Heritage Days nears

Heritage Days is a 10-day-long  series of family-oriented festivities held in the city each summer. The city organizes the event in collaboration with groups ranging from the National Park Service and the Salem Chamber of Commerce to Salem Main Streets, and the Salem Y.

Friday's opening event is a concert from 7-9 p.m. on Derby Wharf in the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

On Saturday, the maritime festival will continue 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  at the maritime site. The event will feature seaside kite flying and other educational children's activities, along with traditional music, craft demonstrations and horse-drawn wagon rides. The tall ship Friendship of Salem will be joined by three visiting ships. Other Saturday events will include a display of Vintage Edsel cars on Salem Common from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday's events will include the YMCA Witch City Triathalon from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Forest River Park;  and Historic Salem's annual 5K road race at 9 a.m. starting at the Salem Visitor Center on New Liberty Street.

Other events for the week will include the YMCA's pizza tasting contest on Monday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.;  Salem Main Street's ice cream bowl at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10,  and the Witches Cup Bike Race on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.,  all at the common. 

For a full listing of Heritage Days events, go to www.salem.com.