When in comes to Halloween, one town in Massachusetts does it bigger and better than anywhere else in the country. We’re talking about Salem, of course. This historic town has a spooky history that goes back hundreds of years and is a community that isn’t afraid to embrace the weird side of life. Every year, this charming seaside town transforms into a terrifying wonderland. Get ready to experience the best Halloween town in Massachusetts!
Any Halloween enthusiast can’t miss the Haunted Happenings festival in Salem!
This month-long celebration of all things Halloween is packed with creepy, crawly and ghoulish events. During October, the whole town transforms into a festively spooky wonderland of things that go bump in the night. Come see why this is the best place to celebrate Halloween in Massachusetts!
There are spooky events for every taste in Salem during October.
Drop by a horror-themed trivia cruise, attend a lecture about necromancy as described by a sixteenth-century handbook of magic, catch a horror film screening, listen to spooky stories in a candlelit cottage, learn about corpse medicine in the Witch House or take a lantern-light haunted house tour. There's a reason people consider Salem to be the scariest Halloween town in Massachusetts.
Those looking for not-so-scary events have options, too.
Head to the Bewitched Dinner Theater event, wander through the jack o’ lantern at Pioneer Village, or check out the pumpkin carving party in the beer garden at Bit Bar. When it comes to Halloween events in Massachusetts, no other town has more fun than Salem.
There are plenty of historical and supernatural tours to take in Salem.
Take a candlelit ghostly graveyard walking tour through the city’s haunted attractions, check out the Haunted Footsteps tour for your chance at a ghostly run-in, or simply explore spots like Howard Street Cemetery and the Witch Trials Memorial on your own.
Head to the Witch Dungeon Museum for an award-winning live reenactment of a 1692 witch trial followed by a guided tour of the witch dungeon.
Afterwards, stop by Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery, a cinematic museum that honors famous horror films and characters with life-size models, props and creepy movie magic.
If you visit Salem on Halloween, be prepared for the biggest party of the season.
Dropping into Frankenstein’s Castle in the Salem Wax Museum is a sure-fire way to contract a case of the shivers. Descend to the deepest and darkest level of the museum to witness the horrors of Dr. Frankenstein in a thrilling immersive experience.
There are plenty options for old-fashioned fair food and autumn treats on hand.
You can also check out the finer dining options around town, but what could be sweeter than wandering through the crisp fall air with a big caramel apple in hand?
Besides the spooky and campy fun of Halloween, there’s actually a flourishing community of modern practicing witches in Salem.
The town is dotted with shops that cater to those who still believe in magic. Check out Artemisia Botanicals for all your apothecary needs, stop by Crow Haven Corner for books, spells and psychic readings, head to HEX Old World Witchery for cauldrons and potions and don’t forget to spend some time at Salem Witch Village to learn about the facts and myths surrounding witches and their craft.
Click here for the Haunted Happenings event calendar. For one of the coolest Halloween experiences in Salem, check out this haunted boat ride.
What are your favorite Halloween events in Massachusetts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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