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🎃 City Guide · Massachusetts · 2026 Season
Looking for Halloween events in Salem, MA? From the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade to witches’ balls, haunted speakeasies, waterfront lantern walks and psychic fairs, the Witch City turns October into a month-long Halloween capital celebration. Browse the event cards below — tap any event for full details, dates, prices and tips.
Top Halloween Events in Salem for 2026
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Parade
Haunted Happenings Grand Parade — Salem, MA
ParadeFree Admission
The 29th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade is the official kickoff to Salem’s month-long Halloween festival. Thousands of costumed…
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Artisan Market
Haunted Happenings Marketplace — Salem, MA
Artisan MarketFamily Friendly
Salem’s signature open-air Halloween shopping event. Over 200 local artisans set up across four downtown venues — Salem Common, Derby…
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Road Race
Witch City 5K Road Race — Salem, MA
Road RaceFundraiser
A costumed 5K road race through Salem Willows Park benefiting the Salem YMCA. The course is stroller- and leashed-dog-friendly, with…
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Costume Walk
Salem Zombie Walk — Salem, MA
Costume WalkFree
A free, family-friendly undead procession starting at Salem Common. All ages are welcome to shamble along “from the living to the recently…
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Pet Parade
Howl-o-ween Pet Parade — Derby Wharf, Salem, MA
Pet ParadeFamily Friendly
Presented by Salem Main Streets — October’s most adorable event. Costumed dogs (and the occasional cat or bunny) parade along the historic…
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Boat Parade
Halloween Boat Parade — Derby Wharf, Salem, MA
Boat ParadeFree
The 5th Annual Halloween Boat Parade fills Salem Harbor with decorated boats and costumed crews for this quirky waterfront tradition,…
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Family Event
Lanterns in the Woods — Salem, MA
Family EventTicketed
A magical evening stroll through Salem Woods surrounded by glowing jack-o-lanterns. Now in its 14th year, this family-friendly favorite has…
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Community Event
Witch Hats on the Wharf — Salem, MA
Community EventFree
A one-of-a-kind community photo opportunity tied to Salem’s 400th anniversary — everyone is invited to don a witch hat and gather on the…
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Costume Party
Hawthorne's Halloween Bash — House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA
Costume PartyTicketed
Nathaniel Hawthorne “invites” guests to an exclusive costume party in the gardens of The House of the Seven Gables — a uniquely literary,…
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Costume Party
Heaven vs Hell Ball — Colonial Hall, Salem, MA
Costume PartyTicketed
Cross the veil and choose your eternal destiny at Salem’s Heaven and Hell Ball — a dance, drink, and costume party at Colonial Hall in the…
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Costume Party
Wicked Night on the Wharf: UNTAMED — Salem, MA
Costume PartyTicketed
Salem’s ultimate haunted jungle costume party — a wicked night of music, immersive entertainment, and eerie creatures at the waterfront…
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Costume Ball
Hawthorne Hotel Halloween Ball: Phobia — Salem, MA
Costume BallTicketed
Introduced in 1990, this long-running Hawthorne Hotel tradition features a live band, two DJs, interactive experiences, a costume contest,…
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Jazz Age Party
Haunted Speakeasy — Hamilton Hall, Salem, MA
Jazz Age PartyTicketed
Step into the 221-year-old, reputedly haunted Hamilton Hall for a Roaring 20s Jazz Age ball — live music by Tricky Niki & The Grave…
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Psychic Fair
Salem Psychic Fair and Witches' Market — Salem, MA
Psychic FairFree Admission
Salem’s longest-running psychic fair, open daily all October at Witch City Mall. Browse a marketplace of crystals and magical goods, and…
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Public Ritual
The Salem Witches' Magic Circle — Salem, MA
Public RitualFree
A free, open-to-all Samhain ceremony on Salem Common led by Christian Day and Brian Cain, with drumming by the Dragon Ritual Drummers.…
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Costume Party
The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball — Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA
Costume Party21+ Only
Salem’s most famous adults-only Halloween event. Hosted by Christian Day and Brian Cain at the historic Hawthorne Hotel, with live drumming…
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Costume Party
Fright Night — Colonial Hall, Salem, MA
Costume PartyTicketed
Salem’s Halloween Fright Night Costume Party — spine-tingling fun and electrifying energy on the biggest night of the year, right in…
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Free
Halloween Night Live Music & Finale Drone Show — Salem, MA
FreeLive Music
Live music stages open across downtown Salem from noon onward on Halloween day, building toward the night’s grand finale: a drone show over…
💡 Local Tips for Halloween in Salem
🎃 October in Salem is the single busiest month of the year — book tickets, hotels, and restaurant reservations as early as possible.
🎃 Downtown streets close to traffic on peak weekends — plan to walk or use satellite parking with shuttle service.
🎃 Weekends see the heaviest crowds — weekday visits (especially before mid-October) are far more relaxed.
🎃 Many of the ticketed balls and speakeasy events are 21+ — check age restrictions before buying tickets.
🎃 Layer up for the waterfront events — Derby Wharf and Salem Harbor get cold and windy after sunset.
🎃 Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday — expect Salem’s biggest single night of the entire Haunted Happenings season.
❓ Salem Halloween FAQ
What are the best Halloween events in Salem, MA?
The Haunted Happenings Grand Parade is the official kickoff, alongside the Haunted Happenings Marketplace, waterfront lantern walks, witches’ balls, psychic fairs and haunted speakeasy nights held throughout October.
When does Haunted Happenings run in Salem?
Salem’s month-long Halloween festival runs throughout October, with events building toward Halloween night itself on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Are Salem’s Halloween events free?
Many are — including the Grand Parade, Zombie Walk, and Marketplace — while ticketed events like the witches’ balls, haunted speakeasy and costume parties charge admission, some restricted to 21+.
Run a Halloween event in Salem?
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