Entertaining Your Kids in the Winter

The Frog Prince
Parenting can be an extremely rewarding experience, but it can also be pretty tough because there is an amazing amount of work involved in raising a child. In fact, the average parent is regularly required to juggle work and home schedules, pay extra bills to clothe and feed their children, take care of their children when they are sick or upset, and perform a variety of other tasks with little or no sleep. However, one of the issues that many parents come up against in the wintertime is how to get their child to do something other than stare at a computer screen or a TV screen when sending them outside could potentially cause them to get frostbite in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, if you are looking for some ways to get your kids out of the house and away from their screens this weekend, there are a number of events in the Boston area that will help you do exactly that.

First, if your child is a fan of scavenger hunts and/or science, there is no better place to be this weekend than the Museum of Science. This is because the Museum of Science, with the help of Watson Adventures, is hosting the Mad Science Family Scavenger Hunt at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday (January 17, 2015.) This scavenger hunt will allow you and your family to search the museum for all of the best exhibits, including dinosaurs, hidden messages, a mad scientist’s laboratory, musical zebras, optical illusions, snakes, and more. For more information and/or to order tickets (which include admission to the museum), please visit the Watson Adventures’ Mad Science Family Scavenger Hunt webpage.

Secondly, if your child is more into comedy than chemistry, you may want to check out the Airborne Comedians. The Airborne Comedians, who are performing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline at 10:30 A.M. on Sunday (January 18, 2015), are a pair of globetrotting jugglers. These jugglers will toss and catch everything from bird baths to lawn chairs while they crack jokes on unicycles (yes, you read that correctly. They will be balancing on unicycles while they juggle and joke.) For more information and/or to order tickets for the Airborne Comedians’ show at Coolidge Corner Theatre, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Finally, if your child would prefer a good fairy tale to some learning or laughs, you may want to try the BCA Black Box Theatre in Boston. This is because the imaginary beasts are performing Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince at the BCA Black Box Theatre every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from January 17, 2015 to February 7, 2015. This show will give you and your children the opportunity to see a Panto retelling of the classic story of an unfortunate prince who is turned into a frog and has to convince a princess to kiss him. For more information and/or to order tickets for Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince, please visit the Boston Theatre Scene website.

Photo credit: ingermaaike2 / Foter / CC BY

Fire and Ice

Fire Cubes
2014 has finally come to an end, and a new year and the winter weather that often comes with it is certainly upon us. In fact, as I sit here typing this post, I can see that my thermometer has thawed just enough to actually inform me that the temperature has moved from a delightful “freeze your extremities off” reading of 19 degrees to a “seemingly warm by New England in January standards” reading of 24 degrees. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. Five degrees is not really much of a difference, but trust me, when the temperature starts to drop that low, every degree starts to feel like an ice age approaching or a sweltering heat wave (probably because you have thirteen layers of clothing on.) However, just because it’s cold enough that you could use your porch as your own personal freezer doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have some fun this weekend. And, if fun is what you’re looking for this weekend, there are a number of places that will allow you to embrace the ice of the season or fan the flames to melt it away.

First, if you’re just looking for a way for you and your kids to embrace the icy magic of the season, you may want to check out the Snowflake Festival. The Snowflake Festival, which is scheduled to take place at the Brookline Arts Center from 12:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, January 3, 2015), is a winter arts and crafts festival. This festival will allow you and your family to decorate cookies, learn about Monoprinting as part of a special free workshop, make brass and copper bracelets as part of a special workshop, make paper snowflakes and other wintery creations, eat cake in honor of the Center’s 50th anniversary, and more. For more information on the Snowflake Festival and Open House at the Brookline Arts Center, please visit the Brookline Arts Center website.

If, on the other hand, you’ve decided that you’re not really ready for this whole winter thing (and, really who above the age of 21 is ever truly ready), the Fire and Ice Festival in Boston may help you embrace the season or, at the very least, stave off the cold a little longer. The Fire and Ice Festival, which will occur at the Lawn on D at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), runs from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. tonight (January 2, 2015) and 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday (January 3 – 4, 2015.) This festival will feature all things fire and ice, including an entire labyrinth made of nearly 300 giant ice blocks, fire pits, fire dancers, fire eaters, jugglers (with flaming objects of course), and a whole lot more. For more information on the Fire and Ice Festival in Boston, please visit the Official Lawn on D website.

Finally, if you’re just looking for somewhere good to eat that will certainly have the warm food you need to beat back the cold, you can always try my personal favorite, Fire and Ice. Fire and Ice, which has locations in Boston, Cambridge, Providence, Anaheim, and Lake Tahoe, is a create-your-own dish restaurant that will allow you to choose from dozens and dozens of different vegetables, meats, noodles, and sauces. Professional cooks will then take all of the ingredients that you have chosen, throw them on a grill, and cook you a meal that you certainly won’t forget. And best of all, if you chose a sauce or some other ingredients that you’re not really thrilled with, you can always go back up and try again because Fire and Ice is setup somewhat like a buffet. For more information on Fire and Ice, please visit the Fire and Ice website.

Photo credit: Furryscaly / IWoman / CC BY-SA

‘Tis the Season for Cookies and Crafts

Girl Scout Troopers
Christmas Eve is only two weeks away, which means no matter which holiday you celebrate, time is running out fast. In fact, if you or your friends celebrate Chanukah, time has pretty much run out already as the celebration begins at sundown on Tuesday. This means that if you haven’t found gifts for everybody on your list yet, you may be looking for some not quite last minute, but pretty close to the end ideas. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case and you’re trying to cross a few more names off your holiday list, there are a couple of awesome events this weekend that are sure to help you find presents for all of the people and/or pets in your life.

First, if you’re searching for the perfect gift for the cookie-lover in your life, the Girl Scouts of America have you covered. This is because the Girl Scout Cookie Sale actually begins today, which means that if you know someone who just can’t live without their Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, Cranberry Citrus Crisps, or any of the multitude of other Girl Scout cookies out there, all you need to do is find a local Girl Scout troop. Now, finding a local troop can be easier said than done in some cases, but the Girl Scouts have actually already thought of that. In fact, if you’re having trouble finding a local troop, you may want to try out the Girl Scout Cookie Finder because this handy little website (or app) will allow you to put in your information and a local troop will find you. For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie sale, including all of the cookies that are available, please visit the Girl Scouts of America website.

Secondly, if your loved one is a fan of handcrafted gifts and you can’t make it to any of the craft fairs that I mentioned last week (which with the exception of CraftBoston are still running), there is another local fair that you may want to check out. The 11th Annual SoWa Holiday Market is scheduled to take place from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 13, 2014) and 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (December 14, 2014) at the Benjamin Franklin Institute on Berkeley Street in Boston. This holiday fair will feature candy, cards, candles, ceramics, clothing, coffee, glassware, jewelry, and more. For more information on the SoWa Holiday Market, please visit the SoWa Holiday Market website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

Girl Scouts ®, Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, and all associated names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Unique Holiday Gifts

Unique Gifts
With 21 days until Kwanzaa, 20 days until Christmas, 16 days until the Winter Solstice, 11 days until the beginning of Chanukah, and less than 30 days for whatever other December holiday that you celebrate, you may be trying to find the perfect gift before time runs out. In fact, you may already be tearing your hair out trying to figure out what to get your loved ones this year because you want to get something uniquely awesome, but you have no idea what that is. Fortunately, if you are looking for a unique gift idea, there are several events this weekend that are devoted to one-of-a-kind gifts that your family is sure to love (and if they don’t, they’ll learn to love them because some of these gifts are awfully hard to return.)

First, if you’re looking for a gift that would be considered part of the apparel, accessories, and/or food family (and don’t worry, the food isn’t actually part of the clothing until you wear it for the first time and spill it all over yourself at dinner), you should definitely check out Boston’s Downtown Holiday Market. The Downtown Holiday Market, which is located at 459 Washington Street in Boston, will feature a different set of local vendors each week from now until January 10, 2015. Some of the vendors that you can expect to see this week include Alex’s Ugly Sauce, Epoca Amber Jewelry, Golden Rule Honey, Karol Peralta Jewelry, Mao Sim Silk, and Recycled Glass Jewelry. For more information on the Downtown Holiday Market, which is open from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, please visit the Downtown Boston website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a hand-crafted gift or a gift that is truly one-of-a-kind, you may want to head over to the Hynes Convention Center this weekend. This is because the Hynes Convention Center is hosting the CraftBoston Holiday 2014 show, which will feature 175 artists and crafters that are planning to exhibit and/or sell their carefully crafted apparel, baskets, ceramics, furniture, glassware, jewelry, leather, metal art, wood crafts, and more. For more information on the event, including a complete program guide with all of the artists and crafters that will be exhibiting their work, please visit the Society of Arts and Crafts CraftBoston Holiday page.

Finally, if you’re looking for a truly unique gift that you can get without making the trek into Boston, you may want to check out the Lexington Arts and Crafts Holiday Marketplace. The Lexington Arts and Crafts Holiday Marketplace, which is located at 130 Waltham Street in Lexington, MA, is a large arts and crafts fair that runs from now until Christmas Eve (December 24, 2014.) This fair will feature dozens and dozens of artists and crafters who will be more than happy to sell you baskets, beads, cards, ceramics, decorations, jewelry, metal art, needle art, paintings, photographs and prints, and more. For more information on the Holiday Marketplace, which is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 12:00 to 6:00 PM on Sunday, please visit the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society website.

Photo credit: John Drake Flickr / Foter / CC BY-ND

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

Kitten Watching Hockey
Now that Thanksgiving is over, the day that every business loves and every underpaid retail employee dreads is once again upon us – Black Friday. Black Friday, of course, is both loved and loathed for the fact that it marks the beginning of the holiday season with early morning sales, crowded stores, and crazy shoppers (including some people who enjoy their craziness just a little too much.) Yet, just because the stores say that the holiday season has officially begun doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve found your Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice/[Insert Holiday Here] spirit just yet. As a result, you may be looking for a better way to get yourself into the appropriate holiday spirit than buying a bunch of stuff or shoveling the year’s first snow.

If this is indeed the case, and you’re looking for a holiday activity to get yourself into the right mindset for the season, the City of Lowell may have exactly what you’re looking for. This is because Lowell, Massachusetts is hosting their annual City of Lights Parade from 4:30 to 6:30 PM tomorrow (Saturday, November 29, 2014.) This parade will feature marching bands, lighted floats, and a series of events throughout the day that all lead up to the official holiday lighting of the city. In fact, you can expect arts and crafts for the kids, children’s book readings, children’s shopping, holiday shopping tours, a “Holly Jolly Trolley” complete with music and park rangers dressed as elves, hot chocolate, jugglers, magicians, music, and a whole lot more all day long. For more information on the City of Lights Parade and all of the events occurring in Lowell this weekend, please visit the City of Lowell’s website.

If, on the other hand, you’re not a big fan of outdoor events in 30 degrees or you’re a hockey fan who’s looking for something to do while you hide from all the aforementioned crazy people lurking in the malls, you may be happy to know that you can find the spirit of the season without even leaving your home. This is because the NHL has taken a cue from the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games and made Black Friday a great day to watch hockey. In fact, there are over 20 NHL games scheduled this weekend with 11 of those games, including the NHL’s Thanksgiving Showdown, taking place today. As a result, you should have no problem finding a way to watch your favorite team on the ice whether they’re the Bruins, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Canadiens, Canucks, Capitals, Devils, Ducks, Flyers, Islanders, Jets, Hurricanes, Panthers, Oilers, Penguins, Rangers, Red Wings, Sabres, Senators, Stars, or one of the other 9 teams playing this weekend. For more information on the NHL games this weekend, please take a look at the NHL’s schedule page.

Photo credit: CopperCatStudios / Foter / CC BY-SA

Not Every Potter is Named Harry

Pottery Lesson
If you’ve read my recent posts, you’ve probably realized that there’s sort of a theme for this month and that theme is creativity. In fact, I’ve already discussed a variety of workshops that were specifically designed to help you explore acting, cartooning, filmmaking, photography, and writing. However, even though I’ve covered all of those creative outlets, there’s still a number of other artistic outlets that I haven’t covered yet. As a result, I decided that this week I would talk about some of the ways that you can explore one of the creative outlets that I haven’t discussed, the fine art of pottery.

First, if you have a young child who is an aspiring potter or you would love to channel your child’s inherent messiness into the creation of art, there is no better place to do so than the Brookline Arts Center’s Parent and Child Pottery Workshop. This workshop, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, November 22, 2014), will teach you and your child the basic skills you need to hand-make a teacup, tile, tumbler, or vase. For more information on the Parent and Child Pottery Workshop and/or to register for the class, which is intended for children four years and older, please visit the Brookline Arts Center website.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a way to work on some pottery without your child or you would rather paint pottery than make it, you may want to check out the Pottery Night at Paint N’ Pour in Waltham, MA. This laid-back workshop will allow you to spend the evening with other adults while you paint a plate with one of the designs provided or create your own. The fine people at Paint N’ Pour will then take your plate, fire it in the kiln, and glaze it, so in 7 – 10 days you will have your very own hand-painted plate. For more information on the Pottery Night at Paint N’ Pour, please visit the Paint N’ Pour website. Also, please note that this is an alcohol-free event even though the name of the location might suggest otherwise.

Photo credit: owlpacino / Foter / CC BY-ND

Aspiring Artists, Photographers, and Writers

Aspiring Cartoon Artist

Last week I talked about some of the ways that we can inspire creativity in our children, but after writing that post, something occurred to me. Why should kids have all the fun? There are plenty of workshops, conventions, and other similar activities that are designed for people of all ages, so what’s actually stopping the adults among us from seeking out ways to inspire our own creativity? In fact, if you’re an aspiring artist, an aspiring photographer, or an aspiring writer, there’s really no reason that you can’t join in on the fun and explore some of the great creative opportunities this weekend.

First, if you’re an aspiring artist or an aspiring cartoonist, there is probably no better place to be this weekend than DrawnCon. DrawnCon, which is scheduled to take place at the Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center in Westford, MA from 9:00 A.M. tomorrow (Saturday, November 15, 2014) to 6:00 P.M. Sunday (November 16, 2014), is one of the largest conventions dedicated to Western art and animation in the Northeast. This convention will allow you to learn what makes a cartoon work and what doesn’t, learn the finer points of voice acting from actual voice actors, learn how to draw your favorite cartoon characters, learn about costuming, learn about the worst and greatest cartoons past and present, audition for your own voice acting role, and a whole lot more. For more information on DrawnCon, please visit the official DrawnCon website.

Secondly, if you’re an aspiring photographer, there is a very interesting workshop this weekend at the Plymouth Center for the Arts (and I don’t mean “interesting” in the “wow, that’s weird” sense.) This is because the Plymouth Center for the Arts is hosting an i-Phonography Workshop with Rad Drew. This workshop will teach you how to use your iPhone to take pictures and use apps and processing techniques to create beautiful images that convey whatever effect you desire. For more information on the i-Phonography Workshop with Rad Drew, please visit the Plymouth Center for the Arts website.

Finally, if you’re an aspiring writer, there is another free talk at the Cambridge Public Library tomorrow (November 15, 2014) that is definitely worth checking out. Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, a writing professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and an award-winning essay writer, will discuss how to convey a truly engaging character from 2:30 to 3:00 P.M. Saturday. For more information on the talk, which is part of the Free Writing Craft Talk series at the Library, please visit the Cambridge Public Library’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: Photo Extremist / Foter / CC BY

Inspiring Your Child’s Creativity

The Wizard of Oz (Kid's Cast)
My oldest niece turned 16 last week, and it got me thinking. Is it ever really too early to start inspiring a child’s creativity? I mean all of the doctors, psychologists, teachers, and child development experts will certainly tell you that the earlier you start reading to your child and encouraging his or her creativity, the better off your child will be in the long run. However, does it really make sense to sign your 6-month old up for a book club or a writing workshop? Probably not.

Yet, if you give it some thought, you may come to the same somewhat startling, but not completely shocking realization that I came to. The experts are probably right. We live in a world where the flower girl at your wedding could be old enough to drive your car in the blink of an eye, which means that we all have a lot less time than we think. As a result, it’s always a good idea to use the time that we do have wisely, and if you’re looking for a way to inspire your child’s creativity while you can, there are some events this weekend that are sure to help.

First, if your child is an aspiring filmmaker or you would like your child to be, you may want to head over to the Boston International Kids Film Festival this weekend. This festival, which runs from 6:00 P.M. today (November 7, 2014) to approximately 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (November 9, 2014), will allow you and your children to view a series of short films that are specifically designed for kids as well as films that are actually directed and/or produced by kids. In fact, the festival will not only feature over 50 short kids films, but will also feature a number of workshops that will teach you and/or your family how to make your own movie and how to use social media more effectively. For more information on the Boston International Kids Film Festival (BIKFF), please visit the BIKFF website.

Secondly, if your child is one of those fine, upstanding individuals that turns his or her nose up at anything but the theatre or you’re just looking for an opportunity to get some embarrassing photos that will haunt your child for years to come, you may want to encourage your child to check out the Natick Drama Workshop. The Natick Drama Workshop is a 10-week drama program that is designed to teach young actors the finer points of performing on the stage. This program will allow your child to audition for a drama troop of 40 – 60 students and, if they get a part, rehearse to perform in front of an actual audience at the Kennedy Middle School in Natick as part of a full production complete with costumes, sets, and props. Registration for this year’s workshop is currently closed and there is already a waiting list for next year, but you and your children can still get tickets to see their production of Wonderland this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (November 7 – 9, 2014) if you want to see what it’s like. For more information on the Natick Drama Workshop and/or Wonderland, please visit the Natick Drama Workshop website.

Finally, if you or your slightly older child has an undeniable love of writing or you’ve been reading all of this and thinking “my kid could write better than this guy”, there is a free writing talk at the Cambridge Public Library this weekend. Margot Livesey, writer-in-residence at Emerson College and award-winning author of the novel The Flight of Gemma Hardy, will discuss how to create engaging dialogue from 2:30 to 3:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, November 8, 2014.) For more information on the talk, which is part of the Free Writing Craft Talk series at the Library, please visit the Cambridge Public Library’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: adplayers / Foter / CC BY-ND

Beware! Halloween Fun Lurks Here!

Beware! I'd Turn Back If I Were You!With only two weeks left before Halloween,
Salem has again become a mob scene.
Yet, even though the witch city is certainly a fun place,
It is not the only city that can put a smile on your child’s face.
In fact, whether you’re a fan of Salem or Boston or anywhere else in this fine state,
You are certain to find an event that you and your kids think is great!

First, if you are an aspiring horror writer or glassblower and you’re expecting to be in the Boston area this weekend, you may want to check out the Boston Center for Adult Education. This is because the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) is hosting two Halloween themed classes this Sunday (October 19, 2014) as part of their Haunted Halloween at the BCAE event series. The first class, which is entitled the Thriller/Horror Novel Writing Workshop, is a one-day session that is designed for aspiring writers that want to learn more about the characters, dialogue, story structure, suspense-building techniques, and other methods that are in used in some of the great novels of the horror genre. The second class, which is entitled Glass Blowing Workshop: Glass Pumpkins, is a one-day session that will teach you how to make your own hollow glass pumpkin. For more information on these events and other events at the BCAE, please visit the Boston Center for Adult Education’s class page.

Secondly, if you’re not really into horror or glassblowing, but you have some kids that are absolutely obsessed with Halloween and the zoo, you may want to consider heading over to the Stone Zoo on Saturday or Sunday (October 18 – 19, 2014.) This is because the Stone Zoo is combining everything your kids love about Halloween and the zoo into one program entitled “Boo at the Zoo.” This program will allow your kids to enter a costume contest, make their way through a haunted maze, play some Halloween-themed games, trick-or-treat around the zoo, try their hands at some Halloween-themed arts and crafts, and more. For more information on Boo at the Zoo, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. each day this weekend, please visit the Zoo New England Boo at the Zoo page.

Finally, if you’re part of the mob scene in Salem and you’re looking for something to entertain your kids, there are actually three events on the Salem Common this weekend that may be perfect. The first event is the Annual Children’s Halloween Parade & Costume Party, which is an opportunity for your child to show off their Halloween costume in a parade, partake in some games and crafts, and possibly even win some prizes. The second event is the Providence Grays Baseball Game, which will actually allow you and your family to watch a baseball game played using Civil War style bats, uniforms, and rules. The third and final event on the common this weekend is “The Box.” This event, which is presented by the Gallows Hill Theatre, is an interactive performance that is designed to have children of all ages rolling on the floor laughing. For more information on all of the events on Salem Common this weekend and other events throughout Salem, please visit the Salem Haunted Happenings website.

Photo credit: mattieb / Foter / CC BY-SA

The Season of the Witch

Haunted Happenings Grand Parade
This coming Thursday marks the official opening of the Halloween season in Salem, which means that you will be able to have a “frighteningly” good time in the very near future. In fact, there’s no shortage of spooky events scheduled for the next month in the Witch City, and the fun will continue right through All Hallows Eve. However, just because the festivities don’t officially start until Thursday doesn’t mean that you have to wait for the fun to begin. There are already a number of Halloween events scheduled in the Salem area and beyond this weekend, and if you’re looking for a way to start off the season a little early, you’ve come to the right place.

First, if you’ve always been a fan of creepy artwork, there’s no better place to be than the Terror Fantasies Art Show. The Terror Fantasies Art Show, which is held at the Museum Place Mall in Salem from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 10th, features a wide range of horror and fantasy artwork. This means that you can expect to see black cats, jack-o-lanterns, vampires, zombies, witches, and just about every other creepy thing that has ever been associated with the season. For more information on the Terror Fantasies Art Show, please visit the Salem Haunted Happenings website.

Secondly, if you’re not a huge fan of art but you’ve always had a special place in your heart (still-beating or otherwise) for zombies, prepare yourself for the Boston Zombie Apocalypse. The Boston Zombie Apocalypse is an interactive live action game in which you play a survivor attempting to escape the Boston area after it has been overrun by zombies. This game, which is held at Stronghold Airsoft in Abington, MA, will allow you to use a special airsoft shotgun to defend yourself against the every-growing army of the undead. However, you won’t be alone, as a military escort will attempt to guide you to safety through the 25,000 square-foot facility designed to mimic a city complete with cars, buildings, and, of course, zombies trying to eat you. For more information on the event and/or to order tickets, please visit the Boston Zombie Apocalypse website.

Finally, if you’re looking for something that you can do with the kids and you don’t mind waiting until Thursday, you may want to head down to Salem for the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. The Haunted Happenings Grand Parade marks the official opening of the Halloween season in Salem with bands, school groups, trolleys, real witches, and occasionally some special appearances by celebrities and interesting vehicles like the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. This year’s parade will have a fantasy theme, so you should expect to see kids and adults from all over the area dressed as characters from Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia, Frozen, Ghostbusters, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and a whole lot more. For more information on the parade, which will run from approximately 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. on Thursday, October 2, 2014, please visit the Salem Haunted Happenings website or the Salem Chamber of Commerce website.

Photo credit: Bob Linsdell / Foter / CC BY