Salem's So Sweet
This year's festival is February 6 through February 8.
Elements of the festival include:
- 25+ Ice sculptures around town
- Evening illumination of ice sculptures on Friday and Saturday evening
- A Kickoff Party and late-night shopping on Friday
- The Chocolate Hearts Challenge throughout the weekend – an interactive game in businesses around town with prizes for participants
- Sweet treats and deals at many of the amazing local shops and eateries all weekend!
This festival is sponsored generously by lead sponsors Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Salem Witch Museum, and St. Jean's Credit Union, as well as the Peabody Essex Museum, Gourmet Caterers, Retonica, Nocturne, The Sea Wych Salem, Blackcraft, Hawthorne Hotel, and Salem Wax: A Halloween Experience.
Kickoff Party, Friday, Feb. 6th, 4:45 to 8 pm, Ticketed Event
Salem’s So Sweet starts with a Kickoff Event fundraiser on Friday, February 6 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 Witch City Walking Tours. Tickets to this fundraiser are $40.
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!
Ice Sculptures - starting Friday, Feb. 6th, FREE
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! The Salem Trolley will be offering tours of the downtown for $3 a person from 12 to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Sculptures last as long as weather allows.
Chocolate Hearts Challenge, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8
Visitors can play the "Chocolate Hearts Challenge" by looking for special Salem’s So Sweet signage at over 40 participating businesses to be entered for prizes. Look for the special signage with a unique piece of trivia inside the business. Collect trivia from at least 5 participating businesses, use the QR code on the sign to submit your trivia, and be entered to win prizes! A purchase by the customer is not required but is highly encouraged.
Currently participating businesses include:
- Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe, 234 Essex Street
- The Black Veil, 304 Essex Street
- Blackcraft, 253 Essex Street
- Chambers of Terror Haunted House, 57 Wharf Street
- Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center, 45 Charter Street
- Circle of Stitches, 78 Wharf Street
- Coffee Time Bake Shop, 96 Bridge Street
- Couch Dog Brewing, 76 Lafayette Street
- Dire Wolf Tavern, 87 Washington Street
- District Trading Company, 244 Essex Street
- East Regiment Beer Company, 31 Church Street
- Emporium 32, 6 Central Street
- Front Street Coffee House, 20 Front Street
- Harbor Sweets, 85 Leavitt Street
- Harrison’s Comics & Pop Culture, 252 Essex Street
- HausWitch, 144 Washington Street
- Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Sq W
- Hotel Salem, 209 Essex Street
- J. Mode, 17 Front Street
- Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, 24 Front Street
- Jolie Tea Company, 316 Derby Street
- Kakawa Chocolate House, 173 Essex Street
- Longboards Restaurant & Bar, 76 Wharf Street
- Moons Gift Shop, 226 Essex Street
- Nocturne, 18 Front Street
- Pamplemousse, 185-189 Essex Street
- Popped! Gourmet Popcorn, 84 Wharf Street
- Re-Find, 72 Washington St
- Salem Bespoke Boutique, 127 Essex Street
- The Salem Flea Marketplace, 11 Dodge St Ct
- Salem Witch Museum, 19 ½ Washington Square
- The Sea Wych Salem, 1 Derby Square, 2nd Floor
- Turners Seafood, 43 Church Street
- Whimsy's, 26 Front Street
- Witch City Broom Co, 246 Essex Street
- Witch City Wicks, 302A Essex Street
- Witch House, 310 Essex Street
- Witch Pix, 172 Essex St
- Wolf Next Door Coffee, 142 Derby Street
Salem's So Sweet
February 6, 2026
-
February 8, 2026
4:45 pm
-
8:30 pm
Salem, MA
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to participate in 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 24th year, Salem’s So Sweet has become one of the most popular winter events on the North Shore.
This year's festival is February 6 through February 8.
Elements of the festival include:
- 25+ Ice sculptures around town
- Evening illumination of ice sculptures on Friday and Saturday evening
- A Kickoff Party and late-night shopping on Friday
- The Chocolate Hearts Challenge throughout the weekend – an interactive game in businesses around town with prizes for participants
- Sweet treats and deals at many of the amazing local shops and eateries all weekend!
This festival is sponsored generously by lead sponsors Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, Salem Witch Museum, and St. Jean's Credit Union, as well as the Peabody Essex Museum, Gourmet Caterers, Retonica, Nocturne, The Sea Wych Salem, Blackcraft, Hawthorne Hotel, and Salem Wax: A Halloween Experience.
Kickoff Party, Friday, Feb. 6th, 4:45 to 8 pm, Ticketed Event
Salem’s So Sweet starts with a Kickoff Event fundraiser on Friday, February 6 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 Witch City Walking Tours. Tickets to this fundraiser are $40.
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!
Ice Sculptures - starting Friday, Feb. 6th, FREE
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! The Salem Trolley will be offering tours of the downtown for $3 a person from 12 to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Sculptures last as long as weather allows.
Chocolate Hearts Challenge, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8
Visitors can play the "Chocolate Hearts Challenge" by looking for special Salem’s So Sweet signage at over 40 participating businesses to be entered for prizes. Look for the special signage with a unique piece of trivia inside the business. Collect trivia from at least 5 participating businesses, use the QR code on the sign to submit your trivia, and be entered to win prizes! A purchase by the customer is not required but is highly encouraged.
Currently participating businesses include:
- Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe, 234 Essex Street
- The Black Veil, 304 Essex Street
- Blackcraft, 253 Essex Street
- Chambers of Terror Haunted House, 57 Wharf Street
- Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center, 45 Charter Street
- Circle of Stitches, 78 Wharf Street
- Coffee Time Bake Shop, 96 Bridge Street
- Couch Dog Brewing, 76 Lafayette Street
- Dire Wolf Tavern, 87 Washington Street
- District Trading Company, 244 Essex Street
- East Regiment Beer Company, 31 Church Street
- Emporium 32, 6 Central Street
- Front Street Coffee House, 20 Front Street
- Harbor Sweets, 85 Leavitt Street
- Harrison’s Comics & Pop Culture, 252 Essex Street
- HausWitch, 144 Washington Street
- Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Sq W
- Hotel Salem, 209 Essex Street
- J. Mode, 17 Front Street
- Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry, 24 Front Street
- Jolie Tea Company, 316 Derby Street
- Kakawa Chocolate House, 173 Essex Street
- Longboards Restaurant & Bar, 76 Wharf Street
- Moons Gift Shop, 226 Essex Street
- Nocturne, 18 Front Street
- Pamplemousse, 185-189 Essex Street
- Popped! Gourmet Popcorn, 84 Wharf Street
- Re-Find, 72 Washington St
- Salem Bespoke Boutique, 127 Essex Street
- The Salem Flea Marketplace, 11 Dodge St Ct
- Salem Witch Museum, 19 ½ Washington Square
- The Sea Wych Salem, 1 Derby Square, 2nd Floor
- Turners Seafood, 43 Church Street
- Whimsy's, 26 Front Street
- Witch City Broom Co, 246 Essex Street
- Witch City Wicks, 302A Essex Street
- Witch House, 310 Essex Street
- Witch Pix, 172 Essex St
- Wolf Next Door Coffee, 142 Derby Street
