When:
Saturday, Jul 02, 2022 5:30p -
10:00p

Where:
Downtown Salem
Derby Wharf
Salem, MA

EventScheduled OfflineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
FREE

Categories:
Date Idea, Festivals & Fairs, Food, Good for Groups, Music, Party

Event website:
https://www.salem.org/blog/salem-celebrates-independence-day-on-july-2nd-2022/

Festivities return to Derby Wharf July 2, 5pm


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 Saturday, July 2nd.


Over the past few years the Covid-19 pandemic has put a damper on the celebration loved by both tourists and locals alike that takes place annually at Derby Wharf. This year the community will come back together to celebrate the 4th with live music, food, entertainment, and activities for all ages. Mayor Driscoll comments on the celebration stating “It has been two years since Salem has really been able to celebrate the 4th of July, so I am excited that we will once again gather for America’s birthday. This year we will pay tribute to those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrate our first responders, medical professionals, and frontline workers whose dedication and commitment never wavered during these difficult times.”


The Salem Harbor is the perfect location to set up a lawn chair and hangout for the day to the celebrate the 4th with friends and family. You can sit back and listen to live music while you watch the colors of the bursting fireworks cascade down onto the reflection of the water in the harbor. The silhouette of the Friendship of Salem docked at the Maritime National Historic Site transports onlookers back to 1796 the year the ship began its long journey of being built, and only twenty years after our nation gained independence on July, 4th 1776. With welcoming cobblestone streets and historic homes, Salem offers a glance back in time at the fruition of our countries founding and sets the scene for a patriotic and festive Fourth of July celebration!


Live entertainment on the Main Stage begins at 5:00 p.m. featuring Dis-N-Dat, a reggae and steel drum band. Formed in 1999 by four-time Grammy nominated Black Uhuru drummer ‘Rangotan and 6 time steel pan champion Sista D, Dis-N-Dat has a unique sound. Dis-N-Dat incorporates Roots Reggae, Dance Hall and R&B into a sound all their own by combining the sounds of Jamaica and Trinidad with foundation reggae and the steel pan, moving audiences all over the U.S. for 20 years. The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is the sponsor of this opening act, with the good news that the Jazz and Soul Festival will return this summer to the Salem Common on August 6th as part of the City’s annual Heritage Days celebration.


Also at 5:00 p.m. The Kids’ Space tent, sponsored by Amazon, will open. This year, little ones will be able to pick-up individually wrapped crafts to take back to their seats.


Food tents will be open 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 historic Derby Wharf accompanied by Salem veterans and the Salem Boy Scouts Color Guards. 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, famous movie themes, and patriotic music. This year’s featured performer is Helen Hassinger, a very talented soprano and classically trained violinist. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College (BA Music, Women’s Studies) in Northfield, Minnesota and Boston University (MM Vocal Performance). In 2018 Ms. Hassinger received her Certificate in Opera Performance from the Boston University Opera Institute. A native of Wisconsin, Ms. Hassinger currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts.


Intermission entertainment will showcase the talented singers from Salem High School’s Witch Pitch? a cappella group.


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.

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07/02/2022 17:30:00 07/02/2022 22:00:00 America/New_York Salem Celebrates Independence Day On July 2nd, 2022! <p>Festivities return to Derby Wharf July 2, 5pm</p><p><br></p><p><em>Mayor Kimberley Driscoll is pleased to announce that Salem will hold its Independence Day celebration at the Salem Maritime Nat... Downtown Salem, Salem , MA false MM/DD/YYYY