Haunted Happenings – Page 3 – Salem Main Streets

So, Anything Going On This Week in Salem Ma?

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News No Responses »

Oct 012014

Step right up, though this may not be the “greatest show on Earth,” Salem Ma does try its best to give residents, North Shore neighbors and visitors the most for their time & money spent here during the month of October. Just this week we are opening our Info Booth to be staffed with ambassadors of goodwill to assist fun-seekers and officially kicking off festivities with the Chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, as well as once again launching the Mayor’s Night Out and Trick or Treat with the Mayor events.

Practically speaking there are more activities scheduled for the first three days of October than we have room for in this blog. We suggest you look at the calendar information supplied by at least these three great community websites. Mix and match the information.

Specifically we would like to point out that:

The 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce steps off Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 6:30pm. This year’s parade theme is “Fantasy.” Children from grade school through high school and perhaps a big kid or two from college will march through our streets in costume as a tip of the hat to all the activities to follow this month. The spotlight, though, is where it should be, on the young people who keep Halloween alive with their imagination.

The Mayor’s Night Out is Oct. 3rd and that Friday Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, in partnership with Salem’s attractions and museums, encourages Salem residents to leave their homes to sample attractions, museums and even parking (at East India Mall garage after 4 pm) free of charge! Just bring your Salem ID and be on the look-out from 3 – 10 pm for “Mayor’s Night Out” signs at participating businesses.

Trick-or-Treating with Mayor Kim Driscoll at the East India Fountain takes place from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Bring the kids, join the Mayor as the procession will Trick-or-Treat along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, The Museum Place Mall Shops, and beyond. Trick-or-Treat Bags provided. Costumes encouraged. And of course, it is another free of charge event.

Salem’s Downtown District is prepared to show you a good time this month, this 5th season of our calendar year. We welcome “kids of all ages,” to explore and be entertained.

It Waits… For You… The Info Booth

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities No Responses »

Sep 292014

Hauntingly standing in and out of the shadows, the Salem Main Streets Haunted Happenings Information Booth waits patiently on the corner of Essex and Washington Streets. It waits for you.

For resident and tourist alike, young and old, American and foreign traveler, it does not discriminate in its need to feed— you information. Now that it has been dropped into place, the booth sits day and night awaiting the launch of our season of service. Volunteers will start staffing Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30 pm to coincide with the Haunted Happenings kick-off Grand Parade.

Stephanie Hagyard, a volunteer since 2008, and coordinator of this year’s SMS info team says “Our shift schedule will be 2 – 6 pm on Fridays (noon – 8 pm on Halloween), 10 am – 6 pm on Saturdays and noon – 5 pm on Sundays (might vary to 11 am on Sundays depending on staffing). The only holiday is Columbus day which will be a 10 am- 4 pm effort.”

She adds, “Most shifts are filled but there are a few dates/shifts that I would like to get a third/fourth person on- and November 1st is a new addition this year that needs people.” If you would like to volunteer, contact Stephanie at shagyard@yahoo.com.

You would become part of a community of ‘community volunteers’ who have provided direction and support to nearly 140,000 visitors since 2008. And this year with Halloween on a Friday, we can expect record numbers to cross Washington Street at Essex Street (which is the location of our booth).

Asked for advance advice to offer 10/31 visitors, Stephanie offered “Park once, wear comfy shoes, walk around, dress in layers, pay attention to your surroundings; if you are at an establishment getting lunch/dinner/coffee use the bathroom even if you don’t think you need to because who knows how long lines will be at other restrooms that are public.”

That’s the kind of straightforward, we believe useful info, you need from the booth volunteers, along with where the “witch this” and “witch that” are located.

The Info Booth beckons you….

Why Do People Come To Salem?

Haunted Happenings, History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Workshops No Responses »

Sep 262014

Simple question. Complex answer. Do they come for the witches and magic and monsters and such? Or is it “much, much more” as has been put forth by others (like in these star-studded video shorts)?

One strong possibility (at least from the looks of our blog entries) is the literary aspect. Everybody knows about Salem’s Nathaniel Hawthorne and House of Seven Gables connection. But in the last week or so, we’ve written blogs about Salem’s relationship with:

1- Edgar Allan Poe. It appears that “A Tell-Tale Heart” might have been based on the grisly murder of Capt. Joseph White in 1830 Salem. And in the midst of our Haunted Halloween Happenings next month there will be interactive events fostered by The Scarlet Letter Press & Gallery to honor Mr. Poe.

2- Charles Dickens. Dickens scholars from around the world, as well as local & international performers, historians and artists have been invited to attend Pickwickian Endeavors, a weekend long conference Sept. 26-28 to held at the Salem Athenaeum and other city spots. This conference is scheduled to feature over 20 presenters and performers. All topics Dickens will be up for discussion.

3- Banned Books. Banned Books Week, has been taking place all week at Wicked Good Books, ending Sept. 27th. According to the American Library Association (ALA) “Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

4- Book Swap. What can you do with a book? Read it, of course. And then? Use it as a paperweight. Or use two as bookends. The city of Salem offered a more community-minded suggestion recently with a Free Book & Media Swap

And also worthy of note is November’s upcoming Salem Literary Festival.

Proof enough that you can’t judge the Salem book just by its cover.

“Fantasy” to Become Reality as Theme for Halloween Parade

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals No Responses »

Sep 162014

Photo courtesy Social Palates

Preparations are underway for the 19th Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. Step off is Thursday, Oct. 2nd for this gathering of young and old to launch our month-long celebration of Halloween, Salem’s “5th Season.” This year’s event will feature the theme “Fantasy.”

But the parade has expenses, and that is where the Chamber looks to merchants in the community to help defray the costs of extra police, ambulance, security, advertising, staging, etc.

This is accomplished through sponsorships of banners to be carried within the parade. For more info call 978-745-3855 or go to the Chamber of Commerce website. Deadline is this Friday, Sept. 19th.

As for the parade itself, you need be neither magician nor crystal ball gazer to foresee an endless choice of costumes based on many fantasy themed movies and books; expect to see a lot of characters from Frozen, Harry Potter, Narnia, Spiderman as well as Ghostbusters (30 year anniversary and re-release), Avatar and Hunger Games.

This time honored kick off of the Halloween season is full of color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college and our local business owners. Their participation is what makes this a highly successful, cherished event for our community, neighbors and visitors.

Happy Halloween!

Haunted Happenings, Salem Festivals, Uncategorized No Responses »

Oct 312012

Have a Happy Halloween!!!

The witching hour is at hand! Actually every hour is a magical one today in Salem, MA. Our Information Booth is open on the corner of Washington and Essex Streets (across from the Bewitched Statue) where our Volunteer Ambassadors stand ready to answer questions and provide directions. Also, we urge you to make your next stop at the National Park Service Visitor Center (2 Liberty Street) where they have brochures, bathrooms, and more.

Speaking of more, what could you ask for? Temperatures expected in upper 50’s with partly cloudy (essential spooky look for Halloween) skies. Visit our haunted attractions, our diverse dining establishments, and all the shops along Essex, Front, Derby and other streets easily within a 15 minute walk of our Info Booth.

There will be music tonight starting at 4 p.m. at Washington and Federeral Street provided by 92.9 The Halloween Fireworks Finale will be at 10 p.m. (weather permitting) at Washington and Bridge Street. Trick or treating starts at 5:30 p.m. For a full list of events and attractions visit www.hauntedhappenings.org.

Don’t forget for your post-Halloween fun the Salem Winter Market which opens Thursday from 3 – 6 p.m. in Old Town Hall and First Friday November 2 with live music, discountes, and lots of great events.

Older Entries Newer Entries