A recap of the 2023 edition of the music and arts festival in Salem, MA.

The town famous for its witch scene got a little witchy at the start of September, playing host to the second Hope Fest. The 2023 edition featured 39 artists, spanned 4 venues, and raised money for NAGLY, North Shore Alliance for GLBTQ+ Youth. Find out more about how to get involved with NAGLY and/or donate at their website.

The all-day music affair was held at Bit Bar, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, Chagall PAC, and Old Town Hall. Each venue held its own special charms. The bleeps and bloops of the arcade paradise at Bit Bar. The aroma of fresh coffee and cozy confines of Gulu-Gulu Cafe. The open-air thoroughfare of Chagall PAC by day, and the gallery interior by night. And the stately, colonial-era vaulted ceilings of Old Town Hall.

Don’t forget the vendors! The marketplace in front of Old Town Hall vouchsafed a cynosure of craft and artisanal bliss. Herbs, oils, soaps, and statues. Beads, brooms, headgear, and hand towels. Paintings, portraits, pickles, and pantaloons. Everything to please the witch or warlock in your life.

With a successful 2023 under their belt, will the organizers behind Hope Fest offer an encore performance in 2024?

Only time will tell…

Performers…

Circus Trees // Rilla Force // Pink Navel // Mallcops // ???? // Lusus // 5ever // The P.A.’s // Hyber // Perennial // Zaafir // Justin Arena // New Forms // Nectarine Girl // Time and Place // Saint James // Fat Randy // Ezra Cohen & The Big City Band // Conor Ryan Hennessy // Sleepjumper // Pink Slip // The Promised End // Blackbyrd // Mike’s Carwash // ???? // Cozy Throne // Tatooine Punk Scene // Julian Mendoza // Lobohombre // Randi Woodelle // Jiddo // Dylan Weinand // Only Child // Megan From Work // Kristine Mayehu // TIFFY // JVK // Daphne Blue Underworld // Bad At Drawing

Find out more at hopefestma.com.