Tickets are still available...

We are hearing that tickets for some of the tours, programs, and events this weekend are selling out.  Here is what we know still have tickets.  This is not a complete list, so please call ahead or check online where applicable. HauntedHappenings.org has many links and listings to send you in the right direction!

These tickets will sell out, so make reservations where you can!! 

The House of the Seven Gables, 7gables.org
Spirits of the Gables 
Legacy of the Hanging Judge 

Salem Theatre Company
Chilling Tales on the Tall Ship Friendship, salemtheatre.com

The Official Salem Witches Ball, FestivaloftheDead.com

The Hawthorne Hotel, HawthorneHotel.com 
Bedlam Behind Bars Halloween Ball, Tickets on TicketWeb.com

Mahi Mahi Cruises & Charters, MahiCruises.com
Haunted Happenings Harbor Cruise
Lighthouse & Foliage Cruise 

Witches Cottage at the Griffen Theatre, WitchesCottageSalem.com
Fright Night at the Witches Cottage

The Witch House, WitchHouse.info
Eerie Evenings Tales at the Witch House


Happy Halloween!  Have fun this weekend!

Salem Witch Christian Day talks Halloween with Fox 25's A.J. Burnett

 

If you want to learn more about witches, visit any of the Witch Shops in Salem, or visit WitchVox.com.  They have a great FAQ page. 

Tickets are still available for the Salem Witches Ball, and the Festival of the Dead Psychic Fair runs through Sunday. 

Fox 25 Broadasts live from Salem... talking about the Salem Witch Museum

Stacy Tilney from the Salem Witch Museum did an awesome job this morning on Fox 25!  She spoke with A.J. Burnett from Fox 25 about the Salem Witch Museum and Salem Haunted Happenings.

 

For information on the Salem Witch Museum and all of Salem's museums and attractions that tell the stories of Salem in 1692, visit HauntedHappenings.org.

Food, Music, and Carnival Hours

You can't get into Salem too early this weekend - the earlier you arrive, the easier your travel will be. The Salem Regional Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street) is open 9am-5pm daily.  Most museums and attractions open at 10am, and most have extended hours. 

The Salem Witch Museum is open until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend!  Midnight!

The Witch Dungeon, Witch History, and New England Pirate Museums will be open until 7pm on Friday and until 9pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Radio 92.9 will be setting up their Main Stage on Saturday morning, and there will be live bands performing from 4:00 pm- 10:15 pm on both days, including Ernie and the Automatics at 8:30 pm on Saturday.  The Radio 92.9 Main Stage Music is FREE!  Yes, Free!!  The stage will be on Washington Street near Federal Street, near the MBTA train station.

The Anheiser-Busch Beer Garden will be open from 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm (last call at 9:15 pm) on Saturday and Sunday.  The beer garden will be on Federal Street, adjacent to the Main Stage.  There is no cover charge, but you must be 21+ to enter with proper ID. 

The carnival on Derby Street will be open until 9:00 pm on Thursday, Noon - 10pm on Friday and Sunday, and Noon - 11pm on Saturday.   There is not charge to enter the carnival, and ride tickets are available on site.

The food court on Salem Common will be open until 9:00 pm on Thursday, and 11:00 am - 10:00 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Food concessions on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall will be open until 10pm on Thursday and 10:00 am - 10:00 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Last, but not least, here are the times for the bands performing on the Radio 92.9 Mainstage on Saturday and Sunday. These are open-air concerts, and they are free. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

4:00… 51 Shortfalls

5:15… Fire Hazard

6:45… Honors

8:30… Ernie and the Automatics

SUNDAY,OCTOBER 31

4:00… Streight Angular

5:30… Ashlands Attic

7:00… 51 Shortfalls

8:30… The Replicas

There will also be bands performing on Salem Common, Hawthorne Boulevard (Grateful Ted and Britannica), and Front Street (Undercover Band) on Sunday evening.  Does your costume include dancing shoes?!

All of this information is, of course, subject to change.  But we hope it won't!

Photos from a visitior...

I'm not kidding when I ask you to send me your pictures of Salem! I would love to feature your pictures in a future blog post!

Today, we have pictures from Kathy, who visited with her husband from Hudson Valley, New York.  They were here over Columbus Day Weekend, and clearly caught a bit of the Zombie walk!  

Email your pictures to me at destinationsalem@gmail.com, and you could be featured in a future blog post!  If you have a really fantastic image, enter it in Destination Salem's photo contest. The submission deadline is December 1st! 

Thanks, Kathy! Glad you had fun!

Halloween visitors to Salem are urged to arrive via train or ferry

Authorities anticipate record numbers, excellent weather,and considerable traffic during this Halloween weekend

Authorities urge people planning to celebrate Halloween weekend in Salem, Massachusetts, to leave the cars at home, take advantage of public transportation, and bring their common sense.  Increased visitation during the first four weeks of October and a good forecast for Halloween weekend are expected to result in record numbers of people visiting Salem on Halloween and October 30th. 

Parking will be at a premium throughout downtown Salem this weekend, with public and private lots charging an average of $20 cash per car per day.  Visitors are encouraged to take the MBTA Commuter Rail or Salem Ferry to Salem from Boston and points north, avoiding the search for parking and the traffic backlogs that occur once garages and lots are full.  MBTA stations at Beverly and Lynn have ample parking, and are less than a 10 minute ride from the Salem Depot.  Salem’s walkable downtown makes personal vehicles unnecessary once visitors have arrived.

The MBTA has expanded commuter rail service to Salem for the weekend, and created a dedicated web page with schedules and ticket information at mbta.com/riding_the_t/haunted_happenings/. The Salem Ferry has also expanded service for Halloween weekend.  Information and the expanded schedule can be found at SalemFerry.com.

Public Safety will be a top priority of the City of Salem, and a strong police presence will be noticeable all weekend.  Downtown street closures are planned for Sunday, and closures will be executed on Saturday if deemed necessary for public safety.  Street closure and parking ban information is available at http://salempd.net/HalloweenOperationalPlan.htm.

Visitors are urged to bring their common sense, and be aware of the following rules and regulations that will be enforced during Halloween weekend:

• Disorderly conduct will not be tolerated. Salem has tougher sanctions and will be issuing tripled fines, up to $300 per violation, for infractions including public drinking, vandalism, littering, and disorderly behavior.
• Leave weapons – real or fake – at home.  They will be confiscated by police.
• Public drinking will not be tolerated. Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Salem.
• Know when the party’s over. The event ends at 10:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday night.  Visitors who are not inside private parties will be asked to depart Salem following the Ernie and the Automatics Concert on Saturday night and following the fireworks on Sunday night.  Police and Public Works Department staff will begin clearing the streets at 10:30 pm.

There will be more than 200 police on the ground this weekend, including the Essex County Tactical Unit and the Plymouth County Mounted Unit.  Surveillance cameras are installed throughout the downtown and will be monitored by police officials throughout the weekend. 

Salem is a historic, residential community, and city officials are working diligently to mitigate visitor impacts to residents, provide effective crowd control, and encourage an orderly exit out of the City when festivities conclude.  Visitors to Salem who respect the City of Salem, its residents, businesses, and law enforcement officials will have a great time celebrating Halloween and Haunted Happenings.

Free public entertainment will be provided on the Haunted Happenings Main Stage, presented by Radio 92.9, on Washington Street at Federal Street from 4pm – 10:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Additional satellite stages will feature free entertainment on Salem Common, Hawthorne Boulevard, Front Street, and Derby Street.  The month-long Haunted Happenings celebration will conclude with a brilliant fireworks display over the North River at 10:15 pm on Sunday.

For more information on Salem Haunted Happenings visit www.hauntedhappenings.org or call Destination Salem at (978) 741-3252. 

Indian Summer weather is perfect for getting out on the water

The weather forecast for this weekend looks fantastic!  Perfect for exploring Salem on foot or on the water. Here are some quick ideas for how to maximize what we imagine is the last of the good weather before winter blows in, and what we know is the last week the fantastic fall season on Salem!

Ride the Ferry!  55 minutes from Boston to Salem, and your ticket stub is good for discounts and deals on both ends through their Cruise & Play program!  SalemFerry.com

Take a Harbor Cruise!  Mahi Mahi Cruises is cruising out of Pickering Wharf during October, and their Foliage Cruises and Haunted Happenings Harbor Cruises have been selling out (so make your reservations in advance).  They've added extra foliage cruises to accommodate the demand, so you know it's a great experience!   MahiCruises.com.
  

Ernie and the Automatics will Headline the Haunted Happenings Main Stage on Saturday!

It's almost here!  Halloween is six days away,and we have programming in place for the whole weekend.  The Haunted Happenings Main Stage will be set up on Saturday morning on Washington Street at Federal Street, and the music will start at 4:00 PM.

 

Here's Saturday's line-up, presented by Radio 92.9, and headlined by Ernie and the Automatics.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30  

4:00 PM . . . 51 Shortfalls

5:15 PM . . . Fire Hazard

6:45 PM . . . Honors

8:30 PM . . . Ernie and the Automatics 

And here's Sunday's line-up, featuring the winners of the Second Radio 92.9 Battle of the Bands! 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31 

4:00 . . . Streight Angular

5:30 . . . Ashlands Attic

7:00 . . . 51 Shortfalls

8:30 . . . The Replicas

Followed by FIREWORKS at 10:15PM!

New this year:  Radio 92.9 and Anheiser Busch have partnered to bring you the first Haunted Happenings beer garden.  Located on Federal Street near the Washington Street stage, people of legal drinking age are invited to stop by for a cold beer!  The beer garden will be open from 2pm-10pm (last call at 9:30pm) on Saturday and Sunday. 

Remember to take the train into Salem this weekend!  Avoid the traffic jams and parking woes!  Visit the MBTA's special Haunted Happenings page for expanded service information. 

What's Planned for Saturday, October 23

If you stop by the Visitor Information Booth at Essex and Washington Streets this weekend, you may find yourself holding this information.  Print it out today, and you won't have to wait in line!  

Here are some highlights of what's planned for Saturday, October 23 in Salem.  These events are in addition to all of the walking tours, attractions, museums, restaurants, parties, and shops that are hoping to see you!  For complete information, visit HauntedHappenings.org.  

Food Court, Children's' Pumpkin Display & Mini Hay bale Maze

Salem Common – 11:00AM – 10:00PM

Come take a break and treat yourself to a whole host of food choices, from chicken fingers to French fries to some cotton candy or a candy apple!  Check out the pumpkin display created by Salem youngsters and let your little ones find their way through a hay bale maze

Providence Grays vs NH Granite - 19th Century Base Ball
Salem Common - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 
Experience base ball the way it was played in the 19th century! Shout Huzzah! at one of the two games on the Common.

Ask a Witch-Make a Wand

Pickering Wharf (outside Victoria Station) – 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sponsored by the Witches Education Bureau this event allows children to make a wand and ask questions about witches and witchcraft! All donations go to local charities. Every weekend in October.

Carnival – 289 Derby Street – Noon – 10:00PM

Come ride the giant Ferris wheel, take a spin on the carousel, ride the crazy bus, or for the more adventurous, checkout the Polar Express.  Games, food, fun for the whole family.

Live Music at Fountain Stage – Essex Street Pedestrian Mall – Noon- 10:00PM

Stop by the stage in the big fountain on the pedestrian mall, enjoy the music and have a cup of free hot cocoa.

Zombie Monster Mash – Salem Common – 1:30pm

Come see Michael Jackson's Thriller performed by costumed zombies.  Do you want to do the mash? Join the dance workshop from 10 am to noon at the Salem Boys and Girls Club at 13 Hawthorne Boulevard. 

Family Fright Night Movie – Salem Common – 6:00PM

Join Radio 92.9 and come get in the spirit of Halloween with your whole family.  'The Adams Family' will be on the big screen at the Salem Common gazebo tonight, so grab a blanket or chair and don't forget to dress warm.  Lots of free give-a-ways by Radio 92.9, Metro PCS & Boston Canine.

Eerie Evenings - The Witch House – 310 Essex St.  - 6:00PM-10:00PM

Come listen to eerie tales performed in the darkened rooms of this 17th century mansion.

Chilling Tales – Salem Maritime Site – Derby Street – 5:00PM – 9:00PM

The Salem Theatre Company presents a collection of eerie legends performed by professional actors in period costumes.

The House of the Seven Gables – 115 Derby Street –7:15PM – 11:00PM

Legacy of the Hanging Judge ––Scenes from the Witchcraft Hysteria are reenacted in this presentation acted in the rooms of Hawthorne's Birthplace.

Spirits of the Gables – Witness two families entangled by a curse in this presentation of the House of the Seven Gables acted in the mansion that inspired the story.

Illusions and Delusions at the PEM tonight!

Devil Music Ensemble presents The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari at the Peabody Essex Museum

8–9:15 pm | Atrium

Devil Music Ensemble returns to PEM to perform its original, haunting score during The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Noted as a masterpiece of German Expressionism, the 1920 silent film's use of distorted set design, illusion and gripping suspense set the standard for horror film making for decades to come.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari recounts the story of traveling magician Dr. Caligari and Cesare, his sleepwalking assistant. Their arrival in small German town coincides with savage killings. Francis, the narrator, describes his friend's murder and his fiancée's abduction by Cesare. Who is Dr. Caligari? Does he hypnotize Cesare to do his evil bidding? And who are the real inmates of the local insane asylum?

Featuring percussion, electric violin, vibraphone, guitar and lap steel guitar.

Tickets Available at the Door, first come, first served.  Doors open at 6:30pm.  Film starts at 8pm.

Thrill the Common!

Salem State University is hosting its third annual Thriller Monster Mash.  I love this event.  It began in 2008 as part of the global a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Thriller.  Today the event stands on its own as a highlight of Salem Haunted Happenings.

So, join the Salem State dancer in an instructional session at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 23 at the Boys & Girls Club on Hawthorne Boulevard.  You'll learn all of the super-cool moves of the undead, and at 1:30 PM you will reconvene (after a break for sustenance) to do the dance for the public on Salem Common. 

But wait! There's more! Prizes for the best Zombie costumes! 

If you aren't up for putting on your Zombie best and dancing, stop by the Common at 1:30 to watch Thriller be performed. For complete information, visit SalemState.edu/arts. Advanced reservations to participate in the dance are required.

Hope to see you on the Common on Saturday! 

NOW CASTING! "The Marriage Ref" is back, and they're looking for you!

SALEM AUDITIONS!!!

New location! Between 210-216 Essex Street on the Pedestrian Mall! 
OCT. 21^st- OCT. 23^rd

12pm-6pm

"The Marriage Ref" is a comedy panel show where celebrities help squabbling couples make peace. Created by Jerry Seinfeld himself, this is relationship advice... with a comic twist. 

"The Marriage Ref" casting team is searching the country for outgoing and opinionated married couples that have a long-standing argument or issue that must be resolved. No problem is too small or too strange!

Whether you argue about stuffing your family pet or installing stripper poles in the bedroom, we want to hear from you. Tell us why you absolutely NEED a MARRIAGE REF to weigh in and proclaim, for once and for all, who is RIGHT and who is WRONG.

Couples across America … we want to hear what absolutely makes you nuts when it comes to your partner!  Tell us your beef and you might just get the chance to state your case on TV in front of your favorite celebrities!

"In every episode, the featured spouses who win their arguments will compete for $25,000 and the distinction of being judged the 'most right' of the night."

For more information: If this sounds like you or someone you know, please contact the Casting Team IMMEDIATELY at: Dominique@TheMarriageRef.TV. Please send ONLY your email address so we can give you instructions on how to apply.  Nothing else will be accepted or reviewed so make sure you only send your email address. 

Click on the link below to watch hilarious episodes of the "The Marriage Ref":

http://www.nbc.com/the-marriage-ref/episode-guide/

Coffee Time Bakeshop is a SWEET stop!

Look at this cake! Isn't it the best?

This is one of the many creative creations of Coffee Time Bake Shop on Bridge Street.  Their apple cider donuts are the big draw in the fall.  (I'm told the cinnamon dusted are the most popular, but I prefer the glazed - yes glazed - cider donuts.) Other seasonal specials include pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cheesecake, homemade gingerbread and short-dough jack-o-lanterns. 

Yum.

Coffee Time, at 96 Bridge Street, is open 5am - 11pm daily.  Stop by for take-out, or hang out at the counter sipping coffee and eating delicious treats.  It's definitely worth at stop!

Pumpkin Decorating Contest on Salem Common

Pumpkins decorated by Salem school children were submitted to the third annual Decorated Pumpkin Competition and Display on Salem Common, presented by Fiesta Shows and the City of Salem.  There are some impressive guord creations, so if you find youself near Salem Common, stop by to check it out.  

 

The pumpkin display is adjacent to the Haunted Happenings food court, which has all of those necessary festival treats including fried dough, french fries, apple crisp, cotton candy, and hot dogs.

There's a haybale maze for kids on the Common for the rest of the month, as well.  Good wholesome fall fun! 

 

The hours for the haybale maze, food court, and pumpkin display are 12pm-6pm Sunday through Thursday and 12pm - 9pm Friday and Saturday through Halloween. 

Leave your broomstick at home and ride the T to Salem!

The MBTA has released its schedule for October 23-24 and 30-31.  Each year the T enhances their service to Salem to accommodate everyone coming in for Haunted Happenings, and we appreciate it!

If you're coming up for Halloween, look for the double-decker trains again this year! 

Visit http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/haunted_happenings/ for all of the information!

Traffic in and out of Salem for Haunted Happenings can get pretty tedious.  Take the train and you won't have to worry about it!

(Once you arrive in Salem via train, step off the train and turn to your left.  There is a stairwell at the end of the platform that will take you up to the top of Washington Street. Follow Washington Street to Essex Street, and you will find yourself at Town House Square, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and our temporary visitor information booth.  Everything in Salem is walkable, just wear comfortable shoes!!)

Salem Haunted Happenings featured in "La Presse" in Quebec

We hosted a delightful travel writer in Salem last week.  The writer, Stephanie Morin, was working on a feature about Salem Haunted Happenings for La Presse. The feature ran on Saturday, October 16, and it is a lovely travelogue of Stephanie's experiences in Salem.  Her photographs, including this one of Erik Rodenheiser from The Witches Cottage and Ghosts & Legends Trolley Tours, are wonderful, too.

You can read Stephanie's story, Salem Bewitched, (in French) here: http://www.cyberpresse.ca/voyage/etats-unis/201010/14/01-4332497-salem-envoutee.php.

3-D Frights at Salem's 13 Ghosts!

It's a haunted house time of year!  For a truly unique experience, include Salem's 13 Ghosts at 131 Essex Street on your itinerary this October.  13 Ghosts is not your ordinary haunted house - this is a 3-D experience, and it's a bit freaky.

When I wasn't being scared to scream by ghosts and ghouls hopping out of nooks and crannies, I was admiring how incredible the painting and artwork is.  There is a definite technique and art to creating an effective 3-dimensional experience, and Salem's 13 Ghosts has it.  

Just like at the movie theater, you have to wear the 3-D glasses, and you meet a few ghouls who help you find your way in the maze.  There are a few self-guided moments, including one through a darkened hallway (I was very happy just not entering this hall, but apparently there was a schedule to keep, and I had to go forward), and then there was the room with the river...  even the floors are 3-D in a few of the rooms, and I wasn't sure where to step.  That was about the point when I wanted to ditch the 3-D glasses so I could see what was where, but I was a good sport and kept them on.

Two ghosts wishing us well as we left 13 Ghosts

In addition to the Haunted House, Salem's 13 Ghosts also has a Ghost Tour that is led by costumed guides who tell stories from the town's witch trials history and the Puritan spirits that are said to still haunted Salem today.

Combination tickets are available for the haunted house and the ghost tour, and 13 Ghosts has extended weekend hours in October. Visit Salems13Ghosts.com for more information and to buy tickets online. 

Monsters Be Nice! Family fun at the Salem Wax Museum

My boys and I stopped by the Haunted Neighborhood at the Salem Wax Museum on Sunday.  I admit, I was looking for the Kettle Corn (she was at the Fryeburg Fair and will be arriving this week) and cinnamon buns (present and accounted for!), but my 4th grader thought Frankenstein's Laboratory looked much more interesting than the food vendors. 

So, we got in line.  The staff advised us that if things got too frightful, just say, "Monsters be nice!" and the monsters would let us be.  We had to wait about 10 minutes, and while in line I was able to talk a lovely couple from Connecticut.  Empty-nesters, they were in Salem doing as many Haunted Happenings as possible.  They had just emerged from the Haunted Witch Village (adjacent to Frankenstein's Laboratory, combo tickets are available) and they said it was a great scare!

Frankenstein's Laboratory was a great maze of black lights, smoke machines, and monsters.  It was very scary for my son, who did use "Monsters Be Nice!" before we reached the end, and they did listen to him and back off, which I appreciated.  

After the haunted house, all three of us went into the Salem Wax Museum, which is an historical museum that presents scenes from Salem history.  It is self guided and fully lit, which gave me the opportunity to interpret the scenes for my 1st grade in a way that I felt was appropriate.  Scenes include Nathaniel Hawthorne, Giles Corey (standing up, not lying beneath the weight of the stones), Roger Conant, who founded Salem, some of Salem's pirate hooligans, and scenes from the Salem Witch Trials.  

Giles Corey, who was pressed to death during the Salem Witch Trials

After we brushed up on our history at the Salem Wax Museum, we went downstairs into the Souvenir Factory, which is one of our favorite stops in Salem.  Not only do they have a Salem Penny Machine, but there is an opportunity to make grave rubbings (free), practice knot tying (free), stand in a jail cell (free), make spin art ($2), make a wax hand ($8.95), build a Salem bear (for a fee), and do sand art (for a fee).

Making grave rubbings

Trying out the jail cell.

 

Spin Art (remember, "less is more" when applying paint!)

We left the Salem Wax Museum with unique souvenirs in our hands, a bit of Salem history under our hats, and a chill up our spine.  It was a great stop for the family!

For more information on the Salem Wax Museum and the Haunted Neighborhood, visit SalemWaxMuseum.com.  Combination tickets are available for the Wax Museum, Witch Village, Haunted Witch Village, Frankenstein's Laboratory, Spellcasting, and their evening walking tour.