Summerween in Salem, MA: Halloween Experiences You Can Enjoy All Summer Long

Did you know that you don’t have to wait until fall to experience the Salem’s spooky side? Throughout the summer, you can explore Salem’s haunted history, ghost tours, witch shops, and museums while you discover the stories that have made Salem one of the most iconic Halloween destinations in the world.

Whether you’re already planning a summer getaway or simply can’t wait for October, these experiences bring a little Halloween magic to every summer in Salem.

Take a Walking Tour

Salem’s walking tours run year-round, so just like during the Halloween season, your Summer trip can include a guided walk around town to learn about local history. Ghost tours are especially popular for Halloween trips to Salem, but they aren’t limited to the fall. Tours run daily, departing from various landmarks and shops from early morning hours to (relatively) late in the evening.

Beyond ghost tours, local tour guides have stories to share for nearly every interest, including Disney’s Hocus Pocus (1993), the Salem Witch Trials, vampire lore, modern witch stories, food tours and bar crawls, and even tours geared especially for kids and dogs. You can find a full list of walking tours here.

Prefer to tour Salem by trolley? The Salem Trolley is the perfect way to start any trip to Salem with a one-hour daytime tour. For the ultimate Summerween trolley ride, book tickets for Tales & Tombstones, a staple of October in Salem that also runs on select dates in July and August.

Visit Salem’s Museums & Historic Attractions

No trip to Salem is complete without learning about the city’s history. From the Witch Trials in 1692 to Halloween, or all things horror, there are countless ways to take in the Witch City’s history and culture.

For a deep dive into the Salem Witch Trials, the Salem Witch Museum or Witch Dungeon Museum would be great places to start. Each experience focuses on a different element of the Witch Trials; The Witch Dungeon Museum presents the events through a live reenactment of a Witch Trial, followed by a tour of the recreated dungeon, while the Salem Witch Museum features a presentation showing the events of 1692 with a tour of the exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions.

Beyond the Witch Trials, you can immerse yourself in the history of Halloween itself at The Salem Halloween Museum. For Horror Fans, Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery is a must-see for detailed life-sized characters created by Hollywood SFX artists. The Salem Witch Board Museum is also a popular spot in the fall for its large collection of Ouija boards.

The best part? With more manageable crowds, visiting Salem’s most popular museums is easy in the summer. You can find a full list of museums here.

Explore Salem’s Witch Shops

Witch shops are so popular during Salem Haunted Happenings that lines often form to get in. During the summer, the same shops are still here waiting for you to explore without the long lines.

Right on Essex Street, you can shop at Botanica, Crow Haven Corner, Hex: Old World Witchery, and the Sea Wych, with HausWitch and Artemisia Botanicals also located just steps away. During your summer visit, you can even fit in a psychic reading or aura photography!

Experience Salem After Dark

Salem is nearly as lively in the summer as it is in October, with bars and nightlife, live music, and special events rounding out a day in the Witch City. Throughout the season, you can often catch live music at spots like Gulu-Gulu Cafe, Longboards, or Village Tavern. Bit Bar is the ultimate night out, with uniquely themed cocktails and snacks alongside retro video games.

While the brewery scene in Salem perfectly complements a fall trip, it is not to be skipped in the summer. Beer enthusiasts can spend a night at Notch Brewing, Couch Dog Brewing Co., and East Regiment Beer Company. And, if you find yourself craving apple flavors early, Far From the Tree Cider has you covered.

Don’t Miss Halloween-Inspired Attractions

Haunted houses may be limited to the “real” Halloween season in most places, but not in Salem! Here you can experience your favorite fall haunts over the summer at Chambers of Terror on Pickering Wharf or at Frankenstein’s Castle, located in the Haunted Neighborhood.

The Haunted Neighborhood is also home to the Salem Wax: A Halloween Experience and the Lost Library, an immersive gift shop that houses the largest pumpkin in Salem, making it a Halloween attraction all its own.

A witch-costume photo shoot at Witch Pix is a must-do for lots of visitors to Salem in October. Booking a shoot at Witch Pix over the summer means getting ahead on the Halloween fun and leaving with a pack of photos, making for a truly memorable souvenir.

If Halloween for you comes with seasonal crafts, broom-making is the perfect addition to your Summerween trip. Witch City Broom Company features DIY broom-making kits right on Essex Street, while The Witchery on Pickering Wharf hosts broom-making and bookbinding workshops.

For littles spending Summerween in Salem, look no further than The Good Witch of Salem Spell Studio for crafting, or kid-friendly attractions like Professor Spindlewink’s World of Wizardry and Salem Kids Tours.

Find the Perfect Souvenir

Salem’s souvenir shops lean spooky year-round, making it easy to pair Halloween shopping with a summer trip. Halloween-inspired gifts can be found all summer long at shops like Witch City Wicks, Remember Salem Gifts, and the Trolley Depot.

For a more haunting shopping experience, add shops like The Black Veil Shoppe of Drear and Wonder, Nocturne, and the Whispering Ghost to your itinerary.

Salem T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, stickers, postcards, magnets, and tote bags make great souvenirs for any season. Visit Moons Gift Shop or Georgia’s Little Salem Shop for any of the above, or check out unique fashion finds at shops like District Trading Company, Die With Your Boots On, or Modern Millie.

Grab a Spooky Bite or Witchy Sip

In Salem, fall flavors and horror-inspired snacks and drinks are not limited to October. Visiting over the summer means more leisurely dining experiences await you at some of Salem’s most popular restaurants. There is more availability at local restaurants over the summer than in October, so you’ll have plenty of time to savor the flavors you may typically associate with fall.

Coffee lovers will be thrilled to find that pumpkin spice lattes are regular staples at Jaho Coffee Roaster & Bakery, and that Blackcraft Coffee is always serving up specials inspired by local characters like Borah and The Good Witch. Hallowed Ground is known for its creative takes on shareable appetizers and specialty cocktails, and the themed pizzas at Flying Saucer Pizza Company are not to be missed.

Stay Overnight in Salem

With so much to see and do close to Halloween and over the summer, we always recommend staying in Salem, so you have more time to explore.

Increased availability in downtown accommodations makes booking a summer stay much easier than a trip closer to Halloween. Keep the Halloween spirit going for your entire trip by booking a stay at the (possibly) haunted Hawthorne Hotel, an immersive themed room at The Cove at Salem, or historic accommodations at the Daniels House, the oldest inn in Salem.

Wondering what Salem is like the rest of the year? Plan your visit during one of the Five Seasons of Salem here.