Haunted Biz Baz this Weekend!

Salem's annual Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce, is this weekend! Come browse gifts and products that will range from the brilliant to the bizarre in this wonderful fall bazaar.

From jewelry to sweaters, scarves to t-shirts, art work to massages... fried dough, hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate - it's all going to be in Salem this weekend!

Also noteworthy this weekend: It's Children's Day on Salem Common, there will be Creepy Critters at the Phoenix School, Wharf Knots on Pickering Wharf, and a haunted harbor cruise with Mahi Mahi Cruises.

Check out HauntedHappenings.org for complete listings of daily events and activities for this weekend, and every day through the end of October.

Happy Haunted Happenings!!


Thanks to Ada Roberts at the Amelia Payson House for sharing her pics of last year's Biz Baz!

An Incredible Kick-Off to the 28th Salem Haunted Happenings!

Last evening, the streets of Salem, Massachusetts filled with creatures of many kinds for the opening ceremonies and parade for the 28th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings.

The parade's theme was "A Night at the Museum." Floats, bands, walking cut-outs, posters and more focused on the theme and were executed by area schools and youth organizations. Area trolley companies and other businesses carried winning sports teams, area clubs and members of area organizations. Several student groups from Salem State College joined in the fun.

We invite residents to join us all tonight for Mayor's Night out and Trick or Treating with the Mayor. Stay tune for more pictures and coverage of this year's Salem haunted Happenings!

Photos © J. Hildebrand/Kishgraphics.

Less than 24 Hours Before Salem Haunted Happenings Begins!

Tomorrow evening children, high school bands and organizations from all over the city of Salem, Massachusetts will gather to kick off the 28th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings in a style that no other city can do.

This year's theme is "A Night at the Museum" for the parade wass created by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. Streets will begin to fill in the early evening hours with revelers. During this year's parade there is an added treat of coming early to visit the now popular Salem Main Streets Farmer's Market near Old Town Hall.

The parade starts at the Shetland Office park and ends on Salem Common near the Hawthorne Hotel. Watch the Official City website at HauntedHappenings.org or Salem.com for street closings and where to park.

Click here for street closure and parking ban information.

Click here for a parking map of downtown Salem.

For the complete calendar of events in October, visit HauntedHappenings.org or email us at info@hauntedhappenings.org and we would be happy to send you a printed brochure. The brochures are also available at the regional Simon malls, including North Shore Mall (Peabody), Liberty Tree Mall (Danvers), Square One Mall (Saugus), and Burlington Mall.

Happy Haunted Happenings, everyone! We hope you can join us for this festive month of fall, New England, and quintessential Salem. For more information about the Parade call the Salem Chamber of Commerce or Destination Salem.

Many thanks to Kishgraphics for use of the photographs above.

Family Fun at Salem Haunted Happenings!

Here's a list of family friendly events that are planned during the 28th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings. Mark your calendar and come get into the spirit of fall in Salem!


Magical Events

Salem Chamber of Commerce Grand Parade – 6pm-8pm October 1st. A Salem tradition to kick off the Haunted Happenings. Filled with pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem's students from kindergarten to college. This years theme is "Night at the Museum". Beginning in Shetland Park and ending at the Common. 978.744.0004 www.salem-chamber.org

Trick or Treat with the Mayor! – 5:30pm October 2nd. Join Mayor Driscoll for trick-or-treating at the East India Fountain. We will trick-or-treat the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall shops and inside the Museum Place Mall shops. Trick-or-Treat Bags provided. Costumes encouraged.

Blessing of the Animals – 10am –Noon October 4th. Bring your animals to Pickering Wharf to be blessed by the internationally acclaimed psychic, Diana McKanas. Call for info. Pickering Wharf – 978-740-9663

Creepy Critters – 10am-11am October 10th. Spend a fun hour creating creepy critters out of recycled materials. Create your very own zoo in a bag. Parents are welcome to participate in the activities with their childen $10 Admission-Pre-registration required Ages 3-6. 978-741-0870 Phoenix School, 89 Margin Street, Salem. www.phoenixschool.org

Halloween at Hogwarts – 9am-Noon October 17th. Grab your robe, pack your imagination in your trunk, put your owl on your shoulder and head for Track 9 3/4. Using art materials and science experiements, help Harry and his friends solve the mystery of the horcruxes and save the world. Ages 6-11 Admission is $25 with pre-registration required. Free Parking
978-741-0870. Phoenix School, 89 Margin Street, Salem. www.phoenixschool.org

The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest – 11am-4pm October 17th. Children from 5-99 may carve/decorate their pumpkin for first, second and third places in age grouped judging.
www.HalloWharf.com

National Park Service Jr. Ranger Day – 10:30am-4pm October 17th. Come dressed in costume representing a Person, animal or object connected to a National Park. Do Jr. Ranger activities and prepare to build a ship!Children in costume will also be given Free admission to the shipwright program. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children 8-12. Adult Admission $5 Children 6-16 $3.00 Children under 6 Free! For ideas on your costume visit www.nps.gov Salem Maritime 160 Derby Street St. Joseph Hall 2nd Flr.

Ms. Firefly’s School of Spirit Conjuration – 2pm-4pm October 18th. Join Salem's own Ms. Firefly as she teaches kids to conjure their own friendly ghosts! Ice cream buffet! 800.595.4TIX
www.Festivalofdead.com

Trick or Treat Night – 5:30pm – 7:30pm October 23rd. Parents with children in costume ages 14 and under are encouraged to visit Pickering Wharf retailers. No tricks just treats! Pickering Wharf. www.HalloWharf.com

Annual Children’s Costume Parade and Party – Noon – 3pm October 24th. Parade steps off at noon with competition for prizes behind Old Town Hall. Register for the parade on Salem Common at 11am-11:45am Childrens Halloween Costume Party from 1-3 pm at The Phoenix School. Join us for a kid friendly haunted house of games, and crafts. Admissions $10 for both events. In case of rain, the parade will be at the Phoenix School. Ages 3-10 Phoenix School, 89 Margin Street. Free Parking. 978-741-0870 www.phoenixschool.org

Stop by for a Spell Costume Brunch – 11am-2pm October 25th. Children are welcome to come in costume to the Hawthorne Hotel and meet our entertaining characters, decorate pumpkins, & receive Halloween treats. Tickets $28.95 for adults & children 11 & under are $15.95. Reservations by calling 978.825.4311 www.HawthorneHotel.com


Magical Feats

Kids Fun Run – 11am October 17th. Enjoy a fun run with your kids! Prizes awarded for the scariest costume, funniest costume & the most creative costume. Pre-Entry (by October 10): $7.00/child with t-shirt guaranteed. Post-entry/race day: $10.00/child (t-shirt not guaranteed). Ages 2 & under (50 yard dash on grass); Ages 3-4 (100 yard dash on grass), Ages 5-9 (1/4 mile on path around the Common), Ages 10-12 (1/2 mile on path around the Common).

Essex Baseball Club vs. Providence Grays – 12pm-5pm October 17th. Two matches played by the rules of the 1860's and 1870's. Check out the 19th century baseball exhibit on the Salem Common.

MANY THANKS!!!!!!!!!

A hardy thank you to all of our visitors who traveled to Salem's Haunted Happenings 2008! The event was a huge success. The video below is part of the Halloween evening finale.

As we now take on the task of assessing the month, we invite you to send your best photos of the city as well as gentle input. We will continue our efforts to craft Haunted Happenings as the premiere Halloween destination in the world and promote Salem as the premiere travel destination that it is.

Visit Salem.org for information on traveling to Salem during other times of the year. We will resume posting this blog as Haunted Happenings 2009 unfolds over the coming months. If you plan to travel here for next year, call and get your accommodations reservations made now if you wish to stay in town.

Have a Winter, Spring, Summer and early Fall!

SALEM PREPARES AN EXCITING HALLOWEEN FINALE!

Destination Salem and the City of Salem are promising a unique and exciting finale for Halloween revelers on October 31st.  The event, which is being sponsored and produced by VDA Productions out of Somerville, will provide revelers with an impressive sound and light show overhead that features giant shapes dancing overhead. 

This closing ceremony, which will combine music, light, and movement soaring into the night sky, will occur at the intersection of Federal and Washington Streets, will happen at 10:30 PM on Friday, October 31, and will be followed by a fireworks finale over the North River.  The entire event will provide a exciting, unique conclusion to Salem's Haunted Happenings festival and Halloween night.

"Salem residents have indicated an interest in seeing a more creative and artistic side of Halloween, and VDA brings that creativity to the table," says Destination Salem executive director Kate Fox, "They are putting together a unique, exciting finale that will appeal to all ages while providing the closing ceremonies we need on Halloween."
Bands and DJs will be situated throughout the downtown on Halloween night, including the very popular Undercover Band on Front Street and Grateful Ted on Hawthorne Boulevard.  All public music will end at 10:15, and audiences will be encouraged to venture toward the finale on Washington Street.
 
The MBTA has added additional trains for Halloween night to transport out of Salem.  The City of Salem and Destination Salem are working closely with the MBTA to communicate with potential passengers the importance of coming to Salem early and planning to be on the final trains out of Salem, which will be at 11:00 PM going inbound to North Station and 11:11 PM going northbound to Beverly.

People planning to attend Halloween in Salem are asked to remember that accessories to costumes that might look like a weapon or potentially endanger others are not permitted in the City and will be confiscated by police.

"With Halloween on a Friday night this year we are expecting very large numbers of people coming to Salem to celebrate what has become on of the biggest holidays in America," Says Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, "Enhanced police coverage will be in place, and Department of Public Services will be working overtime to ensure the City is the location of a safe, fun Halloween, and that residents will find clean, quiet streets on November 1st. Most importantly, we are encouraging anyone coming to Salem to take public transportation and to conclude their visit at the end of the closing ceremony. "

It is hoped that VDA Production's finale and the fireworks will be an annual component of Halloween, which will be on a Saturday in 2009.  The cost of the production is being sponsored by VDA Productions, Inc. and underwritten by revenue from Fiesta Shows' carnival on Derby Street.

TAKE A RIDE FOR A WITCHES-EYE VIEW OF SALEM!

On Saturday afternoon, October 25 from 10 am to 5 pm tethered hot-air balloon rides will take passengers aloft for a stunning view of the city from Washington Square. High-5 Ballooning of New Hampshire brings its "Smile High" balloon for a full afternoon of flights, open to both children and adults. (Weather Permitting!!) After many years, the glorious tradition of ballooning on the Salem Common returns, just in time for the Haunted Happenings weekend that will feature the City's first annual Oktoberfest and the Children's Costume Parade.

FAMILY FUN FEST ON THE SALEM COMMON!

This next weekend on Saturday Oct. 25 & Sunday Oct. 26, 2008 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
join the Salem Common Neighborhood Association on Salem Common for tons of Family fun!

The SCNA's "Family Fest" will feature a variety of activities and attractions, including pumpkin decoration, a kids' collaborative mural design, pony rides, music at the common bandstand, and scrumptious free samples from Rita's Water Ice of Salem. Monster Mini Golf of Danvers will also be on hand to reveal the spooky side of the putting green.