Oct 272013
 

But, depending on the time 0f day/night, they may not lead out.

The City of Salem has published Road Closures & No Parking Zones for Halloween. And as a courtesy to our followers who may be nearby or are still miles away but planning to be here on the big day/night we are reprinting the schedule from the city website. Please note that all closures are subject to change based on conditions, crowd size, and other public safety factors.

Streets closed to traffic at approximately 4 p.m.( no later than 5 p.m.), and until approximately 11:30 p.m.

This means not only can’t you drive through these streets but if you parked there, you can’t leave either.No Parking

1.      Washington St. from New Derby to Bridge St.
2.      Essex St. from Barton Square to Union St.
3.      Derby St. from Lafayette St. to Congress St.
4.      Brown St. at New Liberty St. Second backup closure at Howard St.
5.      Lafayette St. from Derby to Front St.
6.      Hawthorne Blvd. from Derby St. to Essex St.
7.      Washington Sq. West from Essex to Brown St. Washington Sq. South closed. Washington Sq. North closed from Brown to Winter St.
8.      Winter St. at Bridge St. closed to inbound traffic.
9.      Williams St. at Bridge St.
10.     Congress St. closed at South Harbor Garage. Vehicles will be detoured to Pickering Way out to Derby St. Derby St. inbound traffic detoured to Little Hawthorne Blvd., right on Essex St. (Traffic direction will be reversed on Little Hawthorne Blvd.)

Streets closed to traffic from 10 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

1.      Bridge St. will be closed to traffic between the westerly ramps and the Bypass Road.
2.      Incoming Bridge St northbound traffic will be detoured up westerly ramps to North Street. Bypass Road inbound traffic from Beverly will be diverted back to Bridge Street and back to Beverly. Incoming southbound traffic from Bridge Street will be diverted to the Bypass Road and back to Beverly.
3.      Franklin Street may be closed to traffic if needed.

Other closures or openings could be decided as special circumstances arise.

No parking tow zones from 4 p.m. to midnight. These will be enforced.

1.      Lafayette St. both sides Front to Derby St.
2.      Public parking lot along Front St. Public parking spaces located on Central St. in front of old police station.
3.      Essex St. from Barton Sq. to Hawthorne Blvd.
4.      Derby St. both sides between Congress and Lafayette St.
5.      Hawthorne Blvd. both sides.
6.      Front St.
7.      Central St.
8.      Washington St. from New Derby to Bridge St. both sides.
9.      Washington Sq. North, South, and West both sides.
10.     Federal St. both sides from Washington to Superior Court.
11.     Norman St. from Washington to Crombie St.
12.     Franklin St. on the Furlong Park/North River side of the street.
13.     New Derby St. between Klop Alley and Lafayette St.

Visitors planning to come to Salem on October  31st are strongly encouraged to take the commuter rail or ride the Salem-to-Boston Ferry. For more information about traveling to Salem during Halloween visit the Haunted Happenings website and to be notified about road closures follow @GetThruOctober on Twitter or our own Twitter account @SalemMainStreets.

We will also have this information at our new Visitors’ Info Booth, which is at the corner of Washington and Essex Streets, across from the Bewitched Statue.

Share
Oct 242013
 

Adults, your turn to party in Salem. Last weekend we pointed out many of the fun things taking  place for kids. Things weekend it’s literally one party after another or at the same time. Better have your costumes & real IDs handy! Many of these may be sold out, so call or email as soon as possible.

Christian Day10/25
The Official Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball, 7:30pm – 12:30am
Join Christian Day and the Witches of Salem with guests Dragon Ritual Drummers for a night of magic, music, and rituals at one of Salem’s most magical Halloween parties! You are invited to join them as in days of old when fires burned on every hilltop and Witches gathered to feast, rejoice, and cast spells for the new year! Dance in the Hawthorne Hotel Grand Ballroom, feast on sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, and participate in the Costume Contest . Book tickets at www.festivalofthedead.com, 978-666-0765

Harry Potter Salem Halloween Ball,  8pm-midnight
DJs Alvis and Zombi will play Halloweeny/80s New Wave/Wrock/ Goth/Industrial music, there will be photo opportunities, and a full bar. All ages welcome, 21+ to drink (bring ID). You may not bring your own alcohol. Costume required (HP preferable but any fabulous costume will do) Knights of Columbus Ballroom, 94 Washington Square East, 978-745-3408

Fright Night Ball, 9pm-1am
Come to Rockafellas for their Fright Night Ball upstairs in Colonial Hall. Cash giveaway upstairs for best costume. DJ Carla D spinning upstairs. Other features to the night include psychics, horror movies, liquor tasting, chef prepared delights and various swag. They will be offering VIP balcony tickets. For details & reservations go to www.RockafellasofSalem.com, 978-745-2411

10/26
Highrock’s Masquerade Ball, 6-9pm
This Ball is to benefit the North Shore CDC! Family-friendly gathering with games, dancing, and merriment at Salem’s Old Town Hall, 6-9pm. Admission gets you 2 drinks (21+, please bring I.D.), dinner catered by Celia’s Restaurant. Your favorite costume or fancy attire with a mask! The North Shore Community Development Coalition connects Salem’s families in need with affordable housing, education, and services to thrive. For more info visit www.highrocknorthshore.org or email brynn@highrocknorthshore.org.

5th Annual Zombie Prom, 8-11:30pm
The petrifying costumes, the non-stop dance party, the crowning of a Prom King & Queen and the 400+ Zombies who attended Zombie Prom last year, proves why this is one of the most talked about, anticipated Halloween Parties to attend in Salem. For more info, go to http://www.victoriastationsalem.com/, 978-745-3400

Nightmare on Hawthorne Blvd, 8-12am
The Annual Costume Party held at the historic Hawthorne Hotel is a night of food, music, and controlled chaos, interrupted only by a fantastic costume contest with up to $1,700 in prizes.  For more info, see http://www.hawthornehotel.com/Halloween, 978-744-4080.

Gulu Gulu Halloween Party, 8-11pm
It’s that time of year again! Our annual ticketed event featuring the music of the amazing DJ Noel Snow, dancing, a costume competition, and the best food & drink this side of Czechoslovakia!  Gulu Gulu Cafe, 740-8882

Voodoo Ball, 9pm-1am
Come to Rockafellas for their Voodoo Ball upstairs in Colonial Hall. With a Voodoo theme, choose your poison and dress to the nines because the best costume upstairs receives big cash giveaway. DJ Carla D spinning upstairs. Other features to the night include psychics, horror movies, liquor tasting, chef prepared delights and various swag. They will be offering VIP balcony tickets. For more info go to www.RockafellasofSalem.com, 978-745-2411

Share
Oct 172013
 

Oh to be a kid in Salem Ma during Haunted Happenings. We’ve had Family Days on the Common. The Big Draw in front of the Peabody Essex Museum. There is a Carnival on Derby Street. And not a week goes by that one of our Downtown stores or organizations isn’t offering some activity focusing on children.

Just look at what is on this weekend’s horizon.

Sat./Sun. 11am-noon: Professor Wunders’ School of Magic. This is promoted as a fantastic event for families, with fun special effects and audience participation! Learn the basics of magic, and cast exciting spells with Professor Wunders. Every child receives a magic glow ring as a gift before the show. Free pictures with the Wizard on stage after the show. 7 Lynde St (Gallows Hill Museum Theater) For ticket prices: 978-825-0222 or GallowsHillSalem.com/

Sat./Sun. 11am-5pm: Ask a Witch & Make a Wand. You are invited to stop by and make a wand with the Witches Education League. Ask questions about Witches and Witchcraft. This is the 20th anniversary of Ask A Witch. All proceeds go to charities. Artemisia Botanicals, 3 Hawthorne Blvd ArtemisiaBotanicals.com

Kid's Day on the Common

Sat./Sun. 11am-5pm: Salem Common Fun Days. Where else can you find nteractive inflatables, games, entertainers, fun foods, contests and more other than on the Salem Common. Brought to you by New England Parties. A portion of proceeds will benefit non-profit partner Salem Common Neighborhood Association. Salem Common

Sat. Noon-3pm: Annual Children’s Halloween Parade & Costume Party Children ages 3-10 are invited to Salem Common in costume. From there the parade travels down Essex Street to a costume competition in Derby Square. Parade Registration at 11am, parade begins at noon. Costume party from 1pm-3pm at the Phoenix School. Rain location: 89 Margin St. Salem Common PhoenixSchool.org

Sat./Sun. Noon-10pm: Haunted Happenings Carnival Once again Fiesta Shows builds something out of nothing, creating andelight for all the senses for kids of all ages. takes over while visiting Salem and act your age somewhere else! Games, rides and all the fun rolled up in one! Derby St.

Sat.1-3pm: Jedi Knight Training will be held on the Common Children between four and nine years of age will have a chance to interact with a real Jedi Knight. And this interactive performance is geared for both boys and girls! Children are led through a series of challenges including Jedi Force Magic, the Laser Balloon Barrage and Jedi Teamwork culminating in an epic lightsaber duel with the JePumpkinsdi Master himself. There is no admission fee and costumes are encouraged! Salem Common.

One other item to mention is the Sixth Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Strictly for people on the younger side, it is set up with three age groupings: 6-year old and under, 7-10 year old and 11-14 year old. Their pumpkins will be on display for family, friends and tourists to view during October on Salem Common. Objects, paper, and materials of any kind may be pinned or glued to pumpkins. Participants may also draw or paint on their entries. They are to deliver finished works of art to the Common Oct. 18 from 4-7pm and Oct. 19 from 11am to 2pm. Judging will take place Oct. 20 at 11am. For full rules go to Salem Patch.

Share
Oct 092013
 

What exactly are you planning to do with last year’s costumes? Will you arrive again at cousin Jerry’s party as Bigfoot? And what about little Jack & Jill? Maybe they’ve outgrown “Toy Story.” If you’re like most people, as much as you don’t want to, you will end up tossing the costumes into the trash and buying new ones. But there is an economic and ecological alternative: swapping costumes. And you can do it Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, right here in Salem.

The City of Salem Recreation Department will be accepting costumes for its 2nd Annual Salem Costume Swap at the Salem Senior Center. You may drop off gently used adult, kid or pet costumes Thursday from 8am to 7pm and Friday from 8am to 4pm. They will also accept Halloween accessories.

In return, you will receive one swap ticket to claim a new-to-you costume at the actual Salem Costume Swap on Saturday, October 12th at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, 13 Hawthorrne Blvd.

No costume to swap? Still want to shop? No Problem! Stop by the Salem Boys & Girls Club that day from 10am to 1pm to purchase any costume for $5. Proceeds will benefit Salem youth programs.

Green Halloween®, a non-profCostum Swapit community initiative set up to create healthier and more sustainable holidays, began sponsoring National Costume Swap Day in October 2010. In partnership with Kiwi Magazine and Swap.com, parents, young adults and kids across America can come together to swap out once-used Halloween costumes and walk away with something new.

According to their website “Swapping half the costumes kids wear at Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6500 tons, equal to the weight of 2500 midsize cars.”

So, make it an eeek-ological and eeek-onomic Halloween.

Share
Oct 062013
 

Biz Baz HatsBargains were there for the taking at the featured event this weekend, The Haunted Biz Baz. The Salem Chamber of Commerce produced a lively market atmosphere that motivated visitors and residents to move from one booth to another, charmed and delighted.

There were also plenty of activites for children during daytime hours such as the Salem Common Family Fun Day or The Big Draw at Peabody Essex Museum.

Adults faced their fears at night at The Terrifying Haunted House, Terror at the Village, and some terrifying Tales at the Witch House.

Biz Baz 10-5 PM2

Or you could just take a break from it all. The Salem Theatre Company is presenting “The Crucible,” while Gordon College/History Alive is offering “Goodnight, Captain White.”

Our Info Booth volunteers helped nearly 2000 people this weekend. Check our calendar for events during the week, and mark your date books to join us next weekend when we do it all over again.

Share