Mid-October in Salem means Haunted Happenings are in full swing – with parades, markets, live shows, harbor events, and after-dark adventures filling the calendar.
Salem’s October lineup has something for everyone. Scroll for this month’s events, insider tips, and travel info to help you make the most of your visit. ✨
🐾 Howl-o-ween Pet Parade
Oct 11, 11:00 am
Costumed critters take over Derby Wharf for a lively parade and creative competition hosted by Salem Main Streets. Free to watch; small registration fee for participants.
🧒 Kids’ Pub
October 11, 4:30 pm
History Alive turns Old Town Hall into an alcohol-free 17th-century tavern experience for kids and grown-ups – stories, games, music, and treats.
🪄 Evan Northrup Magic
Select Saturdays & Sundays in October
Enjoy an intimate parlor magic experience inspired by folklore and superstition. Local magician Evan Northrup’s parlor magic, inspired by superstitions. ~60-minute show at the Salem Athenaeum.
🎃 Hollowed Harvest
Oct 11 – 13, 16 – 31
Salem’s glowing jack-o’-lantern festival – wander a labyrinth of carved and animated pumpkins. All-ages, one-of-a-kind Halloween experience.
🔦 After Hours Ghost Hunt
Now – October 30, 8:30 pm
Hunt for evidence inside The Lost Museum with Paranormal Salem – use EMF detectors, infrared thermometers, audio recorders, and more.
🌭 Salem Common Food Court
Now – October 31 (Weekdays 11 am – 6 pm; Weekends 11 am – 10 pm)
Fiesta Shows’ outdoor food court on the Common; hours vary with weather and crowds – easy bites between events.
⚖️ Guilty! A Salem Witch Trial
Now – October 30, 6:15 & 7:15 pm; Oct 31 – Nov 2, 6:15 pm
Interactive theater set in 1692 where the audience stands trial for witchcraft. Hear testimony, plead your case – will you be found guilty?
🚋 The Ghosts & Legends Trolley
Now – October 30, 5:30/6:30/7:30 pm (no Saturdays); Nov 1 – 2, 6:30 pm
A guided trolley ride through Salem’s haunting tales; departs Gallows Hill. Storytelling you won’t forget.
🛍️ Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Derby Square
Oct 11 – 13, 18 – 19, 25 – 31
Weekend marketplace in the cobblestone square – browse artisan goods and Halloween treasures (yes, the Hocus Pocus square!).
🎪 Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Salem Common
Oct 11 – 13; Oct 18 – 19; Oct 25 – 31
Outdoor marketplace on the Common featuring handcrafted Halloween items, mystical jewelry, seasonal finds, and live entertainment.
🍽️ Haunted Happenings Old Town Hall Food Court
Oct 11 – 13, 16 – 19, 23 – 26, 30 – 31
Artisan food vendors serve seasonal bites and Halloween treats inside historic Old Town Hall – weekend dining magic Thu–Sun.
🪄 The Salem Haunted Magic Show
Now – October 13, 17 – 19, 24 – 30; Nov 1 – 2, 7 – 9
Celebrating 15 years with the all-new HYSTERIA: The Ghost Magician! Runs through early November at Emerson Hall Theater.
🍷 Sips and Myths at Salem Wine Imports
Now – Nov 6 (Sundays & Thursdays)
Taste mead, wine, and cider while exploring the myths behind ceremonial beverages in a fun, interactive session (snacks included).
🌙 Salem Night Faire
Oct 17 – 18 & 24 – 25, 5 – 10 pm
Stroll eerie lanes full of art, clothing, jewelry, and oddities vendors. Enjoy performances, ghost stories, and hot cider in the historic Pioneer Village. Brought to you by The Black Veil.
🎡 Kids’ Fun Fest
Oct 18 – 19 & 25 – 26, 10 am – 5 pm
Daytime play on the Common with classic games, inflatables, rides, and activities. A simple way to break up a tour-heavy itinerary.
🍸 Haunted Speakeasy
Oct 18, 25 & 31, 6 – 10 pm
A Roaring ’20s soirée with live music, prohibition-style cocktails, dancing, and vintage vibes. Evening attire encouraged.
🌊 Wicked Night on the Wharf
Oct 25, 7:30 pm
Head to the waterfront with our partners at Salem Waterfront Hotel for a festive night out by the harbor – right in the heart of the action.
🎃 North Shore Glass School Salem Glass Pumpkin Patch
Oct 25 – 26
Pick a one-of-a-kind blown-glass pumpkin or try a hands-on session to make your own. Make a loop to Artists’ Row for more local craft.
🕸️ The Official Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball
Oct 31, 7:30 pm
Festival of the Dead’s signature night with Christian Day, Brian Cain, the Witches of Salem, and Dragon Ritual Drummers. Pageantry and music inside a landmark hotel.
🎶 Halloween Day & Night Live Music
Oct 31, 12 pm – 10 pm
Stages across downtown run through the day and into the evening. Check schedules from HauntedHappenings.org for set times.
🛸 Halloween Night Finale
Oct 31, 10 pm
A choreographed drone display over the North River wraps the season. Plan to depart around 10:30 pm as streets reopen after the finale.
📆 Click Here to Browse More Events!
13 Blogs You Can’t Miss This Haunted Happenings Season 👻
🕯️ Salem Wax: A Halloween Experience in the Heart of Salem, MA
Step inside Salem Wax: A Halloween Experience – where folklore, fantasy, and history come to life in wax. Located on Liberty Street, this immersive, family-friendly attraction blends artistry, atmosphere, and plenty of photo-worthy moments. Explore handcrafted Witch Trials scenes, peek inside a wizard’s apothecary, and wander through glowing, spooky sets that celebrate Salem’s Halloween spirit year-round.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🎃 Hollowed Harvest Returns: A Jack-O’-Lantern Festival for All Ages
Step into the glow of Hollowed Harvest, Salem’s only Jack-O’-Lantern festival! Returning to Shetland Park, this one-of-a-kind experience transforms pumpkins into works of art – from playful grins to larger-than-life creations that light up the night. Explore the Wicked Labyrinth, meet Madame Flim Flam and her apprentice Squashua, and even carve your own gourd-geous masterpiece to take home.
Whether you’re after family fun, photo-worthy moments, or a touch of Halloween humor, Hollowed Harvest is a magical celebration of Salem’s creative spirit.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
💚 💖 A Rare Wizard of Oz First Edition Brings Pop Culture Magic to the Salem Witch Museum
If you’re visiting Salem Witch Museum, don’t miss a magical surprise among its exhibits – a first-edition copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Published in 1900, this rare book helped redefine how witches were seen in American culture, introducing Glinda and the Good Witch of the North as some of literature’s first “good witches.” Its presence in the Witches: Evolving Perceptions exhibit bridges history, imagination, and the power of storytelling – a perfect reflection of Salem itself.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🎨 Behind the scenes of PEM’s Salem Walking Tours
Step off the beaten path and see Salem in a whole new light with PEM’s Walking Tours. From the elegant facades of Brick by Brick: Salem’s Hidden Architectural Stories to the eerie tales in Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders & Literary Legends, these expert-led tours uncover 400 years of history, design, and intrigue – with rare access inside historic buildings. Perfect for curious minds and Halloween-season explorers alike.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🐚 Spell Jars, Witch Balls & Sea Magic at The Sea Wych Salem
Step inside The Sea Wych Salem, an ocean-inspired sanctuary tucked above Derby Square that captures the calm, wild rhythm of the sea. Founded by practicing sea witch Phe Needham, the shop offers a deeply personal and sustainable approach to witchcraft – from spell jar bars and witch ball workshops to spiritual consultations infused with intention and ocean energy. Every item, from shells to spell kits, is created with care, respect, and a touch of tide-born magic.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
Set sail into Salem’s seafaring past with Pirate Shadows Over Salem at Real Pirates Salem. Discover the true story of Black Sam Bellamy, his legendary ship Whydah, and the haunting legend of the “Witch of Wellfleet.” Step inside the only museum in the world to display artifacts recovered from an authenticated pirate shipwreck – from gold coins to cannons – and explore how Salem’s harbor once blurred the line between sailor, privateer, and pirate.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
💀 Celebrate Halloween at an Iconic Gothic Landmark
Get ready for Hawthorne’s Halloween Bash at The House of the Seven Gables on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. Step into Salem’s literary legacy for an unforgettable night of costumes, live music, mac & cheese, and seaside magic. Dance under the stars, mingle with characters inspired by Hawthorne himself, and explore historic houses by moonlight – all while supporting a new exhibit honoring the famed author’s life and work.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
☕️ Born in Salem, Brewed For Wanderers – A Cozy Pause at Jaho
Need a cozy pause between haunted tours and harbor strolls? Step into Jaho Coffee Roaster & Bakery, Salem’s first coffee roaster and a local favorite for over 20 years. With three Salem locations – including their original café by Pickering Wharf – Jaho blends New England charm with Japanese-inspired coffee culture. Sip a pumpkin spice latte, try their viral Iced Dubai Chocolate Latte, or unwind with an espresso martini after dark. Wherever your Salem adventures take you, Jaho is the perfect place to live slow this October.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🍁 Fall at Hammond Castle Museum: Your Guide to Seasonal Events & Tour
Looking to add a little Gothic glamour to your Salem trip? Just 30 minutes up the coast, Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester is where history meets mystery this fall. Explore candlelit Spiritualism Tours, step inside live performances like The Madness Within the Abbadia Mare, or dress up for Costumes & Candlelight, a Halloween-week event with music, cocktails, and eerie ambiance.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🐋 Experience Autumn by the Sea in Gloucester, MA
Looking to add even MORE coastal charm to your October adventures? Just 30 minutes from Salem, Gloucester offers seaside beauty, local history, and plenty of fall magic. Take the scenic train ride from Salem, stroll the working waterfront, spot whales before the season ends, and enjoy oceanfront dining and boutique stays. It’s the perfect mix of scenic and spooky – a peaceful coastal escape that pairs perfectly with your Haunted Happenings visit.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
🦪 Day Trips from Salem: Hidden Gems on the North Shore
Looking to explore more of the North Shore this fall? Just a short ride from Salem, the coast is calling with seaside towns full of charm, flavor, and adventure. Visit Rockport for lobster rolls and ocean views, Gloucester for whale watching and harbor dining, and Essex for antique treasure hunts and oysters by the river.
Each stop pairs perfectly with your Salem adventure – close enough for a day trip, yet full of reasons to linger.
✨ Click here to read the blog!
Tips & Tricks 🎃
Click here for more Tips & Tricks!
Visit HauntedHappenings.org to begin planning your visit today!
Tags: Black Veil, Discover Gloucester, Evan Northrup, Hammond Castle Museum, Haunted Happenings Marketplace, Haunted Happenings Salem, Hawthorne's Halloween Bash, Hollowed Harvest, Jaho, Peabody Essex, Pioneer Village, Real Pirates, Salem, Salem Halloween, Salem Haunted Happenings, Salem Haunted Magic Show, Salem Night Faire, Salem Trolley, Salem Wax, Salem Wine Imports, Salem Witch Museum, Sips and Myths, The Sea Wych of Salem, Things to Do in Salem, Tips & Tricks, Wizard of Oz
