Haunted Happenings – Page 10 – 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.

Anything Happening Before Halloween?

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Sep 272013

Spotlights are about to be switched on. While it may not be the Greatest Show on Earth, Salem’s “Haunted Happenings” October month-long festival will give most other Halloween festivals a run for their money. But before we turn the page to all that is dark and gloomy and fun, September has one more week.

And what a week it has been and will still be.

Another great Farmers Market took place on Thursday, followed by a lively PEM/PM after-hours gathering of the Steampunk followers (as evidenced by the lively Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band pictured here). Feed the stomach and the mind.

Speaking of feeding oneself, Billy Costa of NECN’s “TV Diner” will serve (could not resist) as the emcee of the 4th Annual Mystery Dine Around Salem Waterfront Hotel, Friday from 5:30-11pm. The menu? “Be transported to one of 15 designated restaurants for a fabulous dinner; then following dinner, guests return to the hotel to enjoy the Decadent Dessert Buffet, dancing, live DJ, and the opportunity to bid on an assortment of auction items.” There may be tickets still available, call 978.740.8788. Proceeds to benefit The Lifebridge Campus.

Then looking ahead to Saturday, well you can’t beat the drums loud enough to support the special fundraiser for the Boys/Girls Club of Salem music program taking place at Wynott’s Wands, 127 Essex St.

Salem musician Aaron Katz from The Dejas plans to drum 30 hours straight in an effort to set a new World-Record for Drumming in a Retail Store. And spurring him on will hopefully be you and other community members making donations.

Children, tourists, artists and residents are invited to get involved and bring their own instruments to participate and show solidarity for the music program’s initiative— as well as give Aaron some musical changes of pace for his drumming.

Survival of another kind manifests itself later in the day, as The Running Dead- Zombie 5K run is unleashed. Runners will try to stay the course while besieged by “zombies” who have the lone goal of eliminating you. The choice is yours. Proceeds will benefit the NSMC Cancer Center. Info and registration at www.runningdeadz5k.com

And then the weekend ends with a full Sunday.

Cruise the historic waters of Salem Sound aboard a full-scale replica of the 1812 privateer schooner FAME! From 11am to 12:45pm passengers will learn about the fishermen, pirates, privateers, traders and men of war who shaped our North Shore. Limited Availability! No reservations. Booth opens at 10:30AM. First come, first served. 80 Pickering Wharf. More info available at www.trailsandsails.org.

Enjoy Spiritual Middens: The Archaeology of Folklore – an exhibit and artifacts on display at the Witch House, 310 1/2 Essex St. You will find featured deliberately concealed items designed to protect a home’s vulnerable places, the threshold and the hearth. Entrance to the exhibit is free to Trails & Sails event attendees from 1-3pm only. For more info go to www.trailsandsails.org.

Learn about Salem and the Abolitionist Movement. A walking tour will begin at Old Town Hall in Derby Square; examine the history and impact of local and national abolitionists in Salem. This 90 minute tour will move around downtown Salem on city sidewalks. For more info go to www.trailsandsails.org. Runs from 1-3 pm.

Share an experience as you observe The 3rd Annual Gimme Shelter Birdhouse Auction, 1-3 pm at Artist’s Row, 24 New Derby St. Featured birdhouses were designed, built, and donated by local folks of all ages and abilities. Proceeds to benefit the Northeast Animal Shelter. Hosted by Salem Collective of Artists and Musicians, Serendipitish, and Social Palates. For more info go to salemcollective@gmail.com. or www.facebook.com/salemcollective/events

Drive over to Winter Island Pavilion for the 4 Paws Fundraiser Charity Cookout for Service Dogs, from 1-5 pm. Food, games, a bounce house, and music are all included for the price of admission! Plus raffle prizes. All proceeds will go to the Charity 4PawsforAbility towards Gabriel Lacerda’s goal to help him receive an Autism Service Dog! Fun for the whole family and a great cause! For more details go to www.paws4gabe.com

Taste the Gables. Join local chefs for an elegant evening of fun, food, and camaraderie under the tent on The Gables’ oceanfront lawn. Proceeds will benefit the preservation of eight historic houses. Caterers and chefs, vintners and brewers will offer their specialties and compete for your vote. It runs from 4-8 pm at 115 Derby St. For more info go to www.7gables.org.

Many of these events are benefits. Salem may be famous for Halloween as a tourist destination, but we are that and so much more.

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.

Happy Halloween!

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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.

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