The streets of Salem were dead this Saturday – not with the undead, but deserted after wind and rain forced costumed visitors to hang up their cloaks and wings and call it a day.
Students who visited Salem said the weather caused many changes to plans and disappointed some newcomers to the town.
A snowstorm hit the northeast Saturday, prompting The Weather Channel to coin the phrase “Snowtober.” The storm caused power outages up and down the East Coast.
In contrast to years past, many of the favorite town fixtures were missing due to the weather. There were no street performances, which drew large crowds in the town square last year.
The main stage was empty as well, despite attempts to liven the small gathering of people by a guitar player dressed up as an octopus.
“There’s definitely much less people than last year,” said Mud Puddle Toys employee Jennifer Brooks, “but there’s still plenty of diehards out there.”
Among these diehards were people dressed as Hogwarts students, a team from “Legends of the Hidden Temple” and a pair of murderous Teletubbies, complete with bloodied knives and severed limbs.
State University of New York at Purchase sophomore Rachel Bass, who came to visit Salem for Halloween weekend, said that many people chose to stay inside on Saturday.
“We went into a small indoor mall, and there were a lot of people there,” she said.
Outside, Bass said, “it was emptier than I thought it would have been on Halloween weekend.”
To ward off the weather, the few stalls remaining open were restocking hats and umbrellas for those trekking from haunted house to haunted house. Tour leaders put up advertisements saying that their witch and ghost tours were warm or took place on a trolley.
Holly Feld, a Boston University College of General Studies sophomore, said she chose to take a ghost tour instead of walking around the town.
“I’m sure if it hadn’t been raining and freezing cold we would’ve explored Salem a bit more, but unfortunately we just wanted to get back to our warm rooms,” she said.
Not all of the stands were able to brave the elements. Stand owner Rumi Mahui said he gave up around 3 p.m., much earlier than he expected to. As he packed up his stand in the town square, he said that he had seen fewer people than previous years.
“Plus, with the weather, a lot of us just have to pack up early,” he said.
Some visitors said that the weather dampened their experience.
“I did have fun today, but it was because I was with friends,” Bass said. “The attractions didn’t stand out by themselves and it was freezing.”
For first-timer Feld, the experience was also “fun, except for the weather.”
Other potential festivities in the city included the Halloween Finale Fireworks and the Salem Common Family Fun Day.
The Salem Mayor’s office was unavailable for comment.
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great article Ms, De Angelis!
Professional, thorough, and exciting – keep up the great work!