are asked to carry any items in clear plastic bags and be prepared for possible bag checks by uniformed officers.
- Say something. If you see something, say something to uniformed police at the celebration. In addition to officers who will be moving throughout the area all evening, you can also always find officers at the public safety tent, which is clearly identifiable on site. Concerns can also be called into the Salem Police at (978) 744-1212.
- Derby Wharf access. Police will be monitoring access points into the Derby Wharf area throughout the afternoon and evening. Please plan for additional time to arrive at the wharf for the festivities.
- Road closures. Derby Street from Herbert Street to Daniels Street, and Orange Street and Curtis Street at Essex Street, will all be closed to traffic from 5:00 pm. until 11:00 p.m.
- Avoid driving to Derby Wharf. Seek parking downtown in a lot (www.parkinginsalem.com). Parking at the Museum Place Garage on New Liberty Street and the South Harbor Garage on Congress Street is available at $5 for the day, with the proceeds directly supporting the July 4th celebration. There is overflow parking at Shetland Properties on Congress Street, or take the commuter rail or Salem Ferry (www.salemferry.com) to avoid anticipated traffic congestion. The last MBTA trains depart Salem station at 10:40 p.m. (southbound) and 10:51 p.m. (northbound/Newburyport Line) and 12:01 a.m. (northbound/Rockport Line).
- Handicapped parking. There is limited handicap parking at Derby Wharf and in the Immaculate Conception parking lot on Hawthorne Boulevard, which is first-come first-serve, and there is a mobility impaired/wheelchair seating section reserved at the beginning of Derby Wharf, so attendees do not have to traverse the park’s terrain.
- Don’t bring fireworks. Salem has adopted the maximum fines allowable for both the sale ($1,000 fine) and use ($200 fine) of fireworks. In addition, a dedicated police unit will be tasked with enforcing the laws prohibiting the private use of fireworks. Please help ensure a safe July 4th for all and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
- Harbor access. Recreational boaters and other craft will be restricted from the area around Derby Wharf and the channel in Salem Harbor and the South River for much of the evening. Mariners can call the Harbormaster’s Office at 978-741-0098 or on VHF 16 for emergencies after hours or for more information.
For more information check www.salem.com or call Salem City Hall at 978-745-9595, ext. 5676.
Other Independence Day Events in Salem
Wednesday, July 3
Join us for the annual Kids' Spokes and Stripes Bike Parade and Rodeo on Salem Common. Decorate your bicycle, tricycle, scooter, or trailer with patriotic red, white & blue for a parade around the Common at 5:30 pm or arrive early at 5 pm where volunteers will be available to help with decorations. Stick around for snacks and a bike rodeo sponsored by Safe Routes to School and Mass In Motion. .
Thursday, July 4
Join Mayor Driscoll on Salem Common at 9:00 a.m. for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Erik Rodenheiser will read the document. Bob Kendall will provide piano music and audience singing will be led by Maureen Dalton.
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SALEM CELEBRATES THE 4TH - SPONSORS
Skyrocket Sponsors
Footprint Power - Salem Harbor Station
Salem Five
Tropical Products
Star Spangled Sponsors
Aggregate Industries
Eastern Bank
KV Associates
Market Basket
Tache Real Estate
Thermal Circuits
Red, White & Blue Sponsors
Claire & Jim Bailey
CDM Smith
Commonwealth Diagnostics International
Correnti & Darling LLP
Mazow/McCullough PC
N. Granese & Sons
Peabody Essex Museum
Shetland Properties
Thai Place
Woodard & Curran
Friends of the Fourth Sponsors
BETA Group ♦ Beverly Bank ♦
Kelley & Ryan Associates ♦ Lotus Gifts
RCG ♦ Salem Trolley ♦ The Salem Witch Museum
Stantec Consulting Services ♦ Tighe & Bond
Witch Dungeon Museum
Color Guard Sponsors
Carpenters Union Local #26 ♦ EJ Prescott ♦ New England Civil Engineering ♦ PUMEL Enterprises
St. Jean's Credit Union ♦ The Salem Inn ♦ The Trolley Depot ♦ Weston & Sampson Services, Inc.
National Park Service – Paul DePrey, Superintendent
The City of Salem – Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor