Fans of spooky season everywhere have celebrating Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts on their bucket lists, and for good reason. Infamous for being the site of the 1692 Salem witch trials and now known for hosting the self-proclaimed largest Halloween celebration in the world, it’s a must-visit fall destination for fans of the spookiest holiday of the year.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Salem Haunted Happenings, a month-long festival featuring Halloween-themed parties, parades, fairs, and more. The small city welcomes half a million visitors each October, so it is crucial visitors plan ahead to ensure their visit to Salem is as unforgettable as possible.
The easiest way to streamline your trip to Salem is by chartering a Tradewind Aviation Pilatus PC-12 directly into Beverly Regional Airport, which is just 15 minutes from downtown Salem. Though Salem’s distance from Boston is only around 20 miles, traffic from the city can be unpredictable, oftentimes taking more than an hour to reach the historic hamlet.
Hotels and B&Bs book up quickly for October weekends. The Hawthorne Hotel, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is a classic option and hosts the iconic annual Halloween Ball, which takes place across three floors of the hotel and includes a band and several DJs.
Another conveniently located option is the Salem Waterfront Hotel, which is a short walk from many of the town’s most famous sites and boasts beautiful water views. The hotel also hosts two popular Halloween parties: the Wicked Night on the Wharf party on October 29 and a Children’s Costume Ball October 22.
Making even more last-minute plans? The Salem visitor’s center has a comprehensive list of the area’s lodging options. Most area hotels offer Halloween events for guests during October, so be sure to see what’s on offer where you’re staying.
Salem hosts hundreds of events during the month of October, so narrowing down what you’d like to do is quite the task. Those who are interested in live-action experiences will love The Salem Haunted Magic Show (opt for VIP tickets to be seated in the front row). Or, travel back in time to 1692 to a recreation of a live witch trial at Gallows Hill Museum Theatre. If you’re visiting on an October weekend, a skip-the-line VIP pass is a must.
If exploring the paranormal is more your vibe, Salem offers abundant ghost tours that suit your interests. Gallows Hill offers an After Hours Ghost Hunt, and Salem Ghosts hosts multiple ghost tours per night (add on an extra 30 minutes to see four additional haunted Salem locations).
Witch City Walking Tours offers experiences that go beyond ghosts and witches. Its Murder & Mysteries of Salem walking tour tells the true crime stories of the town’s most bone-chilling murders (don’t take the kids to this one). For something slightly less spooky but no less fun, opt for a self-guided tour of all the Hocus Pocus filming locations across town. Witch City does offer a professionally guided Hocus Pocus tour, but it has not yet released any October tour dates as of late September.
There’s never a shortage of haunted happenings in Salem, but with the right itinerary in October, it’ll be a trip you won’t soon forget.
To learn more about booking a charter flight to Beverly (BVY/KBVY), please visit our website. To receive a quote, please submit an inquiry here or contact our specialists at sales@flytradewind.com or 1-800-376-7922 option 2.