Salem 4th Of July Fireworks Celebration Postponed For 2021

SALEM, MA — There will be no fireworks on the Fourth of July for the second straight year in Salem.

Only this year, the hope is it is more of a postponement than a cancellation.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said because of statewide coronavirus-related outdoor gathering restrictions currently in place through July the city will not be able to hold its traditional July 4th celebration concert and fireworks at Derby Warf.

However, she said a special celebratory fireworks display is now tentatively planned for Heritage Days in August when all state business restrictions are scheduled to expire.

"We continue to do all that we can to keep our community safe for everyone," Driscoll said. "Unfortunately, even with the improving public health metrics, we will not be in a place where the city or the National Park Service believes we will be able to safely gather on Derby Wharf in July.

"It's far too important that we continue to slow the spread of COVID. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to our historic waterfront to celebrate on July 4, 2022."

Gov. Charlie Baker last week said that many business restrictions will be eased throughout May with gathering limits increasing to 200 people indoors and 250 outdoors for everywhere except large-capacity arenas such as Fenway Park and TD Garden, which will be able to operate at 25 percent capacity.

Baker said all state restrictions are planned to expire on Aug. 1 — though that date could be sooner if vaccination rates remain high and coronavirus-related hospitalizations, case counts and the positive test rate are low.

"We need to continue to see the kind of momentum that we have seen on vaccinations going forward over the next six weeks — deep into the month of May (to move up the Aug. 1 ending date) — which I fully expect is possible," Baker said.

Driscoll reminded residents that individual fireworks possession and use in Massachusetts is against the law. There were rampant reports of fireworks use in neighborhoods leading up to July 4 when the municipal celebration was canceled in 2020.

"The use of fireworks is illegal in Salem and, around July 4th, fines are increased for illegal fireworks," the city said. "Avoid the risk of serious injury to yourself or your loved ones, and the risk of significant fines.

"Do not detonate fireworks in Salem."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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