Halloween Weekend: Ghost Stories and Zombies

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All Hallows Eve is almost upon us, and this weekend may be your last chance to indulge in all of the thrills and chills that the season has to offer. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to embrace the Halloween spirit, there are a couple of events this weekend that are sure to send shivers down your spine.

First, if you have always loved the idea of sitting in an old cottage listening to creepy tales by candlelight or sitting outside by a campfire sharing your local ghost stories, Pioneer’s Village in Salem may have exactly what you’re looking for. This is because Pioneer’s Village is hosting the last night (at least for this year) of their annual Dark of Night event on Saturday (October 29, 2016) with stories starting at 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 P.M. This event will feature a group of local authors and storytellers that will share the frightening tales they have written or discovered while you sit by the candlelight in an exact replica of the type of thatch-roofed cottage you might have seen in 1630. For more information on Dark of Night at Pioneer Village and/or to order tickets for the event, please visit the Salem Witch House website or e-mail info@pioneervillagesalem.org.

Secondly, if you’re a huge fan of Shakespeare and a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, there’s a show at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) Plaza Black Box Theatre on Tremont Street in Boston that you won’t want to miss. This is because the Anthem Theatre Company is performing Twelfth Night of the Living Dead every night from now until November 5, 2016. This show will take Shakespeare’s famous play, Twelfth Night, and as you might expect, add the only thing that really makes almost every literary work better: Zombies. For more information on Twelfth Night of the Living Dead and/or to order tickets, please visit the Anthem Theatre Company website.

Photo credit: JeepersMedia via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Haunted Happenings: The Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre

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One of my favorite places to go in Salem, especially during the Halloween season, is the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre. This theatre, which was formerly known as the Griffin Theatre during the off season and the Witch Cottage during Haunted Happenings, not only features a number of comedy acts, children’s programs, plays, and other performances during the year but also features some of the most impressive Halloween fare that you will find anywhere. In fact, the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre’s main attraction during the month of the October, the Witchcraft & Ghost Experience, is a theatrical performance that will dazzle you with special effects and possibly scare the ever living daylights out of you as you learn about the Salem Witch Trials and the legends that have existed in the Salem area for quite some time. Best of all, the Witchcraft & Ghost Experience is only one of the amazing pieces of entertainment that the theatre has to offer, and you may be able to enjoy one of the theatre’s local walking tours, ale tastings, magic shows, trolley tours, or their latest attraction, the Lost Museum as well. For more information on everything that the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre has to offer and/or to purchase tickets for a specific event, please visit the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre website.

Please Note: One of the scariest things about the Gallows Hill Museum/Theatre can be the lines on a Saturday. However, you can completely eliminate the unpleasantness of waiting in line to purchase tickets by purchasing your tickets online. In fact, if you would like to avoid lines all together, you can purchase a VIP Pass online that will let you avoid the ticket purchasing line, skip the line to get in, receive a Gallows Hill T-shirt, and get a free drink. If the VIP Pass is a little out of your price range though, you can always head to the theatre on a weekday when the crowds are much less frightening.

Photo via VisualHunt

The Salem Open Market 2016

Essex Street Pedestrian Mall in Salem, MA near the Peabody-Essex Museum
Did you miss the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair in Salem last week? Are you looking for another way to mix your love of Halloween with your love of shopping? Well, if you did miss the Biz Baz (A.K.A. the Bizarre Bazaar) and you’re looking for a place where you can find the ambience of the season and check out a whole bunch of cool stuff, there’s nothing to fear. Salem has you covered. In fact, the Salem Open Market will open for business on Essex Street and Derby Square this weekend. This street fair, which will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. until Halloween, will feature dozens and dozens of artists, artisans, crafters, designers, and other vendors who will be happy to show you everything from artwork to zombie-themed t-shirts (and all of the items in between.) Best of all, if you’re not really into shopping but you have a spouse or child who is, you can always bring them to the Open Market and then check out all of the tours and events that are happening throughout Salem. For more information on the Salem Open Market, please visit the New England Open Markets website.

Photo credit: HBarrison via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair 2016

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It’s almost that time of year again. One of my favorite times of year (and no, it’s not Christmas.) It’s Halloween, and if you’re looking for a way to get into the spirit of the season, there’s no better place than the Witch City. In fact, it just so happens that the annual Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair is scheduled to take place in Salem this Saturday and Sunday (October 8th and 9th, 2016) from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day. This fair, which was originally known as the Bizarre Bazaar (and is still known as such by many of the locals), will give you the opportunity to peruse the wares of over 70 vendors selling art, crafts, jewelry, and a whole lot more. Best of all, if you’re accompanied by someone who isn’t really into shopping (a child or spouse perhaps), there’s no need to worry because there are always a number of street musicians and other performers who are certain to keep your friends and family entertained. For more information on the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, which is free (until you decide to buy everything in sight) and open to everyone, please visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce website or the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair Facebook page.

Photo credit: GWP Photography via Foter.com / CC BY

Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market: Cole Porter

Derby Square, Salem MA
There’s a pretty good chance that, unless you’re a huge Broadway fan, you probably haven’t heard of Cole Porter. However, Cole Porter is the man behind many of the musicals (or at least the songs in many of the musicals) that have truly stood the test of time, including Paris, Fifty Million Frenchmen, and the show that he is best-known for, Kiss Me, Kate. As a result, the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market in Salem MA, has decided to celebrate what would be the Broadway songwriter’s 125th birthday if he was still alive.

This celebration, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Saturday, June 18, 2016), will bring together a number of local vendors that will be selling antiques, art, collectibles, handmade goods, jewelry, vintage clothing, vintage furniture, and a whole lot more. If you’re wondering what the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market actually is, it is a monthly pop-up market that occurs throughout the summer, and each market has its own theme. The theme of this month’s market, as you might have already guessed, is of course Cole Porter and some of the things that might be associated with him, including cocktails and garden parties. For more information on the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art Market, please visit the Derby Square Flea Salvage Art website.

Photo credit: GWP Photography via VisualHunt / CC BY

Dr. Seuss Show in Salem

The Cat in the Hat Is Everywhere!
Chances are, you’ve probably heard of The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs & Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and/or The Lorax. In fact, there’s a pretty good chance that the very mention of these books makes you immediately think of Dr. Seuss because almost everyone has encountered Dr. Seuss in one form another at some point. However, if your kids have not experienced the wonder of Dr. Seuss or they’re huge Dr. Seuss fans looking for their next source of wonder, you may want to take them to the Dr. Seuss show.

The Dr. Seuss Show is a one-hour performance that will take place at 211 Bridge Street in Salem, MA at 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. on Saturday (April 9, 2016) and 1:00 P.M. on Sunday (April 10, 2016) this weekend. This performance will let you see a group of local kids, teens, and adults portray a number of Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters and stories on stage. For more information on the Dr. Seuss Show and/or to purchase tickets, which cost $10 each, please visit the Neverland Theatre Company’s website.

Photo credit: Jim Larrison via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival

Football on the Field
The big game is this weekend, and it’s definitely looking like it will be a game to remember even though the Patriots aren’t in it (I know. I feel your pain.) In fact, even if the Panthers/Broncos matchup doesn’t live up to all of the hype, it certainly appears that all of the performances and commercials that the NFL has lined up for Super Bowl 50 will make it a spectacle for the ages. However, if you have a loved one who isn’t really into football and you want to do something with them before the big game (perhaps so you can drag them to a Super Bowl party without feeling guilty), you may want to head over to Salem this weekend (especially if your loved one is a fan of sweets.)

This is because the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival is scheduled to begin at 6:30 P.M. tonight (Friday, February 5, 2016). This festival, which runs until Sunday evening (February 7, 2016), will feature 23 ice sculptures (weather permitting), discounted trolley rides (also weather permitting), and discounts at a number of locations throughout downtown Salem. As a result, if you’re looking for a great way to check out Salem or you’re just looking for a way to take your significant other out for the night without breaking the bank, the Salem So Sweet Festival is definitely the way to go. For more information on the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, please visit Salem’s So Sweet on Facebook or visit the Salem Main Streets website.

Photo via VisualHunt

Halloween in the Witch City

Controlled chaos is probably the best term to describe Salem on a Saturday Halloween. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s got to be a dictionary somewhere that has a picture of downtown Salem next to the term because on an average Saturday Halloween, you can expect there to be in excess of 150,000 people in the Witch City. Now, to put this into prospective, 150,000 people is over three times the number of people that actually live in the city on a regular basis. That’s a lot of people, and that number can be even higher when the weather is really nice. This means that if you live in Salem or you’re planning a trip to Salem on Halloween night, you need to be prepared to embrace the madness.

However, in order to truly embrace the madness, there are a few things that you need to remember:

Hippie Girl in the Making1. Choose Your Costume Carefully

There’s never a shortage of people in costume in Salem during October, and Halloween is, without a doubt, the peak of the costume season. However, most people just go with the first idea that pops into their head, and they don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what they’re wearing. Unfortunately, the temperature in Salem on Halloween night can range anywhere from 35 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the year, so it’s always a good idea to have a costume with some layers (especially if you can easily remove some of those layers and throw them in your bag or your car when you realize it’s warmer than you thought it was.)

As a result, if you decide to dress-up like an Arabian princess, a Chippendale dancer, a gladiator, a mermaid, a naughty nurse, or some other similarly scantily-clad individual, you may find that it can be pretty cold on a chilly fall night. It’s also important to consider what emergency personnel may think of your costume if the unthinkable happens and you need medical attention because, trust me, the nurses at the local hospitals are not going to find your naughty nurse costume as entertaining as you do. In addition to considering the warmth and emergency implications of your costume, it is also important to make sure that you wear comfortable shoes (you’ll be doing a lot of walking), make sure that you do not have any weapons of any kind (real or fake because the city prohibits both costume and real weapons), and avoid long trailing items like capes or gowns (because they may get caught on things and trip you, trip other people, and/or just get torn to shreds.)

Brooms2. Take Public Transportation If You Can

As page 5 of the Haunted Happenings Guide states: “Traffic in October can be scary!” This is certainly true for Halloween and is especially true for a Halloween on a Saturday because, weather permitting, there will be somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 people trying to get into Salem tomorrow. This means that trying to drive into the city and find somewhere to park may be worse than and, quite possibly, more expensive than your worst nightmare. As a result, taking the Commuter Rail or the Salem Ferry can be a much easier way to enjoy Salem’s All Hallows Eve festivities because these services will allow you to avoid the traffic and the enormous parking fees.

If you feel like you have to drive into the city because public transportation just isn’t going to work for you though, try to come in early. The earlier in the day you come, the less traffic there will be.

The Necronomicon3. If There’s Something You Really Want to Do In Salem, Book It Now!

The one thing that is absolutely, positively guaranteed on Halloween night, regardless of whether it is a Saturday or not, is that everything in Salem will be packed (unless the weather is horrible.) This means that if there is something that you really want to get into on Halloween night, try to see if you can get tickets for it now. Some places in Salem will not take reservations for Halloween night because they are guaranteed to fill up their seats from foot traffic alone. However, some places will take reservations and/or sell advance tickets, so it is always a good idea to see if you can book what you want to do now because it will give you a much better chance of getting into the restaurant or show that you want to check out.

Photo Credits

Hippie Girl Photo Credit: jramspott / Foter / CC BY
Broom Photo Credit: nanaow2006 / Foter / CC BY
Necronomicon Photo credit: liftarn / Foter / CC BY-SA

It’s Time for Some Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus
I have lived in the area north of Boston for most of my life, but before I lived on the North Shore, I really didn’t know the Witch City all that well. In fact, I had come to Salem a fair amount as a teenager, but usually only for a day here or a day there during Haunted Happenings. As a result, when I first saw the Disney film, Hocus Pocus, I knew it was set in Salem, but I really had no idea how much of the film was actually shot in Salem. I figured some of it probably was, but I really didn’t know how much of it was because, quite frankly, I couldn’t identify most of the landmarks that were used in the film. This, of course, has changed by this point, and I can tell you (with some help from my wife) that most of the film was, in fact, shot in a studio in California. However, there is a good chunk of the film, especially the scenes that take place during the day, that were actually shot in Salem.

This means that if you are familiar with the area you can have some fun identifying the various locations that appear in the film, and if you know absolutely nothing about the area, you can at least enjoy the Salem ambience. Now, if you would like the opportunity to see the film that has become a local favorite and a cult classic throughout the world, you’re in luck because the final film of Magic 106.7’s 2015 Haunted Movie Series is Hocus Pocus. This, of course, is quite fortunate because it means that you can see the tale of three bumbling sisters who are accidently resurrected on Halloween night to spread mischief throughout the world 300 years after they were executed for witchcraft, and you can see it in the city that the film takes place in. Best of all, the film is being shown free of charge, so you won’t have to pay a thing (unless your kids compel you to buy everything in sight.) For more information on the free showing of Hocus Pocus, which is scheduled to take place on Salem Common tomorrow, October 24, 2015 at 8:00 P.M., please visit the Magic 106.7 Haunted Movie Series page.

Photo credit: Alan Light / Foter / CC BY

Edgar Allan Poe Rises Again

Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven
If you have been having a long interval of horrible sanity and you haven’t had a chance to get into the Halloween spirit just yet, you’re in luck because The Scarlet Letter Press has the perfect opportunity for you to peer deep into the darkness. In fact, The Scarlet Letter Press is hosting An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe tomorrow night (Saturday, October 17, 2015) from 5:45 PM to 7:00 P.M. This event will give you the opportunity to experience a dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and “A Tell Tale Heart”.

Each of these stories will be read by an actor, but the tale will be told as if the actor was the author himself, which, combined with the eerie ambience of Whynott’s Wands (located at 127 Essex Street in Salem), will make the stories even creepier. Even creepier still is the fact that some believe that “A Tell Tale Heart” is actually based on a real event that occurred in Salem in the 1800s, so you will never find a better place to hear the tale than here. Best of all, you will receive a special gift if you attend, so you will remember the occasion for evermore. For more information on An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe and/or to order tickets for the event, please visit The Scarlet Letter Press’ website or call The Scarlet Letter Press at 978-741-1850.

Photo credit: vidalia_11 / Foter / CC BY