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.

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!

PARTIES ON HALLOWEEN WEEKEND IN SALEM!

Here are the parties this Halloween weekend that we have in our scheduling so far. Many have sold out or are close to selling out. Once everyone is filled to capacity there are many area restaurants and pubs that will be open also. So make reservations today!

October 30
The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead - 6:30pm - 10pm Hawthorne Hotel.
The Salem Witches honor the dead with a sumptuous dinner observed in silence as touching music plays. 800.595.4TIX • FestivalOfTheDead.com

October 31
Halloween Finale - Federal & Washington Streets
The 27th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings will conclude with an original sound and light show produced by VDA Productions, Inc., of Somerville, MA. The closing ceremony will combine music, light, and movement soaring into the night sky 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. In addition to the finale, 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 before leaving Salem via MBTA or private transportation at the conclusion of Salem Haunted Happenings and the Halloween Festivities, which will be at 11:00 PM. 978.741.3252 • HauntedHappenings.org

Celebrate Halloween at Crunchy Granola Baby! - 3pm - 5pm • 72 Washington St.
Throw on your best costume with your little ones and enjoy organic treats. 978.741.0800 • CrunchyGranolaBaby.com

Sixty2 on Wharf Halloween Cocktail Party - 7pm - 12pm • 62 Wharf St.
Join Sixty2 on Wharf for our very first Halloween cocktail party. Friday, October 31st. from 7pm to midnight for a night that will wake the dead. You will enjoy complimentary passed hors d'oeuvres and appetizers from our menu and creative halloween cocktails from our cash bar. We'll also be featuring live music by our very own bartender and local musician Derek Rando. Costumes are a must as well as 21+. Door prize will be given to the most spooktacular costume!! Space is limited so please call 978 744 0062 or stop by and reserve today! Cost is $35 per person. Tax not included
978-744-0062 • 62onwharf.com

The Hawthorne Hotel's Carn-Evil Creep Show Costume Ball - 8pm - 12am • Hawthorne Hotel
Three floors of entertainment, fun and food. Tickets are $90 per person. Live entertainment featuring the popular band "HUSH", DJ's, limited edition t-shirt, and photo. Costume contest with $1500 in cash prizes. Must be 21 years of age or older with proper ID at the door. Tickets can be purchased on our website or call. 978.744.4080 • HawthorneHotel.com

Salem's Witches present A Feast to the Spirits - 8pm - 12am • Lyceum Restaurant
In honor of the Little Lost Ghost discovered at the Lyceum as seen on the Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters". An evening of ritual, dhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifelectable food, fun, and a time to honor the spirits around us. Tickets are limited. Cost $90 per person. Purchase at Crow Haven Corner. 978.745.8763 • CrowHavenCorner.net

Halloween at Capt's Topsides - 8pm - 12am • 94 Wharf St.
Put on your best costume and join us for a party overlooking the haunted harbor of Salem. Music, costume prizes, great food included, cash bar. Cost: $50 advance/$60 at the door per person. Call for tickets & reservations. 978.741.0555 •

November 1
The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball - 7:30pm - 12:30am • Hawthorne Hotel
18+ Join the Salem Witches with guests Fiona Horne, Wendy Rule, and Dragon Ritual Drummers for the event AOL rates among America's top Halloween parties! Free readings! $1,000 prize! 800.595.4TIX • FestivalOfTheDead.com

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.

Dig out the Lederhosen and Dirndls! Its time for Oktoberfest!!

The upcoming weekend it filled with many new events for Haunted Happenings!!! This year's Witch City Haunted Oktoberfest is bringing back old traditions from Salem's history with new twists in the middle of downtown Salem on Front Street. Opening festivities begin on Friday evening, October 24, 2008 and continue through October 26, 2008.

Beer will be provided by local, award-winning Ipswich Ale. Traditional German and New England fare, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. On Saturday and Sunday, children may attend under the supervision of their parents until 6 pm. Live entertainment will be provided all weekend. ID will be required.

Tickets can be purchased at Pamplemousse or online at WitchCityOktoberfest.com or at MKTix.com! Tickets will also be available at the door.

Schedule of events:

October 24, 7-10 p.m.
An Evening With Charmed & Dangerous
Tickets $25 per person. ID will be required.
Ticket includes first beer and the evening entertainment. This is a special performance with a Halloween and German cabaret performance of Charmed and Dangerous to kick the weekend off. The group is a blend of the comedy and cabaret bawdy beauties and hilarious hombres. No bone will be left un-tickled.

October 25, noon to 9 p.m.
Buddy Walker's Warszawiaki Orchestra and Charmed & Dangerous
Tickets $20 per person. ID will be required. Children free. Ticket includes first beer, entertainment and a gift for the first 1500 people for the day!
Buddy Walker and the Warszawiaki Orchestra is a well-known and established local group from Salem, Massachusetts, playing for the dancing pleasure throughout New England for over fifty years at dances, socials, weddings, and about any affair where good music is in demand since 1949. The Charmed and Dangerous group will also perform.


October 26, noon to 6 p.m.
The Bavarian Hofbrau Band and Charmed and Dangerous
Tickets $20 per person. Children free. Ticket includes first beer, entertainment and a gift for the first 1000 people for the day!
The Bavarian Hofbrau Band was founded over twenty years ago by a group of musicians from the North Shore of Boston playing good, solid German music. The Charmed and Dangerous group will also perform.

See you all this weekend on the dance floor!

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.

Food, Drink and Delicious Treats!

There are so many wonderful places to dine in Salem. For the past several years it is the restaurant scene here that has added greatly to the renaissance of the city. No matter what you want you will find it here.

For coffees, teas and sweet treats try one of our coffee and tea shops....Gulu Gulu Cafe near the Bewitched statue serves not only the usual coffee and tea selection but has a delightful selection of wines and beers in the evening hours. Coffee Time Bakeshop is a must stop on your way home! Pick up a wonderful cake, cookies, scones or fresh donuts.

Lots of people who come here want to know where to get good seafood. Wow...where can you not get good seafood! Almost every restaurant carries seafood of some kind. Lobster rolls seem to be widely requested. Capt's Waterfront, Finz and the Lobster Shanty have awesome and different renditions of this classic New England fare. Capt's and Finz along with Victoria Station also have great steaks. At Capt's you can enjoy freshly cooked food on a charcoal grill. On a warm fall afternoon also all three places have outdoor seating.

If you are looking for a good burger or lunch menu go to the pubs at the Hawthorne Hotel Tavern, The Regatta Pub at the Waterfront Hotel or Victoria Station! Elegant evening dinners can be had at Nathaniel's at the Hawthorne Hotel or at Strega's on Lafayette Street.

For an evening cocktail...Salem has some great martini locations. Strega has received awards for their list of Halloween oriented martini's. Add to it the great gothic style atmosphere you can relax and watch the crowds walk by. And don't forget to stop by Pamplemousse for their free mead and wine tastings on the weekends.

If you know you are coming to town, look over our restaurant sponsors and sponsors of Destination Salem and make your reservations before you come here. Restaurants fill up quickly and waiting lines are common!

Take the Salem Ferry and the T from Boston!

With parking at a premium here in town this month it is highly suggested that travelers from Boston take the Salem Ferry or the T from North Station to Salem.

The Salem Ferry docks at the Boston Aquarium for pickups in Boston and drops folks in Salem at Blaney Wharf, two blocks from The House of the Seven Gables, CityView Trolley and Salem Trolley both pick up passengers at Blaney Wharf for a fee for transport to the downtown area while getting a delightful tour. These trolleys offer hop on and off service all day long once you purchase your tickets.

The T comes right into downtown Salem from North Station. Once in Salem Station, walk up the stairs and the city is there waiting for you to have fun!

Both options offer ease getting in and out of Salem and you get to save gas and the environment! A great solution for so many reason!

Ms. Firefly's School, Haunted Trolley Rides and Parties This Weekend!

This weekend for children is Ms. Firefly's School of Spirit Conjuration! Join Ms.Firefly in some delightful fun as she shows children how not to be afraid of the spirits and how to conquers fears of the unknown! This playful workshop for kids is fun and Ms. Firefly's delightful sense of humor makes it fun for all ages. Participants will make special masks, magic wands and enjoy a ice cream buffet, hot cocoa and cider as well as coffee for our adult friends who attend! Tickets can be purchase online at www.FestivalOfTheDead.com.

A new kind of trolley ride has come to town and it a fun addition to the lineup of things to do in Salem! Hop on Tales & Tombstones if you dare for a grave undertaking! This new evening trolley tour is run by CityView Trolley this October! Listen to eerie tales of Salem's past from costumed guides as you journey this spooky tour around town.

Tours depart nightly at 7 pm and 9 pm from the CityView Trolley offices at 131-2 Essex Street near the Salem Visitor Center. Visit Tales & Tombstones for more information. Children are welcome though portions may be scary.

This weekend also begins the party season here in the Witch City! The Retro Zombie Ball begins at 8 pm on Saturday evening, October 11 at Finz on Pickering Wharf. The event is sponsored by Festival of the Dead. Dance to music of the 70's and 80's and old zombie songs, watch the Zombie-a-Go-Go Dancers drink a Toxic-tini or Eyeball Highball! Cash prize for the most creative cringingly zombie costume! Party ends at 12:30 pm. Go to www.FestivalOfTheDead.com for information and tickets.

And don't forget the Bootiful Pets event on Salem Common on Sunday! The Official Cat of Salem will be chosen (must be a Salem resident cat!) Registration begins at 10 am for cats and noon for dogs.

It promises to be a bootiful weekend so come on up to Salem and discover the magic and the fun of the season! Visit us at HauntedHappenings.org for the full weekend's schedule!

The Salem Haunted Happenings Grand Opening Parade!

Salem Haunted Happenings Grand Opening Parade sponsored by the Salem Chamber of Commerce kicks off the season here on Thursday October 2 at 6:30 pm. This event brings out Salem's children in their finest costumes, marching bands, decorated floats, cars and trolleys as well as our public officials. This year's theme for the parade is "Never, Never Land!" Visions for fairies, Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, and so on will adorn the streets.

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

For more information about the Parade call the Salem Chamber of Commerce or Destination Salem. See you all there!

Many thanks to Kishgraphics for use of this image.

What is Salem's Haunted Happenings?

Haunted Happenings bean as a daylong party for children. Over time it has grown to a one week, two week and now month long celebration. It has also gone from a few individuals planning it to hundreds of community members,  businesses, community groups, churches, schools and corporations working together to welcome the world's visitors. It is our city's gift to the season and we invite you all to come!

The streets are filled with fabulous merchants, award winning restaurants, dramatic theatrical productions, psychic fairs, scary haunted houses, children's activities, and world renown museums! There is something for all ages to do.

Salem is a fine walking city also and because of that you will not miss a beat of the activities and excitement. Bring a good pair of walking shoes. If that is not your style, then hop on and off trolleys or ride in a pedicab once you arrive in the city. 

To get to Salem we strongly suggest public transportation! Parking is tight in our small community but you can take the train from North Station in Boston or hop on the Salem Ferry which leaves Central Wharf in Boston near the Aquarium. On board the ferry you can purchase discount tickets to transportation on shore.

Our hotels fill quickly for the season. Call ahead for reservations if you wish to stay in Salem. Visit our website for more information on accommodations. 

You will also want to check about making reservations at many of our museums and haunted attractions for the event. With so many visitors long lines are normal if you do not book ahead.

So come, visit our enchanting city. Discover its magic along with the magic of the season!