At first glance, Salem might seem like another picturesque, seaside New England town just a half hour from Boston by commuter rail, but during the month of October, Salem becomes a Halloween haven for witch, ghost and vampire-look alikes.
One of the many Halloween attractions in Salem is Essex Street, which closes to traffic while throngs of costumed tourists stop at vendors offering palm readings, fake vampire fangs, caramel apples and more.
“Salem is really crazy during Halloween, but fun,” said Lisa Baglini, a tour guide for the Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour of Salem. “They close the street down and hundreds of thousands of people converge on the city. There are great costumes out there.”
The Haunted Footstep Tour is another Halloween activity, Baglini said. It is an hour-and-a-half walking tour of Salem at night exploring the many hauntings in the city.
“We tie in the history of the city and the sites with the many ghost stories,” Baglini said. “We talk about real and documented stories and the tour guides share things that they have experienced.”
“We go to the Salem Jail and learn about the terrible treatment of the inmates there and the many supernatural occurrences in the years since it’s closed,” she said. “It has a very negative energy — it’s not a happy place. There’s something very wrong with that jail.”
Salem also offers a number of museums with creepy themes, including the Hollywood House of Wax and the Salem Witch Museum.
“The Wax Museum has 63 pieces from Horror and Sci-Fi movies,” said Elisha Simbajon, the manager of Hollywood House of Wax. “We have everything from Chucky, to Hannibal Lector to Freddy Krueger. It’s a guided tour and you learn little-known facts about the characters from the movies.”
The Witch Museum offers a dramatic but factual account of the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
“The museum has two parts: an audio-visual presentation and an exhibit which looks at the word ‘witch’ in historical context,” said Alison D’Amario, the director of education at the Salem Witch Museum. “It’s not a happy tale and the atmosphere is a little grim, but it’s not intended to be scary. It’s as historically accurate as possible.”
For those interested in witchcraft or herbal medicine, Artemisia Botanicals has offers the essentials to cast a spell or make a potion.
“This is an herbal apothecary and gift store,” said Carol Deveau, an herbalist at Artemisia Botanicals. “We have about 300 or 400 different herbs for medicinal or magical purposes. We have cauldrons and hand-made brooms, which are really beautiful. They have that really witchy look about them. We also carry scented oils, flower essences, and magical and herbal healing books.”
For a traditional haunted house, Salem has many options including Dracula’s Castle, Witch Mansion and the Museum of Myths and Monsters.
But for some relaxation after all the fright, Jaho Coffee and Tea — with a motto of “Live Slow” — offers a special brew made according to your Zodiac sign.
“I took a year off of school to go to Japan and that’s what inspired this coffee shop,” said owner Anil Mezini, a former Salem State College student. “It has a European-Asian fusion atmosphere and it’s set up for relaxation. We serve espresso, over 100 different teas and homemade gelato.”