Santa’s Arrival & Holiday Tree Lighting

Salem opens its holiday season on Friday, November 27, 2026, when Santa Claus appears on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel at 6 p.m. with help from the Salem Fire Department. Organizers suggest reaching Salem Common by 5:45 p.m. The event is an outdoor street gathering with no admission listed, and it runs rain or shine.

After the arrival, the crowd walks down the Essex Street pedestrian mall to Lappin Park, at Essex and Washington streets beside the Bewitched statue, where the mayor and carolers light the city tree. People are encouraged to carry lanterns in the procession, and electric candles are recommended over open flames.

Event details from the organizer