Salem Maritime Festival - Salem, MA

SAVE THE DATE! The 2024 Salem Maritime Festival will be held on Saturday, August 3^rd from 11 AM to 6:30 PM. Stay tuned for many more details yet to come.

NPS

Join us for the annual Salem Maritime Festival on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Derby Street. This event is free and open to the public. Salem Maritime Festival will feature musicians, a magician, visiting vessels, historic craft demonstrators, and hands-on activities.

The day will kick off the Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta. Teams of two will test their engineering, ingenuity, and artistry by building homemade boats constructed on cardboard and duct tape. Launching from Derby Beach in a series of heats, teams will race to paddle their cardboard boats in the Salem Sound.

Schedule of Events

11:00 am - 1:00 pm: The Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta (races and award ceremony)
12:00 noon - 6:00 pm: Demonstrators, exhibits, and activities
12:45 pm - 6:30 pm: Live music and entertainment
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Free kayak and paddleboat rentals
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Reopening of the Salem Custom House