Festive Fridays in Salem for Your Holiday Shopping Needs

 Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, SMS News  No Responses »
Dec 012017
 

How much do you plan to spend on holiday gifts in 2017? The average for shoppers around the USA is approx. $983 according to the American Research Group, Inc which has been polling people every year since 1985. Nearly $1000 for the kids, spouse, family and friends. And if Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday and Cyber Monday didn’t empty your wallet or fill all the stockings, then consider Festive Fridays in Salem.

Festive Fridays is an effort to make shopping work a little better on your schedule as many of our stores will be staying open later on Friday nights. No need to rush to crowded malls. No need to fight for a parking space that will leave you with a 5 minute+ walk from the parking lot to the building.

And where else but in Salem can you find an eclectic array of stores and eateries from which to purchase products, services or just plain gift cards?

Salem Main Streets is encouraging downtown retailers to stay open late every Friday this December leading up to Christmas to help you with your holiday shopping! Each week, we’ll post a list of businesses that have committed to staying open until at least 8 pm, as well as any great deals or special treats that you can look forward to.

Take a #selfiewithashopkeeper and you could win free parking via the Passport parking app!

This week’s participating businesses include:
– The Artists’ Row – Salem, MA tenants – Grace & Diggs, Hervor Soaps, Ceramics by Sibel, Boston Woodturning, ZBY Gallery, and The Lobster Shanty
– A Sacred Place Wellness Center
– Coon’s Card & Gift Shop
– The Coven’s Cottage
– FreakyElegant
– The Happy Sunflower
– Laura Lanes Skin Care
– Mark Your Spot Salem
– Modern Millie Vintage & Consignments
– Moody Interiors
– Ocean Chic Boutique & Waterbar
– Partridge in a Bear Tree Salem
– RJ Coins and Jewelry
– Salemdipity
– Trolley Depot
– Wicked Good Books
– Witch City Wicks
– Witch Pix
– Ye Olde Pepper Companie

We will update with more as participants are confirmed! We will also keep a light on for you!

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Salem Wants Your Reactions to Recent “Haunted Happenings” Halloween Celebration

 Haunted Happenings, History, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping  1 Response »
Nov 262017
 

Everybody has an opinion although sometimes people don’t want to hear yours. But we do when it comes to reactions, comments, criticism, and suggestions about Haunted Happenings in Salem Ma.

Gone but not forgotten, our month-long celebration of Halloween (and all things spooky) doesn’t just happen by itself. It takes a lot of planning by a lot of people, groups, merchants and attractions.

To that end, the city of Salem has scheduled an “after action” review of Halloween 2017 for this Thursday, Nov. 30 from 5-6pm at the Salem Five Community Room, 210 Essex Street.

Everyone is welcome: tourists, business owners and most especially residents! We want you to share feedback with Mayor Kim Driscoll, and city officials in the public safety, traffic & parking, and public works departments.

What did you like, what worked well, and what did not work well for you this past October? Parking? Traffic patterns? Noise?

If you are unable to attend, the Mayor’s team still wants to hear from you. Submit feedback to mayor@salem.com or write to Office of Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, Salem City Hall, 93 Washington Street, Salem Ma 01970.

Thousands of people flood our community every weekend during October. They generate a significant amount of revenue for merchants and attractions. But unintentionally visitors also impact the lives of residents. This is your chance to help Haunted Happenings continue to be an event that serves the needs of all of Salem.

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Trick or Treat Again & Again & Again in Salem

 Haunted Happenings, New Businesses, Parade, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping  No Responses »
Oct 202017
 

Most kids’ Halloween costumes are worn once on October 31st and then put away, perhaps to be worn the next year. Most likely they will be passed down or donated. But not in Salem Ma., where we give our kids the chance to wear their costumes several times. Point in fact this Sunday, Oct 22nd when Trick or Treat on the Wharf takes place at Pickering Wharf.

To recap, it all begins with the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade when the children of Salem dress in costumes to help kick off our month-long celebration of Halloween. This is followed with Mayor’s Night Out where the little ones accompany the Mayor on a visit to businesses in our Downtown District which have goodies to hand out. And although the Howl-o-ween Pet Parade was for the animals to be in costume, their youthful owners could come dressed up as well.

It will conclude, of course, with actual trick or treating on Halloween afternoon/evening as children in costume visit homes of neighbors.

But this Sunday, there is one more event to delight the little ones. Participating establishments at Pickering Wharf will be offering treats for kids, as well as giving parents that one more chance to get more mileage out of the “must have” costume of 2017!

The Trick or Treat on the Wharf event runs from 5-7pm at Pickering Wharf.

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Marching Monsters Haunt Halloween Parade in Salem

 History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities  1 Response »
Oct 032017
 

Photo Credit – Social Palates/Creative Salem via Salem Chamber

Movie Monsters will flood the streets of Salem this Thursday, Oct. 5th as the 22nd annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade officially kicks off THE Halloween season for tourists and residents alike.

Twenty-two years. If you were a 10-year-old kid dressed in costume for any of the first few, quite possibly you have a son or daughter participating this year. Tradition is a big deal for this parade.

Another tradition involves picking a theme to help participants get creative in their costuming and float themes. Movie Monsters opens a vast panorama from which to dig deep the creative juices. We look forward to the sights and sounds.

According to the Salem Chamber of Commerce, which produces the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, “The choice of costumes for this year’s parade is endless, based on all the classic and beloved monster themed movies parents and kids love. The parade audience will see a lot of characters from Monsters Inc., Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter, and The Addams Family, to name a few. Thriller might make a comeback and one or two horror movie characters might join the Salem Chamber Haunted Happenings Parade as well!”

Who participates?

Children & teens from Salem schools along with adults from schools, businesses, city offices, fire & police departments and other organizations participate as volunteers, organizers, planners, walkers and cleanup crews. It really is a group effort.

What’s the Route?

Haunted Happenings Grand Parade begins at Shetland properties on Congress street, precisely at 6:30pm. Marchers turn left onto Derby Street, right onto Central Street, left onto Front Street, right onto Washington Street, right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finish at the Salem common.

Friends and family cheer them on along the way, and at the Common they will be entertained by local favorite DJ Doug.

If you would like to volunteer to help with aspects of the Parade, contact the Chamber at 978-744-0004.

Mark your calendar to remind you to visit us this Thursday to see the spirit of Halloween on the faces of kids as the spotlight is all theirs.

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Horror Fest Creepily Seeps into Sept. PEM/PM Metal Macabaret

 Salem Event, Salem Festivals  No Responses »
Sep 192017
 

Now here is a scary good deal! Salem Horror Fest Opening Night Party at PEM/PM featuring Metal Macabaret will take place on the 3rd Friday of the month (that’s this Friday, Sept. 22nd at 6 pm) instead of the usual 3rd Thursday for PEM/PM.

Hauntingly inspired by the current Peabody Essex Museum Exhibition It’s Alive! Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection, PEM teamed up with Salem Horror Fest to make an event that will make you tingle all over, from head to toe and through your bones!

The Salem Horror Fest, if you have been locked away in a dungeon, underground somewhere, is a four-week festival of fear (9/21-10/15) here in the Halloween-capital of the world! Screenings, exhibits, parties, concerts, guests & more!

PEM/PM Activities

Creepily create your own horror poster, dance demonly to beats by DJ Zombi and live tunes by Scary Mary and the Audio Corsette. Carve out some time to check out works by locals featured in the Women in Horror expo and enjoy a feature performance by M Lamar.

And the highlight of the evening: you won’t want to miss the 9 pm screening of Night of the Living Dead to kick off the Salem Horror Fest (separate ticket required).

This is THE ultimate big bash opening to the Halloween season!  But while costumes and masks will abound on the streets of Salem during our month-long Haunted Happenings celebration, the Peabody Essex Museum asks that for this event you refrain from any full-face makeup or masks in the museum for security reasons.

As with all PEM/PM events, it will also feature after-hours access to the museum galleries, interactive and art-focused experiences, an informal atmosphere including live music or DJ performances, tailored culinary offerings and a cash bar.

The goal is to present to the community multiple opportunities to interact with artists and performers, tinkerers and thinkers.

Members, as well as college students & Salem residents (with ID) will be admitted free of charge. For nonmembers, there is a $12 fee.

The PEM is located at East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA. For more info, call 978-745-9500, or toll free 866-745-1876.

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