Spring in Salem, outside again

Spring in Salem NH starts slowly and ends with a rush: the town’s egg hunt in March or April, trails drying out in April, the farmers market moving outdoors in May and Canobie Lake Park opening for the season in mid-May. Here is what to expect from March to early June. Event dates are announced each year, so we give 2026’s as a guide.

Canobie Lake Park opens in May

Canobie Lake Park opens in mid-May, on weekends only at first. In 2026 opening day was Saturday, May 16, with weekend hours of 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Weekday hours started June 3. The Castaway Island water park opened May 23, ran weekends only until June 19, and was also open Memorial Day.

The 2027 opening date has not been announced, but it will be a milestone season: the park opened in 1902, so 2027 marks 125 years. Season passes for 2027 are on sale now.

• Basic pass: good any day in 2027 except Saturdays and Sundays in July and August and Saturdays during Screeemfest.
• Platinum pass: good any day in 2027, no restrictions.
• Who needs one: every family member over age 3.

All tickets are sold online at canobie.com, and day prices vary by date. Our Canobie Lake Park tips cover early-season crowds and what to ride first, and Canobie’s history tells how a trolley company built it.

Spring in Salem NH: events on the calendar

These Town events come back every spring. Dates are announced each year on news.salemnh.gov, and many need registration at salemnh.myrec.com.

• Easter Egg Hunt at Hedgehog Park: free and open to the public, for children of elementary school age and younger, in two age groups (0–5 and 6 and up). In 2026 it was Saturday, March 28, with check-in at 10 a.m. and hunts at 11 a.m., followed by a new low-sensory scavenger hunt.
• Fishing Derby: sponsored for years by the Greater Salem Rotary Club. In 2026 it was May 2, with registration at 8:30 a.m.
• Memorial Day ceremony and parade: in 2026 it began at 10:30 a.m. at Pine Grove Cemetery on Main Street. Marchers then walked to Salem Common, where the ceremony continued at 11 a.m. The Salem Police Department organizes it with the Salem Area Veterans Association.
• Town Forest Clean-Up: a Saturday morning of trail work. In 2026 it was May 30 at 9 a.m.; bring gloves and tools.
• Garden plots at Hawkins Farm: free for Salem residents who sign up through salemnh.myrec.com, a good reason to start seedlings in March.
• Spring equinox at America’s Stonehenge: the site says that on the spring and fall equinoxes, the rising sun lights a quartzite stone inside its Watch House Chamber. Mainstream archaeologists dispute the site’s claims of ancient builders, so treat the astronomy as the site’s own account.

Trails, parks and fresh air

• Salem Bike-Ped Corridor: the 4.95-mile rail trail on the old Boston & Maine line, paved from North Broadway to Main Street. South of Main Street it is unpaved, so expect mud in early spring. See our rail trail guide.
• Salem Town Forest: walking, running, biking and horseback riding, with dogs on leash, open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The trailhead is on Shadow Lake Road.
• America’s Stonehenge: beyond the half-mile loop through the stone site, there are nature trails, a pollinator garden and the Susan M. Hodge Bluebird Sanctuary. Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; adults $19.
• Field of Dreams Park: a volunteer-run park at 48 Geremonty Drive with a playground and toddler area, an outdoor fitness trail, hiking trails and picnic areas.
• Hedgehog Park: the walking path around Hedgehog Pond is a good first spring stroll. Swimming starts Memorial Day weekend, when parking fees begin.

Our guide to parks in Salem has every green space in town.

Outdoor dining returns

When it warms up, Salem eats outside again. The Salem NH Farmers Market moves from the Fisk School back to The Mall at Rockingham Park in May, next to The Field at DICK’S House of Sport, on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Tuscan Village: the seasonal Sam Adams Pavilion beer garden has cornhole, giant Jenga and Connect Four. The Sun Cruiser Social Club pours drinks from open-air container bars, with lawn games, live music and fire pits. Tuscan Market seats diners on a heated, enclosed patio.
• Tavern in the Square: a two-floor tavern at 16 Via Toscana with an outdoor patio, pub food and weekend brunch.
• Black Water Grill: a chef-owned grill at 43 Pelham Road with an outdoor deck. On Friday and Saturday nights there is live acoustic music in the lounge.
• The Rooftop at The Artisan: cocktails and small plates with a view over Tuscan Village.

Hours change as patios open for the season, so call before you go. Restaurant meals carry New Hampshire’s 8.5% meals tax. For a full list, see our guide to Tuscan Village restaurants.

A spring Saturday in Salem

Start on the rail trail at Main Street, where the restored depot has restrooms and water, and walk north on the paved section. Drive to America’s Stonehenge for the half-mile loop and the Susan M. Hodge Bluebird Sanctuary; allow about an hour for the loop. Have a late lunch on the patio at Tuscan Market, then browse the Tuscan Village shops. If it is mid-May or later, finish the day at Canobie Lake Park, which in 2026 stayed open until 7 p.m. on early-season weekends. For a two-day plan, see our Salem weekend itinerary.