Tammy Black Day
Carlee Wright
Summer in Salem hums with the rhythm of community—the beat of live music echoing through alleyways during Make Music Day, the buzz of cultural connection at the World Beat Festival, the hush that falls over the audience as the show starts at Theatre 33.
These aren’t just events—they’re experiences, and they shape the soul of our city.
At Press Play Salem, we celebrate these moments. We highlight the creators, curators, and cultural connectors who make Salem more than just a place to live; they make it a place to belong.
But here’s the thing: arts and culture don’t thrive on applause alone. They need real, tangible support. The arts contribute more than entertainment—they drive economic impact. They create jobs, attract tourism, fill restaurants, and breathe life into our downtown. Nationally, nonprofit arts and culture generate billions in economic activity, and here in Salem, we see that ripple effect every day.
So as you flip through these pages, I invite you to do more than explore—invest. Buy the ticket. Visit the gallery. Share the story. Support the organizations and businesses working hard to make Salem a more vibrant, connected, creative place.
And we’ll keep doing our part—sharing the stories of the people, places, and things to do that make our community the incredible place it is.
Thank you for being part of our story…
Carlee Wright
Instigator (& Editor)
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 24 ( Summer 2025)
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