Pro-tip on your trip to Salem for Halloween night this year

Submitted by IBringPandaMonium t3_yil6i5 in boston

Don't.

Just don't do it. Salem is LOVELY 11 months out of the year, it's charming and has an amazing character, but it is just not big enough to handle the people coming to visit for Halloween night, or even October in general.

There's nowhere to park right now. The commuter rail parking garage shuts down Halloween night so you won't be able to leave even if you do find a spot in there. The Commuter rail lines will be likely standing room only.

Come back any other month- wait a week and come then. It's lovely, the local shops will be much more accommodating and less cramped. Just don't try and come visit for Halloween night.

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Comments

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man2010 t1_iuj9qph wrote

I would hope anyone going to Salem on Halloween is well aware that they're one of tens or hundreds of thousands of people with the same idea which is part of the appeal. They're going more because it's a huge event than to explore local shops.

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toastyghostie t1_iujqf5d wrote

Oh man, I used to give tours in Salem and still do so on a fill-in basis, and the number of people who miss their tours because they've spent multiple hours looking for parking is astounding.

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lehmongeloh t1_iujz7qo wrote

First time I moved to MA I went to Salem on Halloween with friends after class. Was it packed? Yes. Was it cold? Hell yeah. Still had. A great time dressed up and being with others.

I’ve gone to Salem the past several October’s pre-pandemic. Get there at 9am to park all day for $10 in the high school lot, do the tourist trap museums and art stuff, leave by 4. If people are going during October they’re well aware of the crowds on some level and like your comment I assume they like that.

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tele23O7 t1_iujgiap wrote

great timing on this post

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stoncils_ t1_iukafu7 wrote

It's 7pm - I'm currently en route to Salem for the festivities - have I missed the point where the fighting breaks out and the Salem police come out on horseback with batons?

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-Jedidude- t1_iujkegp wrote

Nobody goes to Salem anymore it’s too crowded.

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JimiHaze t1_iujs2ux wrote

No one drove in new York City, there was too much traffic.

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KottonKiing t1_iuje7pt wrote

Went twice because I went to salem state a few years back, it was fun but not amazing enough to drive in especially with the estimated numbers.

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50calPeephole t1_iujvrqq wrote

Can i just ask wtf people do when they're there? I went several times with friends in college, we walked up and down a busy street and waited to get into bars, it was lame AF, way more fun was had at private parties.

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stoncils_ t1_iukb0zw wrote

If my high-school shenanigans are any example, it's drink an irresponsible amount of 151 at 16 and make some reeeeeal bad choices

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CraftySauropod t1_iujhdwl wrote

It's like the Times Square on New Year's Eve. I can see going because it's a thing, but not because you want to have a good time for most of the time.

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_json_x t1_iujfyes wrote

A little late on this PSA

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whatsabrooin t1_iuk5jbo wrote

I always tell people to go at least once. It’s a madhouse but some people like to be in the middle of giant crowds especially if everyone is in costume.

That said, the most unbelievable part of Hocus Pocus 2 was everyone waiting for candy apples in a single organized line.

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Godsshoeshine24 t1_iuk2xyq wrote

I know you’re just jumping on the trend and trying to farm karma but it’s ridiculous how late this post is. I can’t believe people upvote shit like this.

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BirdieKate58 t1_iujuqs9 wrote

A Masshole from birth, I never visited Salem until several years ago when hubby and I finally decided to go. Like, why not. It was the first weekend after Halloween. The weather was positively perfect. Everything was open - stroll the streets at night, pop in and out of the shops, go out to dinner anywhere, see all the tourist attractions with no lines... and everyone who lived/worked there was so HAPPY that Halloween was over. Highly recommend the first weekend in November!

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IBringPandaMonium OP t1_iujvkd7 wrote

this is absolutely the way. September and early November are peak “Salem in the fall” visit times

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BirdieKate58 t1_iujx3oq wrote

I think it was 10 years ago and we still talk about what a fabulous weekend we had. It's nice when the bellhop at your hotel is really happy to see you!

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senator_mendoza t1_iuk3o27 wrote

Salem resident here - we’re definitely busy all fall but if you avoid the Halloween peak (October) then you’ll at least be able to find a place to park and be able to get into places

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meatfrappe t1_iukbthl wrote

People think it won't be crowded because they hear it is a ghost town.

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HANDSUMCLEANR t1_iujkrla wrote

I'd rather drag my nutsack across Mass/Cass than go to Salem on Halloween

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WolverineJake77 t1_iujzgti wrote

We visited at the end of September. Felt like that was the perfect time to go! Weather was great, Halloween/Fall vibes really starting to kick off, decently manageable crowds. No issues at all! Love that town.

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DunkinRadio t1_iuj9ssk wrote

Somehow, I don't think people will listen.

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DiopticTurtle t1_iujv4ff wrote

I was just wondering with a colleague, what is the amount of time it takes people to move to Salem before they complain about Halloween tourists? My money is on no more than a year.

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50calPeephole t1_iujw6wf wrote

My old supervisor has a house in Salem, he used to charge people $100 per car to park on his lawn, he was pulling in 2-3k per weekend. It was his solution to "fuck the tourists"

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DrunicusrexXIII t1_iujywmv wrote

Coin operated porta potties would be a money maker, if a bit gross on 11/1.

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DrunicusrexXIII t1_iujysvt wrote

Yes. This is kind of like moving to NOLA, and complaining about the Mardi Gras crowds.

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swisspassport t1_iujxrav wrote

A friend of mind moved to Salem from Southie for a short wile. I visited him, in the summer - but it was a really cool experience because the apartment him and his wife were renting was a former JAIL.

The lobby/entryway still had all the original bars and shit, it was a trip.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

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AustriaOstrich t1_iuk7blb wrote

It's still there - I think there is an arcade/bar in the first floor called Bit Bar. There used to be a good burger place, but they moved over the bridge into Beverly, and before that it was an Italian restaurant.

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Wanderiing_Star t1_iuk90th wrote

Bit Bar moved out of the spot and reopened in the former Salem Beer Works site on Derby St. The jail spot is still unoccupied.

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ForwardBound t1_iujjy1p wrote

I read the title of this post and muttered "don't go?" as what my advice would be for anyone thinking about making this trip. Glad to see the right opinion here.

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SpaceboySpliff t1_iujsi1c wrote

Baa-humbug yall sound like a bunch of old farts. Ease up its fuggin halloween

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2milena t1_iuk1gm6 wrote

i went on saturday a lil before noon and it wasnt bad at all. found parking right by the main area after hanging in the lot for like 15 mins. maybe it gets worse at night but i feel like this is rly exaggerated.

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cBEiN t1_iuk5edf wrote

I think a little late for this post

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squidlips6969 t1_iukapcc wrote

If only the people in charge knew ahead of time this would happen, and somehow attempted to plan for it. Oh well, who woulda thunk it would get so crowded.

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SilentSakura t1_iujwnux wrote

Salem is alright but if you want the true Salem , Danvers ma is the old Salem and has all the homes and what not .

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botulizard t1_iuk3juy wrote

I'm always saying this. I no longer live in the area but of course I meet lots of people who really want to visit for Halloween. I tell them just go in September or November. The spooky/haunted/witch stuff is there all year round- it's Salem, that's the point. If you visit at any time when the weather is cool and the leaves are any color but green, you'll never know the difference. You could probably even wear a costume and nobody would think twice about it.

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puffleg t1_iujhl9w wrote

I was hoping this was the tip.

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Victoria__Lucas t1_iuk6psl wrote

Not really adding to this conversation - cause yeah dumb to go to Salem on Halloween night, but I did like 15 years ago. My friends and I were aimlessly walking around and stumbled on an active crime scene. Seemed the police were just arriving, a man had been stabbed. Terrible.

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keltik055 t1_iuk7ici wrote

Idk why. I thought going the first weekend of October wouldn't be so bad. I was very wrong. A friend of mine who is from Salem, gave the same advice as you. Visit any other time during the year, even September is fine.

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1dad1kid t1_iujhbsj wrote

Which is why I decided to wait until Wednesday to visit

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wsdog t1_iujmzpr wrote

Salem is actually overrated. The old town is ruined by 1970s "architecture", the actual historical area is very small. It's also full of tourist traps. There are many more historical towns in MA and although Salem is worth a visit, it's not something spectacular.

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ike_the_strangetamer t1_iujyvx7 wrote

The art museum is really nice. They also used to have a barcade. I don't know if it's still around though.

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IBringPandaMonium OP t1_iujzsr7 wrote

the bit bar is still around yes- they moved to derby street over the pandemic, into a much larger location

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SkinnyJoshPeck t1_iujw8f7 wrote

danvers is where the salem witch trials actually happened anyways. the whole town is a sham, tourist trap fake-witch-warlock misadventure. and people actually fucking died for appearing to be witches - none of them were witches, they were pious, adamant christians. it’s weird to even go there with shitty witch hats and wiccan bullshit. like, gag me with a spoon.

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_MUY t1_iuk34eb wrote

Sure, the most famous trials happened in what is now Danvers, but the entire event took place everywhere from Rowley and Topsfield down to Boston.

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TakenOverByBots t1_iujwl0d wrote

If anyone.goes, do NOT let me see you complaining on here or anywhere else. You have been warned. And you'd better tip damn well even if it takes you three hours to get service.

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BlakeDrinksBeer t1_iujwzfh wrote

We're Salem residents doing Halloween stuff in Boston. Way more chill.

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YouKnowWhatToDo80085 t1_iujg465 wrote

I went one year when I was still in high school and never again lol

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QuestionSleep t1_iujaxt1 wrote

Back in '89 I decided to go out to Salem ten days after Halloween. Ended up staying there for two weeks because I ate and inhaled my own poop. Not the best experience but it probably would've been worse if it happened a week and a half prior.

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mouldyrumble t1_iujiiag wrote

Shitty attempt at humor

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QuestionSleep t1_iujodtn wrote

It's just a true story. The joke in my family was that I "came out on a plate of brownies" and I didn't know until several years ago that I almost didn't make it out of the ordeal. It's common for newborns to inhale poop on their way out I guess, but I was in natal ICU for two weeks. Probably would've been more of a nightmare for my relatives to navigate if Salem was loaded with tourists at the time.

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