The Festival within the festival

No doubt you know that there is a LOT going on in Salem, Massachusetts in October. Salem Haunted Happenings has layers and layers of events and attractions, each hosted by a different organization or business, and we pull it all together under one umbrella that we call Salem Haunted Happenings.

There is an umbrella within our umbrella, however, and that is The Festival of the Dead.

Organized by Salem Witch Christian Day, The Festival of the Dead has events throughout the month of October including the month-long Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo at Museum Place Mall, a series of balls (the first of which is this Saturday - the Retro Zombie Ball), and events that celebrate the Halloween season.

In Christian's words, Halloween is the time of year when the shades of the dead whisper from forgotten places and spirits walk among us... Festival of the Dead explores death’s macabre customs, heretical histories, and strange rituals.

The Salem Witches Ball is certainly the grand finale to this unique festival. The theme for costumes this year is "legendary creatures," and if you don't have your costume yet, start searching or sewing! The Witches Ball is a top-rated Halloween party with live entertainment from around the world.

There are many other events, as well. If you are seeking seances, spectral evidence, over-the-top parties, psychic readings, and anything truly Witchy, check out the Festival of the Dead.

The Salem Witch Museum

The Salem Witch Museum is one of the most dramatic sites in Salem. Located in a stone building, which was originally the Second Church Unitarian (built in 1845), the Salem Witch Museum looms large over Washington Square and all of Salem.

The Salem Witch Museum has been interpreting the Witch Trials of 1692 since 1972. The first exhibit tells will tell you about the girls who were afflicted, the innocent people they accused, and the legal system that condemned them.

The second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, the meanings of the word "Witch" are examined, including MGM's Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz, the midwife, and modern witches. This exhibit also includes a panel that puts social witch hunts into perspective, leaving you with a deeper understanding of how closely 1692 and our contemporary world are connected.

Interpretation of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 does not stop at these two exhibits. The Salem Witch Museum has an excellent web site that includes a tour of sites in the region that are connected to the Salem Witch Trials. This is a self-guided tour that is best driven (or it could make a lovely bike ride!) and it is a great way to expand upon what you learn at the Salem Witch Museum.

And then there is the gift shop. In this gift shop you will find the perfect gift to take home to the people who didn't get to come to Salem, you will find Salem candy, jewelry, and Witches Balls, and you will find an excellent book selection. If the Salem Witch Museum leaves you wanting to know more, and to dig deeper into this piece of American history, browse the excellent books in the store - online or in the museum. The greatest attention has been paid to which books should be sold, and thus recommended, by The Salem Witch Museum.

The Salem Witch Museum is open year-round, and presentations are scheduled throughout the day. If you plan to visit during October, I recommend going to the Salem Witch Museum in the morning to purchase your tickets, which will be for a timed entry during the day. This is one of the most visited sites in Massachusetts - they will sell out, so make sure you get your tickets early in October!

One more thing, the presentation is translated into Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Russian. Now, you are probably reading this post in English and don't need all of those language options, but perhaps you and a friend visiting from Germany, or a French exchange student... The Salem Witch Museum would love to see you and your guests - wherever they hail from!

Mid-Week Deals & Opportunities in Salem

So you want to come to Salem to celebrate Salem Haunted Happenings? And you didn't realize that there are a few other people who had the same idea... last November. You're not alone.

Every day we answer calls from people who are seeking accommodations for October. Here is

what we tell them, and you...

1) Come up midweek! There are great deals to be had mid-week. If you can get away for a mid-week escape, you'll have a better room selection, shorter

lines for attractions, and more availability on evening tours (be they haunted, terror, historic, or

vampire in nature).

The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites and The Clipper Ship Inn, for example, are both running mid-week deals for the rest of October. In fact, almost all of the inns, B&Bs, and hotels in Salem have mid-week

availability. Visit HauntedHappenings.org and Salem.org for listings of accommodations in Salem.

Option #2) Hope for a cancellation! One traveler's crisis could be an

other traveler's lucky day. While we wish no ill on any of our guests, and I certainly do not enjoy hearing about cancelled reservations and lost deposits, it does happen.

The Northey Street Inn and Henry Derby House both had cancellation for Columbus Day Weekend, and The Hawthorne Hotel (Hawthorne Hotel posts deals on Twitter and Facebook... check them out!) had a group cancellation last weekend. Multiple night minimums are in effect for most Salem accommodations in October, so do plan to

commit to a few nights if you are lucky enough to score a cancellation.

Your final option, #3) Explore the Region! Darci's Parkside Inn and the Harborlight Inn in

Marblehead both have availability in October, and they are a 10 minute drive from all the action in Salem. The Emerson Inn in Rockport has availability, and they are an easy

train ride from Salem (mbta.com). The Boston Marriott Peabody is another great - and very

family-friendly - option.

We post all cancellations and availability on Twitter and Facebook. If you aren't following Haunted Happenings yet, join us and we'll keep you up to date on everything happening in Salem during October.

Happy Haunted Happenings!