February 2016 – Salem Happenings

Ice Skating at Boston Common Frog Pond

The weather’s starting to get warmer, which means that if you’re an ice skating fan, time is starting to run out. In fact, with spring right around the corner, this weekend could very well be your last chance to get on the ice before it all starts to melt. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a place to skate, there is probably no better place in the Boston area than the Boston Common Frog Pond. This is because from the end of November to the middle of March, the Frog Pond becomes one of the most popular outdoor ice skating rinks around. The Boston Common Frog Pond, which is open for skating from 10:00 A.M. to 3:45 P.M. on Mondays, 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. every other day of the week (weather permitting), is also relatively inexpensive. Best of all, skaters that are 57 inches or shorter can skate for free as long as they have their own skates (you can rent skates at the Frog Pond for a rate of $12 per day for adults and $6.00 per day for Children.) For more information on the Winter Ice Skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond, please visit the Boston Common Frog Pond’s Winter Programs page.

Photo credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Visualhunt / CC BY-ND

Lunar New Year Redux

Did you completely miss out on the Lunar New Year festivities earlier this month? Are you looking for a way to celebrate the Year of the Monkey or are you just looking for an excuse to celebrate something. Well, if you are, you’re in luck because the festivities haven’t ended yet. In fact, the Chinese Folk Art Workshop is hosting a Chinese New Year Celebration at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts tomorrow (Saturday, February 20, 2016) from 4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. This event will allow you to see a group of talented dancers in colorful costumes performing a series of traditional Chinese dances that incorporate elements of Chinese mythology and philosophy. For more information on the Chinese New Year Celebration at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, which has a suggested donation of $7.00, please visit the Inquilinos Boricuas En Acción (IBA) Boston Event page.

Photo credit: EpicFireworks via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Lunar New Year Weekend Festival

Last week, I talked about the annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, and I have to admit that sometimes I just don’t understand people. The event, which was supposed to be a fun way for people to explore the city and see some magnificent works of frozen art, was marred by the actions of a small group of young mischief-makers who thought it would be fun to ransack some of the ice sculptures. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can understand, especially at a young age, the desire to reach out and break something when you’ve had a rough day and/or you’re feeling more than a little mischievous. However, there must be a better way to channel these impulses than destroying other people’s hard work and potentially earning yourself jail time and/or a hefty fine in the process. In fact, I would have to imagine that some of these individuals are probably thinking that they would like a do-over on this one because trying to explain to a judge or jury why you destroyed three ice sculptures valued at approximately $325 each seems like the complete opposite of fun to me.

Of course, actual do-overs are not usually an option in life, but there may be a way for you to “reset” your year in a figurative sense. You see, it just so happens that this past Monday was the Lunar New Year, so if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the occasion and start the year fresh, you may want to head over to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. This is because the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is hosting their Lunar New Year Weekend Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, February 13, 2016.) This event will allow you and your family to design your own Chinese lantern, watch a number of dancing performances (including lion dances and ribbon dances), listen to music played on traditional Chinese instruments, and more. For more information on the Lunar New Year Weekend Festival at the PEM, please visit the Peabody Essex Museum’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: aotaro via VisualHunt / CC BY

14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival

The big game is this weekend, and it’s definitely looking like it will be a game to remember even though the Patriots aren’t in it (I know. I feel your pain.) In fact, even if the Panthers/Broncos matchup doesn’t live up to all of the hype, it certainly appears that all of the performances and commercials that the NFL has lined up for Super Bowl 50 will make it a spectacle for the ages. However, if you have a loved one who isn’t really into football and you want to do something with them before the big game (perhaps so you can drag them to a Super Bowl party without feeling guilty), you may want to head over to Salem this weekend (especially if your loved one is a fan of sweets.)

This is because the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival is scheduled to begin at 6:30 P.M. tonight (Friday, February 5, 2016). This festival, which runs until Sunday evening (February 7, 2016), will feature 23 ice sculptures (weather permitting), discounted trolley rides (also weather permitting), and discounts at a number of locations throughout downtown Salem. As a result, if you’re looking for a great way to check out Salem or you’re just looking for a way to take your significant other out for the night without breaking the bank, the Salem So Sweet Festival is definitely the way to go. For more information on the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, please visit Salem’s So Sweet on Facebook or visit the Salem Main Streets website.

Photo via VisualHunt