Turbo, Kruger and Thor To Lead Salem’s Haunted Happenings Grand Parade!

Thursday, October 4th, the Salem Chamber of Commerce will host the 17th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. This year’s theme will be “World Animal Day,” a holiday that has been celebrated since 1931 and is recognized worldwide. World Animal Day is celebrated through fundraising events, volunteering at animal shelters, and special school projects just to name a few.

This year the Salem Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce some special Grand Marshals for their upcoming Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, the new Salem K-9 Unit. Salem’s Project K-9 has successfully raised enough money to bring three German Shepard Police K-9’s to the Salem Police Department. The local community enthusiastically raised money for Project K-9 through raffles, a Dunk-A-Cop at the Chamber’s Essex Street Fair in August and other fund raising efforts. The K-9s Turbo, Kruger, and Thor will join Mayor Driscoll and other dignitaries to lead the parade and help celebrate World Animal Day.   

The parade will start at 6:30pm from Shetland Properties on Congress Street and turns left onto Derby Street, right onto Central Street, left onto Front Street, right onto Washington Street, right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finishes at the Salem Common where there will be a party with DJ Doug to entertain the crowd.

For more information, please visit salem-chamber.org.

Special deal at Salem's 13 Ghosts in 3D

Salem's 13 Ghosts in 3D has been updating their presentation and sprucing up the place, and this weekend is their grand re-opening!  To celebrate the re-opening, they are offering a buy-one, get-one free special on museum admission.


Follow them on Facebook for more information and more specials!

There will be an abundance of unique shopping in Salem this October

Salem is a hip little shopping destination, with boutiques and galleries and fashion and cosmetics and soaps and jewelry and a little bit of everything.


It's an eclectic mix, and it's an eclectic city. So it works.

It's about to get even more eclectic.  New England Open Markets is going to join us for Haunted Happenings, creating the Salem Open Market along Essex Street and in Derby Square.  New England Open Markets is most known for their weekly (seasonal) SoWa Open Market in South Boston, and they also run markets on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, Hingham, Newport, and Providence. And now Salem.

We expect the new Salem Open Market will compliment all of the unique shopping we already have in Salem, and we hope you will be sure to visit our year-round stores as well as browsing the Open Market stalls. 

As if that's not enough shopping, the Annual Salem Biz Baz Street Fair, which is run by the Salem Chamber of Commerce, will return on October 6 & 7.  The Salem Open Market will be here on the weekends of October 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28.

We love to shop, so the more options, the better!

For a complete listing of events and programs during Salem Haunted Happenings, visit HauntedHappenings.org.

October Hotel Availability

This list of accommodations and their availability is as current as we can make it. Please note that this information is subject to change - and we will update this blog page as we get new information.

We also post cancellations, as we receive them, on the Haunted Happenings Facebook page.

In Salem...

Amelia Payson House B&B
Two (2) adults only per room, all rooms are non-smoking.
Please make reservations by phoning (978) 744-8304
New as of October 4:
October 22nd, 23rd, two adults only. No minimum stay required.
October 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, two(2) adults only, four(4) night minimum.
Rates and terms are on our website: http://www.ameliapaysonhouse.com/rooms/#hh


Hawthorne Hotel
Limited availability on October 29, 30, 31, which is a three-night package.  Reservations for that package have to be made by filling out the form found at HawthorneHotel.com and faxing or emailing it in to the hotel. Directions are on the form.  Still available as of 9/25/12.

The Salem Inn
October 26, one night - $255.00, plus tax. 
October 28, one night - $255.00, plus tax.
October 29, one night - $255.00, plus tax.
Still available as of 9/25/12.

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Marina
As of 9/25/12, the Waterfront Hotel has mid-week availability on October 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17,  21, 22, 23, 24, 25.  This information is from SalemWaterfrontHotel.com

Stepping Stone Inn
Weekends are full, but there is mid-week availability throughout the month.
New As of October 1: Cancellation for October 28 - November 1, four night minimum,




In Beverly...
Beverly is adjacent to Salem and the Wylie Inn is approximately a 15 minute drive.

Wylie Inn and Conference Center at Endicott College
Availability throughout the month (Sold-out on 10/6, 10/7, 10/19 & 10/20). Rates start at $159 plus tax.


In Rockport...Rockport is a 30-minute train ride or drive from Salem. Click here for a map.  

Emerson Inn by the Sea
Availability throughout the month. Two-night minimum on weekends, no minimum stay during mid-week.

Seaward Inn
Has availability throughout October.

Pleasant Street Inn
Pleasant Street Inn has vacancies throughout the month of October.  The Inn is offering Haunted Happenings Specials (15% off) all month. October rates range from $115 to $160 based on room availability, double occupancy and time of reservation (off-season rates during the week and in-season rates on the weekends) with no minimum night stay.

Tuck Inn B&B
Availability throughout the month, but weekends are nearly full. They are offering a $20/night discount for Monday through Thursday evenings.

Please remember that these dates and rates are subject to change! We'll update this page as new information comes into us.

Updated 10/1/12

Haunted Happenings at Rockafellas

We just received the full line-up of October events planned at Rockafellas, and while we enter them all into the calendar on HauntedHappenings.org, we are happy to give you a sneak-peak of the schedule.   Get ready to mark your calendars!


Rockafellas will be transformed into a haunted dining experience of sight, sound and Halloween themed parties every weekend in October. There will be some of the hottest DJs and the North Shores' best live bands, fortune tellers, photo booths, with your favorite horror movies playing all month long, on 2 floors in one of the most unique and haunted buildings in the world. Making Rockafellas the epicenter of dining and nightlife.

Thursday, October 4
SALEM'S FAMOUS HAUNTED HAPPENINGS PARADE
Watch for the ROCKAFELLAS float in the parade with Midnight Goggles performing on float, After the parade Midnight Goggles will be performing at ROCKAFELLAS, featuring the hottest top 40, rock, 80’s, dance music.

Friday, October 5th

FRIGHT NIGHT the theme is Zombies (COME AS THE UNDEAD)$10 Both Floors 
SPECIAL SHOW WITH JOSHUA TREE BAND performing UPSTAIRS(U2 COVER BAND)  AND DROP ZONE playing downstairs.

Saturday, October 6 
PLAYBOY COSTUME BALL 
$7 Both floors
Featuring the band MUGSY and a DJ VITO  spinning upstairs. Come dressed in your sexiest attire, smoking jacket or your favorite lounging wear and dance all night on 2 floors. Giveaways and swag to those dressed like Heff and his girls.

Sunday, October 7
COLUMBUS DAY DANCE PARTY 
$5 Cover 
The band RADIO EDIT will be playing at 9pm.

Thursday, October 11
HOT LIKE FIRE
No Cover 

Featuring the hottest reggae and dance live.

Thursday, October 11  through Saturday, October 13TH
EXCLUSIVE DINNER SHOW WITCHES BREW/ENCHANTE CABARETTickets available at ColonialHallatRockafellas.com

Friday, October 12
BLACK AND WHITE MASQUERADE BALL
$7 Both floors
Featuring LISA LOVE EXPERIENCE AND DJ TONY SAP spinning upstairs. Masquerade and play like the elite in your favorite black and white attire DON’T FORGET YOUR MASK.  Giveaways and swag

Saturday, October 13 
80’S PROM with BAIL OUT BOSTON AND DJ TONY SAP
$7. Both floors
Dig up your old prom dress and tux. Come celebrate the prom you never went to. Help us award the dead king and queen.

Thursday, October 18

HOT LIKE FIRE
(No cover)
The hottest reggae and dance live.

Friday, October 19
VAMPIRES MACABRE 
$7 both floors
With the band SPIKE THE PUNCH downstairs and DJ CARLA D spinning upstairs.
Our rooms will  become a A Vampires Lair. This night is dedicated to those long in the tooth. Dress your best and you may receive a bite that will take you to the undead. Prizes and giveaways

Saturday, October 20
DEAD STARS 
$7 both floors
featuring the OPEN BAR BAND  and DJ CARLA D SPINNING UPSTAIRS Dress like your favorite dead star. Their will be black golden globe awards given so have your speech ready!!

Wednesday, October 24
THE GREG COLES SALSA HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY. (No cover)
Thursday, October 25
HOT LIKE FIRE  
(No cover)
will be performing at ROCKAFELLAS, featuring the hottest reggae and dance live.

Friday, October 26
MALIBU BLACK PARTY 
$10 both floors
with PULSE and DJ SCOTTY MAC  spinning upstairs . It's going to be dark, black that is . ROCKAFELLAS  is going to be bringing in the black lights for this party, wear your whites and brush your teeth! This is another exclusive party brought to you by the ROCKAFELLAS CREW AND MALIBU BLACK .

Saturday, October 27
VOODOO BALL
$40-50 upstairs, $20 downstairs
MIDNIGHT GOGGLES downstairs and DJ SCOTTY MAC spinning upstairs. This party will not disappoint! This weekend will be an eclectic mix of many themes. So choose your poison and dress to the nines the best costume receives $1000 cash upstairs only. Other prizes will be given: couples, scariest, funniest, most unique and other runner up categories. Other features to the night(upstairs) include Psychics (tips only), horror movies, photo booth, vodka tasting, chef prepared delights and various swag.  We will be offering VIP balcony tickets, see pricing and availability
NOTE: THIS IS 2 SEPARATE PARTIES(DOWNSTAIRS AND UPSTAIRS)

Sunday, October 28th
School of Rock concert
$10 upstairs
Teens and mid-schoolers from Diangelis school of rock will be performing original and cover songs, for a good cause. Cash bar 5pm-8pm

Wednesday, October 31
DEVILS NIGHT  (HALLOWEEN) 
$20 both floors
featuring the band LUCKY 13 AND DJ SCOTTY MAC spinning upstairs.  ROCKAFELLAS will become a haunted extravaganza. Dress your best and you will not get cut from the A-LIST. Best costume receives $300 cash. Other prizes will be given =couples, scariest, funniest, most unique and other runner up categories.

Please note: All cover charges are subject to change.



Learn more at RockafellasofSalem.com and ColonialHallatRockafellas.com.

Friday the 13th LIVE with Kane Hodder

I just love that this new addition to the October event is Friday the 13th LIVE with Kane Hodder.  I thought at first we would be dressing in costume and acting out the plot on the intimate stage of the Griffen Theatre.

We will not be acting or dressing in costumes (thank goodness), but Kane Hodder will, indeed, be LIVE in the audience during this incredibly unique screening of Friday the 13th.

Here's the official, entertainingly written event description:

Come for a screening of this iconic and memorable 80's classic and listen to LIVE commentary by KANE HODDER who will be with you right there in the audience! To any Modern Horror Movie fan, this will be a once in a lifetime experience. Your friends will BLEED with envy when you say you sat with Kane Hodder and watched "The New Blood"!! Each ticket comes with admission to Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery! The film will be screened at a separate location at The Witches Cottage at Griffen Theatre. The theater is intimate and the seats will sell fast so don't wait! See you then!!

They aren't kidding when they say "intimate" and "sell fast," so we recommend buying your tickets quickly so you don't miss out on the opportunity to brag about hanging with Kane Hodder during Salem Haunted Happenings.

Saturday, October 21st
7:30 PM
$35 per person
Click here for tickets  

Connors Farm Corn Maze is now open!

The Connors Farm Corn Maze is now open for the season!  Themed the "Witches Of Salem," the 7-acre corn maze is open until October 31st.

Connors Farm is a great destination any time of the year, but in the fall they pull out all the stops. In addition to the enormous corn maze, there are games, pedal carts, a grain train, pumpkin tether-ball, a giant sling shot, a jumping pillow, pick-your-own pumpkins and apples,and Bob's Barbecue Pit.


In October, the Corn Maze will go haunted on the weekends after 6:30 PM.  It's seriously scary, and not recommended for younger children. (As a side note, my 11-year-old is still talking about how awesome the haunted maze was in 2011. AWESOME, he says.)

The Connors Farm Market and Bakery are open 7 days, 9am-6pm. 

Purchase tickets online and save $1.  For general information on Connors Farm, click here.

Connors Farm is in Danvers, which is about a 20 minute drive from downtown Salem.  Click here to see directions on Google.

Salem Trolley offers a new Witch Trial tour

Salem Trolley Presents - "Salem Village Tour at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead"
Friday & Saturdays in October departure times 6:15 pm & 7:45 pm
Salem Village Experience at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead
A Salem Trolley Evening Tour

The Salem Trolley presents its newest special tour, a visit to the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. Take this one hour journey to Danvers, MA, once known as Salem Village, and hear the story of Rebecca and her family. Enter the replica 1672 Meeting House, located on the grounds of the Homestead, and listen to a tale of a this woman who  lived a pious life but was unjustly accused, tried, eventually convicted and hanged for a crime she did not commit. Your trolley guide, who will portray Rebecca’s great-grandson, dressed in 18th century style, will augment Rebecca’s story with background information about Salem Village, the Witchcraft Hysteria in general and other historical information while you ride to and from Danvers.

Tours will leave the 8 Central Street Trolley stop at 6:15 & 7:45 PM each Friday and Saturday during the month of October.