Salem MA – Salem Happenings

Halloween in Salem

Today marks the end of the Halloween countdown, as All Hallows Eve is finally upon us. In fact, if you’re a resident of Salem, today is the day when you have to decide whether you will batten down the hatches and hide in your house to avoid being overrun by tourists or accept the fact that if you can’t beat them, join them. However, if you’re not a resident or you’re a resident who has already accepted his or her fate, you may be trying to figure out exactly what you’re going to do while you’re in the city and/or how you’re going to get into the celebration in the first place. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case, it is important to remember that Halloween in Salem is only as scary as you want it to be, and there are a few things that you can do to make the day more enjoyable:

1. Prepare Yourself for the Mob Scene

Halloween is the biggest celebration of the year in Salem, and with All Hallows Eve on a Friday this year, you should expect there to be in excess of 100,000 people in the downtown area of the city (weather permitting.) To put this into perspective, the population of the city of Salem is approximately 42,500, which means that there will be over twice as many people in the city (if not three times as many people) as there are actually living here. In fact, that figure of 100,000 people doesn’t necessarily include all the people that have chosen to hide in their homes, so if you don’t like crowds, you may want to stay home or find somewhere else to go tonight. However, if you are still brave enough to make your way into the madness, you should expect a significant wait for anything that you want to do. This is because the big, slightly unruly mob that I keep mentioning will want to get into the same attractions, restaurants, and other things that you’re trying to get into as well.

2. Avoid the Traffic and Parking Nightmare

Getting over 100,000 people into a city that typically has 42,500, as you might guess, creates a lot of traffic. In fact, if you’re driving into the city after 4:00 P.M., you should expect to sit in traffic for 1 – 2 hours from the time you reach the highway exit for Salem. This means that you’re going to have a lot of trouble getting into the city, finding a parking space, and getting out of the city again. However, there are a couple of ways that you can avoid these problems.

First, come in early. The traffic in Salem usually escalates around the time that the city closes the roads downtown, which is at 4:00 P.M. this year. As a result, you may be able to avoid a significant amount of traffic, find a parking spot that’s a little further away but cheaper (which is a big deal when a parking spot could cost you $20 to $30), and get out of the city a little faster (from your parking spot closer to the city’s edge) if you’re in the city before 4:00 P.M. Secondly, you could avoid driving into the city altogether. The Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail train or the Salem Ferry will take you right into downtown Salem from Boston and the neighboring communities.

3. Enjoy the Frighteningly Free Activities

In addition to all of the vendors, carnival attractions, haunted houses, museums, and restaurants that Salem typically has to offer during this time of year, there are also a number of events on Halloween that are absolutely free. As a result, you may be able to have a great night without completely emptying your wallet by seeing Samhain rituals performed by actual witches, watching live bands performing in the streets, and topping it all off with some fireworks before you go. For more information on all of the events going on in Salem, please visit the Salem Haunted Happenings website.

Photo Credits

Angry Mob Photo Credit: hans s / Foter / CC BY-ND
Traffic Jam Now Fully Operational Photo Credit: psd / Foter / CC BY
Music by the TOKYO TRAMPS Photo Credit: }{enry / Foter / CC BY

Friday Fun: Haunted Houses

With All Hallows’ Eve less than a week away, Salem, Massachusetts has already begun to kick its Halloween celebration into full gear. In fact, this weekend, crowds of people will swarm to the Salem area to check out the carnival, visit the museums, see a reenactment of the witch trials, take part in a ghost tour, and/or partake in any of a countless number of other “Haunted Happenings” in the Witch City. However, if you’re looking for something truly creepy to do with your friends and/or family this weekend, you may want to check out one of the city’s haunted houses.

Salem is known for its wide assortment of haunted attractions, and there is certainly no shortage of haunted houses within the city. The only problem is that there are so many haunted houses in Salem that it can be difficult to figure out which one to go to. Fortunately, if a haunted house is what you’re looking for, there are a couple of attractions that are definitely worth a visit.

First, if you’re looking for the haunted house experience without all of the walking, the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre has one of the creepiest stage shows you will ever see. This show, which is one of the most highly rated attractions in Salem, will not only try to scare you right out of your seat but will also try to teach you about the Salem witch trials and the mythology surrounding witches. I have to admit that this is one of my favorite attractions in Salem, and the live actors and the special effects will definitely have your heart racing by the end of the show. For more information on the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre, please visit the Gallows Hill website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a more traditional haunted house, you may want to pay the Witch Mansion, located on the Essex Street pedestrian mall, a visit. This haunted house, complete with its own back story, uses a combination of live actors and special effects to create a truly creepy experience. Best of all, if you want to go to the Witch Mansion with a child that’s a little too young for all of the creepiness, you can get a special necklace that will literally protect your child from all of the monsters inside the house (for an additional fee of course. Mhahahaha!) For more information on the Witch Mansion, please visit the Witch Mansion’s website.

Photo credit: country_boy_shane / Foter / CC BY-ND

Friday Fun: A Local’s Guide to Salem

Last week, I talked about some of the ways that you could enjoy the Halloween season in Salem. In fact, I specifically discussed events that were relatively inexpensive (unless you bought your kids everything they wanted at the Bazaar) because there are a lot of people operating on an extremely tight budget at the moment. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s something that’s going to change anytime soon, as the government is still shutdown, a ludicrous number of employees are still out of work, and a debt crisis of epic proportions still looms on the horizon. However, even though money is still tight for a lot of people and there’s nothing that we can do about the staggering ineptitude of our so-called “leaders”, there are still a number of things that we can do to keep ourselves from focusing too much on the financial issues that we cannot change.

One of the ways that we can prevent ourselves from focusing too much on the problems that are beyond our control, and hopefully retain some of our sanity, is to focus on something else. What should you focus on, you might ask? Well, it is the Halloween season, so why not focus on all of the stuff going on in Salem, and if you’re thinking about making your first trip or another trip to the Witch City, here are some things about the city that you should keep in mind:

1. Parking is Never Easy (or Cheap.)

Salem is a tourist city, and the Halloween season is definitely the city’s biggest draw. As a result, finding a parking spot gets harder as it gets closer to Halloween, and the harder it is to find a spot, the more it costs. In fact, most of the parking that is available in the downtown area of Salem costs somewhere in the range of $20 to $25 during the month of October. However, you can avoid these parking issues all together or, at the very least, significantly reduce them by parking further away from the downtown area and walking, taking the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail train, or taking the Salem Ferry.

2. It’s Called the Witch City for a Reason (Two in Fact.)

Salem, MA is known as the Witch City for two distinct reasons. First, the City of Salem is one of the most famous (or depending on how you look at it, infamous) sites to actually try, convict, and execute people for the crime of witchcraft. In fact, 19 innocent people were hung and one person, Giles Corey, was actually pressed to death for their “supposed crimes” even though none of the people convicted were actually practicing witches or had actually done anything wrong. Secondly, in a rather amusing twist, the City of Salem now hosts one of the largest populations of actual witches in the world. These witches, which practice the Wiccan faith, are not like the witches you may have seen in The Wizard of Oz or on the TV show Bewitched, but are instead typical people with typical jobs trying to practice their religious beliefs in peace (well, as much peace as you can have in a tourist city focused on witches.) As a result, if you’re planning to come to the city in October, you should be prepared for a lot of witches, both real and imagined.

3. Expect the Unexpected

Salem is not your typical city, so it’s usually a good idea to expect the unexpected. In fact, on a normal weekend in October, you can expect to see the downtown area filled with vampires, monsters, witches (both real and imagined as stated above), living statues, people in colonial garb, and a whole lot more. The only thing to remember, however, is that if there is something that you want to see, you should check it out now. Things in Salem change pretty regularly, and there’s no guarantee that everything that you want to see will be there next year or even next week.

4. Not All Tours Are Created Equal

There are over half a dozen tours in downtown Salem alone, and each of these tours covers a different aspect of the city. As a result, even though some tours may have similar-sounding names, it is important to have an idea of what you want to know and what you want to see before you go looking for a tour. This means, for example, if you’re looking for information on the history of Salem, your best bet may be the Trolley Tour. If, on the other hand, you want to hear about some of the most frightening places in Salem, I highly recommend the Salem Night Tour.

5. Eat Like a Local

Finding something to eat in Salem is never a challenge but deciding what to eat is a whole another story. This is because Salem is filled with almost as many restaurants and food vendors as it is attractions, and you will be able to find American, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean, Mexican, Polish, and Thai cuisine without leaving the Downtown area. However, if you’re looking for a good place to eat without emptying your wallet, you may want to steer away from some of the larger chain restaurants and head to the smaller family-operated restaurants where all the locals eat. For example, if you’re looking for some pizza or a sub, the Engine House on Lafayette Street right next to the Fire Station has some of the best pizza, subs, and wraps around. If you’re looking for some Mexican food, the Howling Wolf on Lafayette Street across from the Fire Station is one of the best (and cheapest) Mexican places you’re going to find. Other restaurants that are definitely worth checking out include:

Cafe Kushco (Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches, and Wraps)Fresh Taste of Asia (Chinese and Japanese)AndThe Lobster Shanty (Pub Fareand Seafood)

Photo CreditsWitch House Photo Credit: openroads.com / Foter / CC BY
Witch Trial Memorial Photo Credit: Smart Destinations / Foter / CC BY-SA
Living Witch Statue Photo Credit: bunnygoth / Foter / CC BY-ND
Lobster Shanty Photo Credit: Mr. T in DC / Foter / CC BY-ND

Friday Fun: The Season of the Witch Has Begun

As we approach the end of the first week of October, many people are already in the process of planning out their Halloween costumes and looking for ways to partake in all of the merrymaking and treats that All Hallows’ Eve has to offer. Unfortunately, the celebrations that people typically associate with Halloween are now being overshadowed by the events that are dragging on in our nation’s capital. In fact, with the government shutdown, there are approximately 800,000 government employees wondering when they are going to see another paycheck and countless government contractors and other businesses that are trying to figure out what they’re going to do with their own employees if something doesn’t happen soon. As a result, there is a growing number of people who simply don’t have the funds to enjoy Halloween in the way that they typically would, and some of these people are already looking for a way to keep their kids happy this All Hallows’ Eve.

Fortunately, if you are one of the people looking for a way to keep your kids happy or just someone looking for a way to get your mind off of your politically-induced financial woes, there are a number of Halloween-themed activities that will allow you to get an early start on the festivities without breaking the bank.

First, if you’re a big fan of shopping or your friends and family members have a strange interest in shiny things, there’s no better way to start off the Halloween season then in the Witch City itself, Salem. This is because the Salem Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, which is more commonly known as the Bizarre Bazaar, this weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (October 5, 2013) and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (October 6, 2013.) This street fair, located at the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, features over 75 vendors selling everything from doll clothes and jewelry to books and souvenirs. However, it is important to remember that the Biz Baz isn’t your typical street fair, as there will not only be vendors but also music and street performers as well. For more information, please visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce website or call 978-774-0004.

Secondly, if you’re already in Salem for the Biz Baz and you’re looking for something to keep your kids entertained, you may want to take a quick walk around the corner to Salem Common. The Common has a bunch of activities for kids this weekend, including contests, food, games, inflatable slides, moon bounces, and even a movie on Saturday night. For more information on the events taking place on the Common this weekend and other events happening in Salem throughout the month of October, please visit the Haunted Happenings website.

Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection / Foter

Friday Fun: Salem Heritage Days

There’s no question that Salem, Massachusetts is typically associated with witches as even the city’s police cars have the image of a witch emblazoned on them. In fact, the city’s police cars not only have the image of a witch, but also have the words “The Witch City” clearly printed below the word “Salem” in almost every logo. As you might guess, this fascination with the witch hysteria (or this hysteria about the hysteria if you will) has caused the month of October to become the city’s big draw because everyone wants to be in Salem for Halloween. However, even though the city is already preparing for the festivities that will occur in a couple of months, there is an event that started this past week and will continue into the weekend that is more aimed at the local crowd than the tourists that come for the witches. This event is Salem’s Heritage Days.

Salem’s Heritage Days is a week-long celebration of everything that Salem has to offer. The celebration, which began last weekend and runs until this Sunday, features an antique car show, a comedy show, a Jazz and Soul Festival, a Kid’s Night with rides and games, music, a street fair, a women’s 5k run that includes wine and chocolate for each of the runners afterwards, and a bunch of other events. Best of all, these events are just the events happening this weekend as part of the festival and most of the events are free. If you’re interested in finding out more about Salem’s Heritage Day celebration, you can find all of the information you need and more on the City of Salem website.

Friday Fun: It’s a Retro Weekend

Unless your life has been absolutely perfect or perfectly boring from day one, there’s probably been at least one point in your life where you really wish you could go back in time and do it all over again. In fact, there might be an awkward conversation that you had with a guy or a girl you really liked in high school that you would like to hit the reset button on, a day back in college where you partied a little too hard that you would like nothing more than to delete entirely, or a day that you would give almost anything to relive. Unfortunately, no matter how much you would like go back in time, there’s really no way to get your hands on an actual time machine and there’s really no way to undo the past. However, you may be able to relive the memories of your past through some of the retro activities that are happening in the Boston area this weekend and beyond.

If the mid sixties and early seventies are the era that you would really like to relive, the Citi Performing Arts Center may have exactly what you’re looking for. The Citi Performing Arts Center is hosting “A Midsummer’s Night with the Monkees” on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. This one-night concert will allow you to hear a number of the band’s famous songs from the 1960’s T.V. show and new songs sung by three of the band’s original members, including Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. For more information and to order tickets for “A Midsummer’s Night with the Monkees”, please visit the Citi Performing Arts Center’s website.

If, on the other hand, reliving your childhood seems like more fun than reliving the sixties, you may want to check out the Salem Toy Museum. The Salem Toy Museum, which is located in the Museum Place Mall in Salem, MA, features over 2,000 toys that were originally released somewhere between 1950 and now. As a result, there’s really no better place to go if you want to see all of the toys from your childhood again or you just want to show your kids that you weren’t making them all up.

Finally, if you prefer your retro to be really retro, like 400 years before your time retro, you may want to head on over to Boston Common some night over the next couple of weeks. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is performing the Two Gentlemen of Verona as part of their Shakespeare on the Common Series from now until July 28, 2013. This show, which is performed almost every night, will give you the opportunity to see one of Shakespeare’s famous comedies for free. For more information, please visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s website.

Friday Fun: Scavenger Hunts, Discounts, and Movies, Oh My!

Are you a big fan of the Wizard of Oz? Are you looking forward to the new Disney movie coming out next weekend, Oz the Great and Powerful? Well, if you are, you may want to head down to Salem, MA tonight because the Witch City is tipping its hat to the fine film that helped bring the idea of a “good witch” into the mainstream. This celebration, which is taking the place of the normal First Friday activities in Salem this month, will include an Oz the Great and Powerful scavenger hunt; dancing; a series of games and other activities to keep your kids busy; and a bunch of special offers, giveaways, and discounts at local restaurants and retailers. All of the fun is scheduled to begin around 5:00 p.m. and is expected to last until approximately 8:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 1st. However, the exact times for each of the activities in Salem tonight may vary, so it may be a good idea to check out the event’s website before you go.

If the Wizard of Oz is really not your favorite film or you’re nowhere even remotely close to Salem right now, you may want to check out some of the other films that are playing at your local movie theater this weekend. There are a number of strange, thrilling, and hopefully entertaining movies coming out today and tomorrow, including 21 and Over, Jack the Giant Slayer (which comes in a variety of flavors, including the standard 2D format, 3D format, and IMAX 3D format), The Last Exorcism: Part II, Stoker, and a number of other films.