Halloween – Page 9 – Salem Main Streets

Keeping the Kid in Halloween

Oct 012013

Before the Halloween celebration is ravaged by the hordes of grown-ups and the wild costumes, we in Salem make sure the children get their day in the sun (so to speak…).

The Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. If you know anything about Salem Ma and our month-long Haunted Happenings celebration, you have heard of this march around town.

This year step off is at 6:30pm on Oct. 3; it begins at Shetland Park, ambles through Salem, and ends at the Common. The theme is “Books Come Alive.” Most any resident in Salem can tell you they were either a parent, relative or neighbor of some child who marched in the parade— or they were in the parade themselves.

According to Rinus Oosthoek, Executive Director, Salem Chamber of Commerce, “It is a night-time tradition that brings out the entire city and people from all of the surrounding cities and towns to kick off the Halloween season. It is filled with color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college age and local business owners.”

To mount such an undertaking, though, The Chamber of Commerce is still looking for volunteers to help.

Volunteers will be helping with:

Helping participants find their spot in the parade
Lining up the 8 parade line-up sections
Finding banner carriers in their section (or walking/carrying the banner in the parade themselves).
All volunteers can join the VIP’s at the end of the Parade on the Grandstand in front of the Common.

It’s fun and we call the event “organized chaos” from start to finish…., and we hope you can help.

Volunteers should be at the entrance to Shetland Office park between 5-5.30pm to receive their assignment and pick up their volunteer T-shirt.

Contact the Chamber at info@salem-chamber.org or call 978-745-3855.

If that wasn’t enough, Friday night, Oct. 4, there are two more events in which the little ones can participate.

The Mayor’s Night Out (3-10pm) is when Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, in partnership with Salem’s attractions and museums, welcomes Salem residents to check us out on our dime. Salem residents (kids too) with ID, are admitted free to attractions and museums. ID also provides free parking in the East India Mall garage after 4pm. Look for “Mayor’s Night Out” signs at participating businesses.

Our mayor is a busy person…. you can Join Mayor Driscoll for Trick-or-Treating at the East India Fountain. We will Trick-or-Treat along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, The Museum Place Mall Shops, and beyond. Trick-or-Treat Bags provided. Costumes encouraged. Parents bring the kids. Kids bring your parents.

For more information on these two events, call Salem City Hall at 978-745-9595.

Haunted Happenings Honored

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Sep 152013

Salem MainStreets has always known that Haunted Happenings is an event worthy of national recognition. Now others not only know it, they are spreading the word. The American Bus Association (ABA) has announced that our month-long celebration is one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2014

ABA’s Top 100 Events in North America is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. Each spring, a committee of ABA-member motorcoach and tour operators selects the Top 100 Events for the subsequent year; the list is unveiled in September. Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events, and more that have been nominated by ABA members.

“The attractiveness of Salem Haunted Happenings as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Salem,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA’s president and CEO. “The real news here is that Haunted Happenings has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when re-energizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives Salem, Massachusetts an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.”

The Top 100 Events receive worldwide attention via the media–television, radio, and print–such as USA Today and CNN. ABA distributes some 10,000 copies of the Top 100 Events in North America magazine, featuring the winners, to all of its members and to thousands of travelers worldwide.

“Motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer,” Pantuso said. “That’s why Haunted Happenings is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.”

And unlike most other “celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events,” ours is neither a one nor two day event; it is 31 days & nights filled with music, art, history, entertainment, costumes and magical moments.

Check out the several spots Salem Ma has designated for motorcoaches. Then, women & men, leave the driving to them.

Wanted: Ambassadors To Share Salem

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Sep 082013

September means many things to people along the North Shore, but here in Salem it foretells the approach of October and our month-long celebration of all things Halloween-related.

As Salem prepares for its busy October tourist season, residents are invited to help people who come to the Witch City that month make the most of their visit.

“Salem Main Streets is recruiting 60 – 80 volunteer ambassadors to staff the downtown information booth during October weekends and Halloween day itself; the booth is located at the Essex Street pedestrian mall,” announces Judy Kearney, co-coordinator (along with Mira Riggin) of the SMS booth project. The ambassadors will hand out maps to tourists and provide them with information about Salem’s attractions, businesses and October events.

She adds, “There is also a particular need for multilingual ambassadors to assist international visitors.”

Each volunteer ambassador will be asked to commit to two, two-hour shifts and to complete a training program scheduled for 9:30am on September 21 at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street.

The downtown information booth operates each year in October and last year assisted more than 27,500 visitors.

For more information or to become a volunteer ambassador, email Judy Kearney at judykearney830@gmail.com, Mira Riggin at mriggin2@comcast.net, or call Salem Main Streets at 978 744-0004.

Salem First Friday Starts October 5

Salem Shopping, SMS News No Responses »

Sep 262012

Salem Main Streets is excited to announce a new initiative called “Salem First Friday” where many downtown Salem businesses will stay open until at least 8 p.m. on the First Friday of every month. Businesses will host special events and entertainment, offer discounts and promotions.

During the first First Friday, October 5, locals can enjoy Trick-or-Treating with Mayor Kimberley Driscoll starting on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall at the entrance of the Museum Place mall at 5:30 p.m. Hundreds of children are expected to dress up and trick-or-treat with the Mayor.

Many Salem attractions will be open Free to Salem Residents starting at 3 p.m. As always, the Salem Witch Museum and Peabody Essex Museum are free to Salem Residents but during this night additional attractions will be open free to residents.

There will be many downtown businesses offering special events, promotions and entertainment. Events Friday, October 5 include a wine tasting, movie night, musical entertainment and more. Here are a sample of some of the participating businesses: Boston Bead Company, Seed Stitch, Avalanche Company Store, Maria’s Sweet Somethings, Pamplemousse, Mud Puddle Toys, Treasures Over Time, Rouge Cosmetics, Glass and Etc., and Two Girls Shop. To learn more about the event visit the Facebook site /SalemFirstFriday.

To participate, businesses must commit to staying open late for the first Friday until at least 8 p.m. and have entertainment or activities in their store to draw shoppers and create a monthly Salem downtown “event” night. If you would like more information on “First Fridays” or are a business or entertainer interested in participating, please contact John Andrews at john@socialpalates.com or organizer Jennifer Bell at Jennifer@salemmainstreets.org (978)744-0004 x15.

Halloween in Salem is Almost Here…Need We Say More?

Haunted Happenings, SMS News No Responses »

Oct 272011

Salem’s biggest day of the year is almost upon us. Don’t miss the exciting events Salem has in store for the finale of the 2011 Haunted Happenings!

People of all ages can enjoy the colorful, Halloween-inspired atmosphere of downtown Salem, local shops, restaurants and the charm of this historical New England city in fall. A concert stage will be set up on Washington Street showcasing local musicians daily from October 28-Halloween night. These performances are free for all!

Families with young children can come down to the Common from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. for Family Fun Day on October 29 & 30. This new kid-friendly event features a variety of rides and attractions, face painting, contests, food, music and more!

Those ages 21+ can have some adult fun dressed in their best costumes as they dance the night away at several Halloween-themed balls and parties around town.

On Halloween Night, get in costume and join thousands of revelers from around the country and around the world in downtown Salem. DJs and bands will be playing free concerts on stages all over the city to provide musical accompaniment to the magic and thrill that is Salem on Halloween. The main stage on Washington Street will provide concerts from 4-11 p.m. Be sure to stay for the fireworks over the North River at 10 p.m.! They provide the perfect ending to another wonderful October.

Click here for more information on Halloween weekend and Halloween night events.

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