Haunted Happenings - Salem's Month of Halloween

When we last talked about Massachusetts, we touched on the Old King's Highway, the Boston Light, and how it's the birthplace of basketball. Now that we're officially in October's Spooky Season, it's time we head back to Massachusetts and talk about America's most infamous spooky town: Salem! There's plenty of info about the witch trials, so instead, we're going to dig into other reasons you should check out Salem to satisfy your ghost-hunting, witchy-curious, pirate-lore urges.

Haunting Encounters

Salem's ghost stories are legendary. Take one of Salem's darkest ghost tours with the Salem Night Tour, where attendees travel along lamp-lit streets, accompanied by experts retelling stories about the haunted homes, common supernatural sights, and historical tragedies along the way. This tour is family-friendly and is so popular, reservations are strongly encouraged.

The fun doesn't have to be limited to the streets. Why not stay in the historic and haunted Hawthorne Hotel? With over a million guests having stayed at the hotel, most leave with experiences to tell. For folks wanting to make sure they see something uncanny, the third and sixth floors are the most popular, specifically rooms 325 and 612. If it's not a spectral sighting of a woman in a white dress, guests claim to hear a child crying, lights and faucets turning off and on on their own, sudden smells of perfume, and physical interactions like pokes, touches, and hair-tugs. October is stacked with ghost walks, haunted houses, and themed tours throughout the city. Haunted Happenings lists dozens of adventures visitors can take, like ghostly trolley rides, candlelit cemetery walks, and more.

Salem’s Witchy History and Modern Advocacy

In January of 1692, the daughter (age 9) and the niece (age 11) of Reverend Samuel Parris performed dramatic episodes, making strange sounds and clutching their heads. When prayer and medicine couldn't alleviate their strange symptoms, the girls and their parents decided the cause was witchcraft. Over 200 people were accused, resulting in 14 women and 5 men condemned to death by hanging. Another man died from torture after refusing to enter a plea, and five more died in the disease-ridden jails before they could go to trial.

After a few years, a judge and 12 jurors came forth to apologize for their involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. In 1967, the Massachusetts General Court ordered a day of atonement for their errors, including the Salem Witch Trials as one of them. Today, the Salem Witch Museum is dedicated to compassionately teaching about the witch trials, observing 17th-century stresses, the concerns surrounding colonial life, and fears of ever-present threats, and how this state of perpetually heightened anxiety can create a dangerous outcome: a witch hunt.

Over the following centuries, a variety of witch hunts have occurred, with the scapegoat not always being a literal "witch." The exhibit, "Witches: Evolving Perception," is a project by the Salem Witch Museum dedicated to tracking and educating on every instance in the U.S. that fear led to hysteria. While ghosts and witches are fun, generally spooky-month themes, sometimes our nation's own history is the scariest thing to discover.

Another organization with a similar mission is The Satanic Temple, headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts. The group does not believe in Satan as a symbol of evil or a supernatural being, but instead uses the name to purposefully rebel against “arbitrary authority and social norms.” A full list of their beliefs and tenets can be found here.

Though they operate and manage a number of active campaigns "encouraging benevolence and empathy," visitors love checking out The Satanic Temple's permanent art exhibits. These include the Satanic Panic Library, with a collection of artwork and literature featuring themes of moral panic, the famous Mark Porter statue of Baphomet, and a collection of paintings by Zach Brown featuring subject matter surrounding history, myth, and morality.

Sea Captains, Pirates, & Maritime History, Oh My!

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Salem grew into a global trading hub. Merchants carried pepper, silks, tea, and exotic spices to China, India, Africa, and more. As a major seaport, Salem earned the nickname "Venice of the New World" due to the vast array of exotic goods flowing through its harbor, becoming synonymous with overseas luxury trade.

Originally designated as the first National Historic Site in the U.S. in 1938, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves the legacy of over 600 years of sea voyages, international trade, and coastal life. The area encompasses nine acres and twelve historic structures, including the Derby Wharf, the U.S. Custom House, Hawkes House, and more.

One of the most well-known seafarers was Simon Forrester, an Irish immigrant who became a privateer during the American Revolution and captured British ships before transitioning into a prominent merchant. During wartime, Salem mariners were issued letters of marque that allowed them to attack enemy vessels, but some blurred the line and jumped from privateer into pirate. Another notorious figure is "Black Sam" Bellamy, captain of the Whydah Gally, whose ship sank off Cape Cod in 1717 carrying a cargo of treasure. Real artifacts, recovered treasure, and immersive stories of the sea, piracy, and shipwrecks can be experienced at the Real Pirates Museum.

Major Events & Salem Travel Tips

Of course, this month is the best time for Salem's festivals and spectacles. Haunted Happenings organizes a month-long series of events that sees over a million guests annually. Here are some must-see events happening this month:

• The Grand Parade launches the season: the first Thursday in October (tonight at 6:30pm), thousands attend to see a spectacle of color, pageantry, and music to celebrate their city's spooky pride.

• Haunted Happenings Marketplace / vendor fairs run every weekend (through November 2), offering artisan wares, spooky art, local crafts.

• Ghosts & Legends Trolley Tours offer a thrilling ride with sinister and comical guides as they expound on the ghostly, witchy, and murderous history through Salem streets. The tour is followed by a Main Show at Gallows Hill.

• On October 31, the festival ends in style—food courts, live music starting at noon, closed streets lined with street performers and on-theme vendors, and ending at 10pm with a fireworks display.

  
  

With thousands from all over the world coming to experience the Halloween Capital of the World, here are some tips for travelers to keep in mind:

• Book early — October sells out fast.

• Use the official guide & app — they give you maps, event info, alerts for parking, and real-time updates.

• Mix your itinerary — allocate haunted hours, but leave daylight time for maritime walks, museum visits, and coastal exploration.

• Check event timing and age restrictions — some attractions are for adults only at night; some tours sell out on weekends.

• Use remote parking/shuttle options — Salem offers satellite lots and weekend shuttles to reduce congestion.

• Dress for the season — nights are cool, walking is heavy; bring good shoes, layers, and a flashlight or headlamp for after dark.

• Plan moments to rest — a quiet harbor walk or an off-peak museum break refreshes your pace and perspective.

  
  

Salem in October may be famous for witches and ghosts, but digging deeper shows you a city with a rich maritime legacy, community magic, and a desire to encourage empathy and compassion. Take a trip beyond the expected and have a moonlit haunted adventure, shop at any of the popular magic shops, stay in historical hotels. As you make your trip over to Salem, Massachusetts, remember that Interstate Signways made the signs that guided the way.