Halloween 2010
Halloween is one of those holidays that is fun and entertaining for both kids and parents. Last year, my son and I experienced one of the best Halloween’s in Salem, Massachusetts. Each year Salem celebrates by hosting Haunted Happenings throughout the month of October. The event is known as “America’s Halloween Festival” includes activities like walking and trolley tours, psychics and sites like witch museums and haunted houses.
The Burying Point
Headed to Frankenstein’s Laboratory!
We started our weekend in the Haunted Neighborhood on Derby Street. I had purchased a Halloween Pass-through SalemWaxMuseum.com online before arriving. The pass included a cemetery tour, admission to the Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers and admission to two haunted houses, The Haunted Witch Village and Frankenstein’s Laboratory.
Stone at The Salem Witch Trials Memorial
My son and his friend loved the haunted houses and found them frightful. The museum was a disappointment, and we went through it in less than fifteen minutes, but we all enjoyed the tour through the cemetery and the Witch Trial Memorial. The Burying Point is the oldest burying ground in Salem. We saw the headstone of John Hathorne who was a judge of the Witchcraft court. He was an ancestor of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Not wanting to be associated with the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Nathaniel Hawthorne the spelling of his last name.
More Witches!
People watching was entertaining in itself! The boys had a great time touring the town in their costumes.
A tourist was posing with my son and his friend.
We checked out the stores and places to eat on the way down to the House of Seven Gables.
House of Seven Gables
We ended the day at the annual Carnival Fiesta Show where the boys had fun on the rides and playing games.
We had a great time and planned on heading to Salem again. The next time we go, I would love to stay at The Hawthorne Hotel over the last weekend of October and attend the Annual Costume Ball. Of course, both the hotel and the costume ball sell out quickly, and reservations typically need to be made far in advance. On our next visit to Salem, I would change things up from my visit in 2010, so I plan on starting our visit at the National Park Service Salem Visitor Center. The Heritage Trail is an easy walk along a red line to many of Salem’s attractions. I loved the Freedom Trail in Boston, and this sounds very similar. The trail hits highlights like the Witch History Museum, Salem Witch Museum and The Witch Dungeon Museum where there are reenactments of the Salem Witch Trials.
There is no better place to celebrate Halloween than in Salem, and if you are in driving distance, you really should put this destination on your “Must See and Do” list for at least once! In my case, it is on my list for many more Halloween’s to come! Planning is essential to make this a fun time for you and your family, so check out www.haunted happenings.org or like them on Facebook. You can even text SALEM to 72727 for updates! See you in Salem on Halloween and don’t forget to wear your scariest costume!
Witches Brew!
Look at my hands!
Arrgh!
That looks like so much fun!