Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to come enjoy the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 23^rd year, the signature elements of the festival include a Friday night kickoff party, 30 ice sculptures sprinkled around the downtown, two nights of illuminated sculptures, a “Chocolate Hearts” game with prizes, live music, and sweet specials and promotions at local shops and restaurants throughout the city. It is Salem's sweetest time of year!

Salem’s So Sweet starts with a Kickoff Event fundraiser on Friday, February 7 at the PEM Connect Space (135 Essex Street). Ticket holders begin the evening at a central downtown location where guests will receive a commemorative glass, a complementary pour of wine, and a goodie bag of sweet treats before heading out to explore. Multiple downtown businesses join the fun by providing wine tastings and free treats for ticket holders, plus participants can enjoy the illuminated ice sculptures and live music on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall between destinations. This event has been generously sponsored by St. Jean’s Credit Union. Tickets to this fundraiser are $40 and are available online at salemsosweet.com.

The popular ice sculpture presentation is back this year with TWO nights of illumination. A limited number of sculptures will be illuminated on Friday night on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Lappin Park only, and on Saturday night all of the sculptures across town will be lit. Sculptures will be illuminated 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both nights, weather permitting. Viewing the ice sculptures is free to all and is not a ticketed event! Sculptures last as long as weather allows. A map of all ice sculptures and more information will be available on the website closer to the festival.

Many local businesses will offer their own chocolate and love-inspired specials for the duration of Salem’s So Sweet in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Visitors can also play the "Chocolate Hearts Challenge" by looking for special Salem’s So Sweet signage at participating businesses to be entered for prizes. A purchase by the customer is not required but is highly encouraged. A full list of participating businesses and information about how to play will be available on the website closer to the event.

The 2025 festival is made possible by support from local businesses, including Salem Witch Museum and Witch City Walking Tours, and is supported by tourism dollars through Destination Salem.