Join us for the annual Salem Maritime Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Salem Maritime National Historical Park on Derby Street. This event is free and open to the public. Salem Maritime Festival will feature a cardboard boat race, free tours and programs at historic buildings and the Friendship of Salem, food trucks and lawn games.
The Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Join Salem Maritime National Historical Park for Salem's favorite cardbord-themed event! Taking place during the Maritime Festival, local teams will race their homemade cardboard boats in Salem Harbor. Spectators are encouraged to line Derby Wharf and cheer on the racers.
All cardboard boat race spots are now full. Come down and support your favorite team!
Historic Buildings
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. Built in 1819, the U.S. Custom House in Salem contains exhibits on the tools of the Custom Service, the work of the Customs inspectors, and the office of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous American author whose three-year-long stint in the Salem Custom House inspired his classic novel, The Scarlet Letter.
At the Derby House tour the home of one of Salem's most successful merchants and learn about the lives of the family members and enslaved people of African descent who lived there. Explore the ways these individuals were connected to the growing conversations of freedom and liberty leading up to the American Revolution.
Friendship of Salem
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Step aboard the Friendship. Friendship of Salem will be open for deck tours from 1 PM - 4:30 PM. Learn about the ongoing construction project onboard and explore the lives of sailors past and present.
About Friendship of Salem: The original Friendship, a two-decked, three-masted, square-rigged, 342-ton vessel was built from 1796-1797. The Friendship made 15 international voyages before being captured during the War of 1812. The replica tall ship, Friendship of Salem, is docked at Derby Wharf and was designed to present the appearance an original 1797 Salem-built vessel. The keel was laid in Scarano Shipyard in Albany, New York in 1996 and uses modern technology and materials to meet today’s safety and accessibility requirements.
Lawn Games
Get ready for a day filled with laughter, friendly competition, and outdoor fun at our lawn game area! Whether you're a fan of classic games or looking to try something different like Colonial lawn games, we've got a game for everyone. Perfect for all ages, lawn games are a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather and create special memories.
When:
Saturday, August 9, 2025 11am-4:30pm
Location:
Phone:
978.740.1650
Email:
