Public Safety Advisory for Halloween night in Salem

Since Halloween is on a Saturday, and since the weather forecast for the weekend is looking pretty darn nice, the City of Salem is prepared for nearly 100,000 people to celebrate Halloween in bewitching Salem.

If you are planning to celebrate in Salem, please help us keep Halloween safe and fun by bringing your common sense and heeding the following advice:

• Take public transportation. The MBTA has added extra train service from the North and South. The Salem Ferry is connects Blaney Street, Salem, with Long Wharf North, Boston. We anticipate considerable motor vehicle traffic coming into the city, and parking will be at a premium. Thus, public transportation is strongly encouraged.

• Plan to depart after the Halloween Fireworks. Halloween is a great street festival in Salem. In addition to bands and DJs performing on five stages around the downtown, Radio 92.9 is producing a Main Stage Concert featuring Dick N Jane, playing at 7:30 PM, and the Dancing Nancy Band, a Dave Matthews Band cover band, playing at 9:30 PM, . Dancing Nancy will perform on a temporary stage at the top of Washington Street (between Federal and Bridge Streets) from 9:15 - 10:45 PM followed by fireworks over the North River at 10:45.

The fireworks are the conclusion of the public Halloween celebration and the end to the evening. Police and Public Works Departments will begin clearing streets and moving crowds out of the city immediately following the fireworks. Visitors should expect to depart Salem after the fireworks (approx. 11pm), which is timed to coordinate with the last trains out of Salem.

• Visitors coming to Salem should be on their best behavior. Given the larger numbers, the City has adopted tougher sanctions for disorderly behavior. Uniformed police officers will be brought in from eight other communities to support Salem Police in their efforts ensure the safety of all Halloween revelers.

Fines for any disorderly conduct during Halloween evening, such as drinking in public, vandalism, littering, disorderly behavior, have been tripled up to $300 per offense, the maximum amount allowed under the law.

Surveillance Cameras are installed throughout the downtown and will be monitored by Police officials throughout the evening. These cameras will aid downtown enforcement efforts.

• Leave weapons - real or fake - at home. Police will be confiscating these items.

• Public drinking will not be tolerated. Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Salem.

Salem, Massachusetts is recognized internationally as one of the best destinations to celebrate Halloween and the month-long Haunted Happenings festival. Salem is pleased to present live music throughout the downtown on Halloween night, as well as a carnival and food vendors.

We encourage our guests and visitors to bring their common sense to the celebration, and respect the City of Salem, and its 42,000 residents. Through public cooperation the city will maintain a fun and safe downtown environment for all.

For more information on Salem Haunted Happenings visit hauntedhappenings.org.