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Salem Celebrates the 4th

Concert & Fireworks
photo by Scott Lanes
Event Date: 
Saturday, July 2, 2022 - 5:00pm to 10:00pm

Bring your beach blankets and folding chairs to enjoy the 42-piece Hillyer Festival Orchestra on Derby Wharf at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site for a grand celebration of our nation’s Independence Day. Featuring a Pops concert and fireworks launched over Salem Harbor, this is a quintessential celebration of the 4th of July.

Note: Salem Celebrates the Fourth will be held on July 2, 2022. 

Schedule of Events 

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.

Please note the following information for those planning to attend Saturday’s July 2nd celebration in Salem

  • Be safe. To ensure a safe and fun celebration, the Salem Police Department will have enhanced security in place on July 2nd. 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 will be 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, the Museum Place Garage on New Liberty Street, or the South Harbor Garage on Congress Street (www.salemma.gov/parking/pages/parking-rates-locations-hours). 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 10:30 p.m. (northbound/Newburyport Line) and 11:30 p.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.salemma.gov or call Salem City Hall at 978-745-9595, ext. 5676.