06 Oct Why Salem, MA is a Great City to Visit in the Month of October
Salem, Massachusetts is a small city with a huge, rich history. Most famous for being the location of the 1962 Salem Witch Trials, Salem has embraced its witchy history and many of the city’s tourist attractions play into it. Salem is a popular destination all year round, but the month of October is arguably the best time to visit. Salem’s Haunted Happenings is the largest celebration of Halloween in the world and has events throughout the entire month of October. Each year the city welcomes more than half a million visitors to its parties, parades, walking tours, museums, attractions, fairs, and special events. Here are some recommendations for things to do in Salem during October.
Tour the Salem Witch Museum
An entire museum dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials of 1962? You bet! The Salem Witch Museum offers two presentations to its visitors. The first presentation is an immersive experience that looks into the events of 1962. Visitors experience the drama and emotion through life-size stage sets and figures with narration. The second presentation explores the meaning behind the word witch and how the image of the witch has evolved. Presentations are offered every half hour during operating hours.
Take a Ghost Tour
Salem is considered one of the most haunted cities in America and you’re going to want to see why. Salem Ghosts will take you on an hour-long tour and talk about all the haunted happenings and murders over the years – including some of the lesser-known tragedies. You will see around 10 different sites around the city, each one ghostlier than the last!
Eating and Shopping at the Haunted Happenings Marketplace
This main marquee event returns this year to Salem Common right downtown! A recurring event all month, the Haunted Happenings Marketplace is home to vendors, pop-up photo stations, street performers, and much, much more.
Set Sail with Mahi Cruises
Mahi Cruises offers a Haunted Happenings Harbor Cruise – a 75-minute Halloween-themed harbor cruise. There are haunted décor, tarot card readings, face painting, live music and stories, and plenty of photo ops! Be sure to get your tickets ahead of time though as there is limited capacity.
Ride the Salem Trolley
Take a ride on the iconic red trolley. You will learn all about Salem’s history during the one-hour narrated tour, while the wind is blowing in your hair. The eight-mile ride around the city takes you past the Charter Street Burial Ground, the House of the Seven Gables, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the historic waterfront area, and more. You can purchase trolley tickets outside the Visitor’s Center.
Experience Live Magic
The Salem Haunted Magic Show returns in October with an all-new, live, haunted magic and mind-reading show and the Houdini Experience. Prepare to be amazed!
Visit the Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
When you think of iconic Halloween movies, Hocus Pocus most likely comes to mind (and if it doesn’t, it should!). Much of the movie was filmed in Salem and you can go and visit a lot of the filming locations. The most iconic is probably the Ropes Mansion, but here’s a complete guide to the movie filming locations so you can visit as many as you’d like.
Salem, MA is also home to our Shetland Park facility – Salem’s only waterfront business center. Shetland Park offers versatile business and industrial spaces for lease ranging from 50 to 100,000 square feet, with gorgeous views of Salem Harbor and Pickering Wharf. Shetland Park also offers convenient, all-day parking to visitors during Haunted Happenings. Check us out today!