Visiting Salem, Massachusetts this Halloween season
People wait in line to board the Salem Trolley tour shuttle, which offers tours of the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: Kate Fox
Nearly 400 years old, the city of Salem has tons of history, but it’s most famous for the tragic witch trials that took place there in the 17th-century, which transformed this community into a must-see Halloween destination. If the spooky holiday season is your favorite time of year, Salem is a place you should visit and here’s why.
CURRENT COVID POLICIES
The City of Salem currently has an indoor mask mandate in place until Nov. 13, and the state requires masks to be worn while on all forms of public and private transportation (including taxis and ride shares) and in any health care facilities. The city also requires anyone attending an indoor event with more than 100 people between Oct. 1 and 31 to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event to enter, even if you’re already vaccinated. For more information visit salem.com. Visitors to Salem can also download the Destination Salem app, which provides updates on all the things there are to try, do and see in the city (salem.org).
EXPLORE AND TOUR
Sarah Black, a guide with the Bewitched After Dark touring company, leads a group on a tour of notable sights found around Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: Kate Fox
Salem is packed with historic buildings — some with history connected to the witch trails, others that are said to be haunted. Several tours are available to join, including the Bewitched After Dark historical tour (180 Essex St.; 978-498-4061, bewitchedafterdark.com), which hosts at least one tour daily through October; Tickets are $30 (children 7 and younger are free).
Giovani Alabiso, a guide with the Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tours and Salem Historical Tours company, leads a group around the city of Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: John Andrews
Try a haunted walking tour with Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tours and Salem Historical Tours company (8 Central St.; 978-745-0666, salemhistoricaltours.com), which will lead a "Salem Village Witch-Hunt Tour" (on Oct. 2, 9, 23, 30) and then daily tours that cover general history, a "1692 Witchcraft Walk" that focuses on the witch trials and both midday and evening "ghost tours" of allegedly haunted locations (rates vary per tour).
These remains, part of a parsonage, are directly connected to the 1692 witch trials held in Salem, Massachusetts. It can be visited as part of the "Salem Village Witch-Hunt Walking Tour." Credit: Giovanni Alabiso
Salem Black Cat Tours (28 Charter St.; 978-239-9145, blackcatsalem.com) also hosts historic daytime tours and ghost-centric evening explorations and also offers an adults-only late-night "Moonlight Prowl" on Fridays and Saturdays. Locations along the walk relate not only to the city’s past and the witch trials, but to places said to have inspired horror writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Tickets available via the website: $22, $10 ages 7-12, free 6 and under; the prowl is $18.
People look out the windows at the sights found around the city of Salem, Massachusetts while aboard the Salem Trolley tour shuttle. Credit: John Andrews
The Salem Trolley (8 Central St.; 978-744-5469, salemtrolley.com) goes out daily and passes by locations of historical and haunted nature. Tickets are available in person for $20; $10 ages 6-14, free 5 and younger.
WHERE TO EAT
The Hawthorne Hotel
A view of the bar space inside The Tavern restaurant at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: Lightshed Photography
Whispers and chills have been reported in rooms and apparitions have been said to show up in the hallways here, and the longtime general manager says she ran into a ghost in the basement; it has also been purported that the children of Nathaniel Hawthorne haunt the third floor. The menu consists of American food including burgers, appetizers and entrees like Statler chicken, coconut-curry bowl or haddock.
INFO 18 Washington Square W.; 978-744-4080, hawthornehotel.com
Rockafellas
A bartender at Rockafellas bar and grill in Salem, Massachusetts, crafts a "Poizon Apple Martini," a drink served in a beaker during the holiday season. Credit: Michael Kelson
Rockafellas menu consists of American fare but this bar and grill also has an October drink menu that offers Halloween-inspired cocktails, such as the "Poizon Apple Martini" — served in a beaker — and a drink known as the "Helltini," reportedly so spicy customers must sign a waiver before attempting to guzzle it down.
INFO 231 Essex St.; 978-745-2411, rockafellasofsalem.com
Boston Burger Company
This spot specializes in large and unusual burgers, like "The Sophie" (prosciutto, goat cheese, candied walnuts, fig jam, mixed greens, lemon vinaigrette, balsamic reduction) and the "Artery Clogger" (beer-battered and deep fried burger, bacon, BBQ sauce, American cheese). It also stars a menu of "Freak Frappes," such as the "Churro-Ly We Can Taco Bout It" (caramel frappé with a choco taco, churros, caramel, chocolate syrup, cinnamon toast crunch cereal) and the "Hard Apple Pie A La Mode" (hard cider, vanilla ice cream, caramel, cinnamon sugar, graham cracker rim); a Halloween Special was to be released Oct. 1.
INFO 133 Washington St.; 978-414-5910, bostonburgercompany.com
THINGS TO DO
There are several events taking place across Salem during October. Some larger gatherings include the fireworks show to be held at 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 31 in downtown Salem over the North River, the "Hollowed Harvest," a family-friendly collection of landscapes created using thousands of jack o’lanterns (daily until Oct. 31; $20, kids $16, 3 and younger free, hollowedharvest.com).
"The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming" at the Peabody Essex Museum
The exterior of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: Allison White
This new exhibition digs deeply into the history and legacy of the 1692 witch trials. The museum features Salem witch trial materials, including more than 500 original documents — but this program also includes interviews, art, photography, fashion and more. Runs through March 20. Open Thursdays through Sundays (and Columbus Day): $20; 16 and younger are free.
INFO 161 Essex St.; 866-745-1876, pem.org
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
These statues are among the many on display within the Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery in Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: James Lurgio
Intended to attract movie monster fans, this museum provides patrons the opportunity to wander among statues of a wide variety of cinematic vampires, werewolves and other beasts. Presented with lighted placards, the gallery is available for self-guided touring, and new additions are made every year, so even those who’ve been through before may find new things to see. Timed tickets are available for $13 through the gallery website.
INFO 217 Essex St.; 978-740-0500, nightmaregallery.com
Halloween parties at The Hotel Salem
Attend a Halloween bash in this hotels subterranean Cellar event space. The "Redrum Halloween Party" takes place Oct. 23, followed by the "Nightmare on Essex Street" bash on Oct. 30. Both are $59, 21 and over and feature a live DJ, dancing, food stations, drink specials, food stations and a costume contest. Purchase in advance through the hotel’s website.
INFO 209 Essex St.; 978-451-4950, thehotelsalem.com
Pentagram: Witchcraft and Magick Shoppe
These are a few of the many items relating to witchcraft and magick available at Pentagram, a shop owned and operated by witches in Salem, Massachusetts. Credit: Tim Reagan and Leanne Marrama
This shop specializes in items crafted by local witches, including a selection of witchcraft tools, ritual candles, divine oils, herbs, books and jewelry. The store also offers psychic readings involving astrology, rune, tarot, past lives and mediumship (communicating with loved ones who have died).
INFO 282 Derby St., Salem; 978-224-2925, pentagramsalem.com
