Plans are coming together for the City of Salem’s Bicentennial Celebration that will be held on Friday, June 30th, and Saturday, July 1st.
The activity will kick off at seven pm on Friday, June 30th when the Salem Community Band and Choir will be performing selections of Salem’s past junior high and high school bands at 7 PM. The concert will be held at Salem Community High School’s B.E. Gum Gymnasium. Admission is free.
On Saturday, July 1st a day full of activities at Bryan Memorial Park is planned. A 5k race sponsored by the Marion County YMCA will kick off the day at 8:30 AM. Registration is now open through the Marion County YMCA at Salem City Hall or online at www.gwrymca.org/marioncounty.
A sand volleyball tournament is also planned. Sand volleyball teams need to register in advance for the tournament by emailing alaird35@gmail.com.
Events continue through the afternoon with the Salem Rotary and other civic organizations hosting various historic portrayals and displays, along with the 1st Illinois Battery D Light Artillery Reenactment Group.
A variety of food trucks will be set up on G.A.R. Drive near the band stage with operating hours of 11 AM – 9 PM. A vendor fair is also in the works. If any craft vendor is interested in participating, please contact Tabitha Meador at Salem City Hall at 618-548-2222 extension 20.
From 3 – 9 PM, there will be live music on the stage. The line-up of performers is still being finalized.
Salem’s traditional fireworks display is planned for nine Tuesday evening, July 4th. The city council earlier voted to put on a $25,000 display this year instead of the traditional $15,000 spent in the past due to the Bicentennial year.
Commemorative t-shirts for the Bicentennial are now available for advance purchase by going to https://salembicentennial.itemorder.com/shop/home/ The deadline to order shirts is Sunday, June 18.
