16th Annual Salem’s So Sweet (Salem, MA)

Date Of Visit: February 10, 2018

Locations: Throughout the city of Salem

Hours:Visible 24 hours a day, until they melt

Cost: Free

Parking:Metered street parking is available and there are two big parking garages on New Liberty St and Congress St

The Downtown Garage (New Liberty St) costs $0.75 per hour.

The Waterfront Garage (Congress St) costs $0.25 per hour.

Both garages operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.

Public Transportation: The MBTA’s Commuter Rail has a stop which deposits its passengers right at Washington St. $15 for a round trip ticket from North Station (fares vary depending upon where you leave from and where you are going)

MBTA Commuter Rail

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Salem’s So Sweet

Related Post: 2017 Salem’s So Sweet

Highlights; 24 Ice Sculptures that have light fixtures attached to them that light up at night

What says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like chocolates, champagne and chunks of carved ice? That is what Salem served up this past weekend.

The festivities began Friday, February 9 with a special Salem’s So Sweet chocolate and wine tasting event.

Unfortunately for the sculptures, we experienced a spell of warm weather over the weekend. While it gave people a chance to roam around in t-shirts and, yes in some cases shorts, the 40 to 50 degree weather did not bode will for the ice sculptures. Yes, New England weather is so predictable and cooperative.

Although the sculptures are impressive in the daylight, they really come alive during the afternoon and evening after the lights attached to their stands are turned on. The lights were put on a little before 5 and then I hustled to get all of them photographed before it got too dark.

One of the really great things about the sculptures, besides the obvious beauty and intricacy of them, is that it is great platform for businesses in the area to market themselves in a tasteful and fun way. It is also great for the visitors to learn about businesses, particularly smaller businesses, they may not have been aware of before.

I noticed almost all of the sculptures were different but were in some ways similar to the sculptures they had last year (take notice, Journeymasters). I did notice that they had a certain similar theme with the ice sculptures from last year and this year, such as the sculptures located at the Salem Witch Museum, Bit Bar and Rockafellas.

I am posting the photos of the sculptures in the order they appear on the map from 1 to 24. I will also include a photo of the sculptures before and after they were lit. Not only do the sculptures light up, some of them change colors while they’re lit. I have showed different photos displaying the different colors of the sculptures as well as videos at the bottom to show them in all of their brightness.

The first ice sculpture on the map was located on Essex St near Lappen Park (where the Bewitched statue is). This sculpture didn’t make it to end of the day. Whether it was due to a careless spectator or the result of all of the melting that took place, the top part of the sculpture was not on attached when I came back to photograph it after it was lit.

Universe sponsored by The Journeymasters

Han Solo sponsored by Gulu-Gulu Cage. Rumor has it Han was supposed to be on display during last year’s ice sculpture festival but he didn’t make it there in time. I’m glad he could join us this year.

Snowflake sponsored by Laura Lanes Skin Care.

Tank sponsored by Army Barracks.

Kissing Fish sponsored by Adriatic Restaurant And Bar.

Piggy Bank sponsored by People’s United Bank.

Princess And Frog sponsored by Maria’s Sweet Somethings.

This sculpture did not make it too far into the day either.

Dragon sponsored by Coon’s Card And Gift Shop.

Page The Dog sponsored by Bella Research Group.

Lobsterman sponsored by Turner’s Seafood.

Love Potion #9 sponsored by The Coven’s Cottage, Emporium 32, Modern Millie, Pamplemousse, Salem Trolley and The Trolley Depot.

Basset Hound sponsored by a variety of shops that are part of the Witch City Mall

Cactus sponsored by Peabody Essex Museum.

Super Mario Brothers sponsored by Bit Bar.

Cauldron sponsored by The Salem Witch Museum.

Bakery sponsored by Coffee Time Bake Shop.

Financial Wizard sponsored by Saint Jean’s Credit Union.

Lion sponsored by Jolie Tea Company.

Mug sponsored by Notch Brewery & Taproom.

Waterfront Hotel sponsored by The Regatta Pub Restaurant at the Salem Waterfront Hotel.

This one made me laugh because while I was photographing it, a child who was with her mother, asked her mom, “What is rum?” Her mom was left speechless.

Rumson’s Rum sponsored by Pirate Dog Brand/Rumson’s Rum.

The Friendship sponsored by The Waite & Pierce National Park Service Information Center and Park Service. This is a sculpture of the boat, The Friendship, that is usually docked by the Pedrick House at Derby Wharf.

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of The House of the Seven Gables, 350th Anniversary was sponsored by House Of The Seven Gables and Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie.

Of course, with the warmer weather and the special attractions, there were many people walking their dogs. Whenever I go to Salem, which if you read my blog regularly you must know is often, I always see such a wonderful array of dogs and Saturday was no different.

Meko is a 2.5 year old Schnauzer/Yorkie rescue from Arkansas.

Augie is a 2 and a half year old Pug.

Marley is a 12 week old Lab mix.

Cookie (yes like the Oreo cookie) is a 12 year old Border Collie.

Ollie is a mixed breed shelter dog.

Darwin, who was named after Charles Darwin whose boats was named the DHS Beagle.

Below are two videos of two sculptures that had lights on them that changed colors.

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