Is Going To Salem In October Worth It?
The leaves are turning into a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors, that morning air bites a bit harder and football is in full swing, which means fall is here. It also means that Halloween is right around the corner. Those Spirit Halloween stores have taken over empty CVS and Rite Aid locations across the country, preparing for this month of crazy sales. You know what else it means? It is time to head to Salem, Massachusetts in order to get your full Halloween on. I mean, where else could match the spookiness of Salem? Nothing tops witches after all! Few cities embrace this time of year quite like Salem does. But, is going to Salem in October worth it? It is a question many wonder, and I am here to answer it for you after just visiting last week.
Why Is Salem So Popular During Halloween
Why is Salem popular in October, is this guy serious? Duh, the witches of course! That is actually true in part, but it is more than that. You can tell the town appreciates their history year round, whether it is in the shops, museums or local restaurants. They have the Witch Museum, creepy stores, candlelight night tours, The House of the Seven Gables and so much more. Those are all available year round though, aren't they?
That is true. What makes Salem unique in October is that the town really accepts and leans into the Halloween spirit. While many probably think Hocus Pocus being filmed in parts in Salem is a big part of that, they actually started leaning all the way into Halloween back in 1982!
Once the leaves start to change you will notice a whole bunch of haunted houses, vendors and seasonal opportunities come to life. While you will see many visitors dressed up in costume, there are many (I guess you would call them more professional) Halloween figures dressed up throughout the city too. My favorite were two younger girls dressed up like the twins in The Shining. These street performers are there for photos, to add to the festivities and just be a part of the fun. Many are of course hoping for a tip out of appreciation for their efforts too, but they add to the spirit of it all even if you don't partake. That is why Salem is a bit different during the month of October, even if it is kind of spooky year round. Everything is just a bit “extra” during the lead up to October 31st.
What To Expect In Salem During October
Crowds, lots and lots of crowds. That probably doesn't surprise you, but if you have been to Salem in the “offseason” there is a stark contrast. Parking will be difficult and there will be lines – everywhere. Many people are lined up outside the best shops, since they control the crowds in and out of the stores. Restaurants can be a pain at times, but overall it wasn't terrible there as long as you get outside of the main corridor.
We were there on a Thursday and Friday evening. While Thursday was still plenty busy, there was a noticeable uptick on Friday night. I would also say the crowd tends to be more of the adult age, even though there are plenty of kids around throughout the day and night.
What We Did While In Salem, Massachusetts In October
We booked our room at the Hampton Inn, which is the only real points option downtown Salem. The cost was 70,000 points a night, which is pricey, but the cash prices were well over $700 a night. Parking was $25 a night, which I gladly paid to have a secure parking spot throughout our visit. If you are not staying in town then I would suggest parking a town or two outside of Salem and ride the train in. That will probably be easier than fighting the traffic and struggling to find a place to park.
The real reason we went on the trip was because Hocus Pocus is my daughter's favorite movie. I had visited the town for a few hours with my son a few years back when on our New Haven pizza tour trip, and she was insanely jealous. I really loved the town and looked forward to returning. My wife is also a big fan of Halloween, so she was all for it as well.
Hocus Pocus Sightseeing
Because of all of that we made sure to hit all of the Hocus Pocus spots the first night. We walked to the Town Hall, where the parents in the movie come out of after dancing in a trance all night. The inside looks nothing like in the movie by the way, but the outside is exactly what your expect it to be. We also went to the park in the center of Salem, where the kids dance after they think they took care of the Sanderson sisters for good. This is a really beautiful park and I would suggest taking some time there even if you don't like the movie. We wrapped it up by visiting the Ropes Mansion, where Allison lives in the movie. They were all within walking distance of each other downtown. We didn't head out to the school at all and the Pioneer Village (where the opening scene is shot) is only open during the summer months.
We Then Took In All Of The Creepiness
The rest of the time was spent walking around the shops, the mall and visiting a haunted house or two. I had considered doing a walking tour, but I am glad we didn't. It was so crammed at night that tour after tour was butting up against each other. At least it was that way on Friday night. I will say that it seemed a bit more relaxed on Thursday. They also have a trolley tour if you prefer that option.
The haunted house was a tourist trap for sure. It wasn't worth the $14 per person at all, but I guess that is a part of the experience. If we did it again I would go to The International Monster Museum which is located in the mall. It is a newer attraction that gets pretty good reviews. We walked by the outside of it and it looked interesting.
The Witch Museum gets very mixed reviews, but there were still lines out the door during the weekend. I think part of it is people expecting it to be more of a history of the Salem trials and witches as a whole. It seems to be more of a gimmicky thing than that though leaving people disappointed.
The stores are fun to go into with scary masks, cool trinkets and amazing Halloween decorations. There were also a lot of vendors around the streets, much like a Farmers Market. They were selling mead, street food, art, beef jerky and tons of other stuff.
Is It Worth Going To Salem In October?
Now to answer the big question, is it worth going to Salem in October? I will start this off by saying that Salem is well worth visiting period. It is probably my favorite, or second favorite, small city along with Annapolis. The architecture, history, restaurant / bar scene and overall vibe is super unique. It is a really beautiful city that has a lot to offer. Plus, it is only a short hop from Boston which makes it very accessible.
Having said that, I don't know that I found the craziness of October in Salem to be worth the visit. Definitely not for two nights. If you do it, I think one day there is enough with all of the crowds etc. I say that as someone who doesn't love Halloween. My wife and daughter on the other hand, who love all things spooky, thought it was totally worth it. My wife agreed with me that one night is enough though.
I actually preferred our visit to Salem during March. All of the same restaurants, bars and stores are available. The museums and walking tours are still running as well. While it may not be as much in the spirit of Halloween, and all of the craziness that is entailed with that, I thought the juice just wasn't worth the squeeze.
If you want to split the middle, I would say to go mid September or after the first weekend of November. I think you get a lot of the same feels, the haunted houses are usually up and running still and you miss a good chunk of the crowds.
What We Did On Day Two In Salem
Knowing that we had seen much of what we were in Salem to see, we decided to bust out of there a bit during the second day. We drove the coast north through Manchester-by-the-sea and up to Hammond Castle, which is well worth the visit. After we headed into the town of Gloucester to check out the beaches, parks on the water and eat in town overlooking the marina. If you are spending more than one night in the area I highly recommend doing something similar. It was by far my favorite part of the trip.
Is Going To Salem In October Worth It: ToP Thoughts
I guess my answer to the question of if visiting Salem in October is worth it is it depends on how much you love Halloween. Much of what you can do there is available year round, and without the crowds. But, if you are really into the feels of an experience, and love when everyone is kind of in the same thought space, then I think it is worth it. Especially if you can get a room at the hotel. That makes it a lot less stressful experience overall.
If not, then I say go to Salem during any other month and take in everything it has to offer. I cannot recommend visiting enough. We didn't get a chance to go to the Peabody Essex Museum this time around, but my son and I loved checking it out on our last trip. I hear the pirate museum in town is also a great experience. I guess I have something to do on our next visit, which just won't be in October!
If you have visited Salem in October, let me know your thoughts on the experience over in the ToP Facebook Group.
