As you may know by now, Akira and I are HUGE Halloween fans and what better way to celebrate spooky season than spending Friday the 13th in Salem, Massachusetts? Sure, I had heard scary stories about over crowding and the lack of toilet paper, but I am delighted that we took this mother-daughter trip to Salem. This was our first solo vacation together and I was hesitant about travelling with a tween but the horror stories we came back with didn’t involve sass or whines! We even had Akira’s Godmother join us on this last minute girls only Salem holiday and the three of us had a wicked good time. I went in with low expectations but honestly we had the best time and enjoyed all the spooky activities with a side of history and plenty of treats. Salem is charming all year-round but especially so during the fall season (it’s much nicer than my winter visit during my days living in Boston). If you’re looking for tips and things to do in Salem in October, read on because spending Friday the 13th in Salem should be on every Halloween fan’s bucket list!
Salem in October : Things to do in Salem with Tweens
If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to go to Salem in October, the answer is HELL YES! This is a magical place for Halloween lovers year-round but even more so during the month of October. The reason Salem is so popular in October is because of the city’s history and connection with the tragic events that unfolded during the Salem Witch Trials. Present-day Salem is always a hub for eerie happenings and spooky attractions which are dialed up during October. After all, it is (unofficially) THE Halloween Capitol! It is a busy time and accommodations sell out quickly but we’re living proof that you can indeed plan a last minute trip to Salem for Friday the 13th in October . You can also do it on a budget if you plan a day trip to Salem.
Things to do in Salem (During October and year-round)
I was surprised by how many things there were to do in Salem all year round. Then you add in all the special spooky season happenings and there’s no shortage of things do in Salem. The challenge is in making reservations ahead and of course keeping tabs on your Salem budget. My advice is to book a few activities and then give yourself free time to explore because we stumbled upon very cute stores and cool shops which we would not have noticed if we were rushing around. And for those who freaked us out by saying there will be line ups at the stores – aeh! We stood in line at one spot for 3 minutes but walked in everywhere else DURING THE DAYTIME (it got bonkers after sunset). We visited Salem during a drizzly Friday the 13th in October so that may have helped us avoid crazy lines a bit.
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery : This was one of the few attractions we pre-booked and I am glad we did so. This horror film museum was definitely tween approved because Akira has been watching scary movies since she was eight years old. At eleven she got a whole bunch of inspiration after visiting this premier horror cinema attraction. You can’t take picture or videos inside (you can in the gift shop though) but I promise you, it’s well worth a visit if you love horror movies!
Salem Walking Tour : There are quite a few Salem walking tours but the one we chose was the Sinister Walking tours. Sadly we got stuck in traffic and missed meeting the group (and despite our efforts we couldn’t find them after) BUT I do know that owner Kenneth Glover is said to lead a fun, engaging and historic walking tour that accurately reflects on the local history and community. Tours do sell out so book one in advance (and turn up on time). If you’re averse to walking then you can take the Trolley Tour to get an overview as well.
Peabody Essex Museum : We mainly swung by here for the BATS exhibition that was taking place last year (Akira loves animals) but also took the opportunity to learn more about the witch trials. My tip is to head to the Witch Trials exhibit (a permanent collection that is included with the museum entry fee) and put your name on the list because wait times can be long. It was only a 10 minute wait during our visit and the self guided tour was so informative (bring a wifi enabled device and your own headsets). We also had a bowl of Chowder at their cafe as we waited for the rain to stop.
Hocus Pocus : If you are a Hocus Pocus movie fan then you already know that parts of the original movie was filmed in Salem. Yes, you can see the real-life location where the Sanderson Sisters were resurrected and you can take a tour of Ropes Mansion (book it through the Peabody Essex Museum) or you can roam around the garden for free (which is what we did). I found this article very helpful if you want to take a self-guided Hocus Pocus tour through Salem. Also Witch City Walking Tours is supposed to have a fabulous Hocus Pocus tour!
Haunted Happenings in October : This is a special month long activation where you can partake in the Grand Parade, the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, Family Film Nights, costume balls, ghost tours, haunted houses, live music and chilling theatrical presentations. Check this website for the special events hosted during your visit. The Witch Market definitely caught my attention!
Witch Pix : This Salem activity where you can dress up as witches and have profession picture takes was high on my list of things to experience but they were booked out by the time we decided on this trip to Salem in October. So this is one you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible if you’re spending an October day in Salem.
World of Wizardry : I debated on booking this self-guided tour through various realms and decided that it was more Apollo-like than Akira-like so we didn’t do it. However, if you have a wizard loving tween who would enjoy roaming through realms like the enchanted forest, a crystal cave, a room of fantastic beasts and even an Ice dragon, grab some tickets. Visits are limited to 30 minutes during October.
Haunted Houses : This is your best bang for your buck because a $21 ticket gives you entry into two different experiences via the fun pass. During the month of October in Salem , you can choose between the Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers (Salem’s original wax museum), the Haunted Witch Village (Salem’s longest-running and largest haunted attraction) where you can explore a maze haunted by live ghouls, goblins and other creatures and Frankenstein’s Castle (voted Salem’s best haunted house) where live actors and animatronics aim to scare you as you roam around the wax museum’s dark dungeon and witness the horrors of Dr. Frankenstein.
Shopping : There are many cute stores that are worth popping into and while I did see lines at a few, many of them were easy to wander into on Friday the 13th in October. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Company (the oldest candy store in America) was a great spot for candies and treats. We only waited 3 minutes to go in but when we walked by in the evening there was a line up around the block! Curly Girl Candy, Goodnight Fatty and Kakawa are also great treat spots!
There’s loads more Salem attractions that one could explore and the following are ones that caught my eye, but not 12 year old Akira’s : Salem Witch Village. Real Pirate Museum, Witch Dungeon Museum and Gallows Hill.
Whatever you do, just walk around with your eyes open and you’ll bump into things like the Bewitched Statue, various home decorated for Halloween and buskers (bring cash with you if you want to take pictures with them). I was expecting to see many buskers but oddly enough there weren’t that many during the daytime when we visited on October 13th and so the cash I took with me came back home! Also be sure to walk by the waterfront area because it’s scenic, away from crowds and steeping with maritime history.
Click here for things to do in Boston!
Where to Drink and Eat in Salem
How crowded is Salem in October? Quite but not that crowded that you won’t get into food and drink places in Salem. At least that was our experience. We popped into a couple breweries (even played a game at one) and put our name on a 20 minute waitlist for dinner. We did not make any reservations but we also didn’t LOVE our dinner spot and should have made a reservation elsewhere-learn from our mistake!
Far From the Tree Cidery : We loved the vibe here and they had a special Hocus Pocus line of ciders so we did a tasting flight as we enjoyed the burst of sunshine on their patio. And yes they had bathrooms stocked with toilet paper!
Couch Dog : If you want a spot to chill and play a board game (they had plenty for everyone), this is a great place to relax with a beer in Salem (even in October). And yes they had bathrooms stocked with toilet paper and they have banana milk packs available for purchase for kids!
Boston Hotdog Company/Au Gratin : When I visited in 2004 this was one of the few restaurants in Salem that were open during the winter and so we had to pop in and try a chilli dog (sadly the twinkie hotdog treat was no more). As I write this article in 2024, I see that the owners who purchased the store in 2020 are moving in a new direction and there’s going to be a cute cafe like eatery called Au Gratin there!
East Regiment Beer Company : I know it seems like we visited quite a few beer places in Salem with a tween in tow – that’s because we find them welcoming to families and often have games and such around. We popped in here for a tasting flight after wandering around the alley ways and it was a nice way to wind down our busy day before venturing off in search of dinner.
Gulu Gulu Cafe : This was the #1 spot on our must eat in Salem list but the line ups were always long and even though I knew that the line up moved quickly, I knew Akira did not want to stand around so we didn’t. Dine here if you don’t mind a wait – I have been told it’s worth it!
Dire Wolf Tavern : We managed to get seated within 20 minutes of walking in (and they take your number and call you so you can roam around nearby). The cocktails were a miss for me but the chicken sandwich was good here. Akira even took a nap here after a long day of walking everywhere but my friend’s Shepperd’s Pie was lacking the meat and so we had to ask for more meat which they kindly agreed to.
Turner’s Seafood, Annie’s Asian Mart, Ledger, Settler, Adriatic, Village Tavern, Sea Level, Howling Wolf and Flying Saucer Pizza were all recommended to us. Oh and by the way Turner’s Seafood is one of the few places that accept reservations in October as most Salem restaurants are walk in only during October.
Tips for Visiting Salem in October
We went in knowing that things will be busy but we also wanted to experience the magic of Friday the 13th in October. So my biggest tip is to manage your expectations when visiting Salem in October. We went in with a “let’s see what we can see” attitude and it helped us immensely! We had such a fun day and we speak of those memories even months later. Be prepared for the worst (we packed snacks, toilet paper and bottles of water -never needed them but felt safe knowing we had them if needed) and expect the best! There was a CVS and we popped in there to grab a few things (including a lovely Halloween themed headgear). Speaking of which DRESS UP!!! Go as big as you want because many folks are decked out for the season. I brought Witch hats for us and it was an easy accessory to travel with. And definitely wear comfy shoes.
No matter when you visit, check the Destination Salem app to get the latest updates on everything Salem, including events, museums and attractions, shop, restaurants, parking and more. During October it’s great for Salem Haunted Happenings updates, parking and restroom availability and special events calendars.
Dress for the weather. Salem in October weather can be real wonky (like in most places on the East Coast in general). So bring layers and be prepared for wind, rain and sunshine – we had them all during our visit!
Special October Events in Salem
Below are some attractions and events that only take place in Salem during October :
- The Salem Psychic Fair & Witches’ Market
- Haunted Witch Village Haunted House (Fri-Sun only in October, replaces the Salem Witch Village)
- Salem Witch Village (weekdays only in October)
- Special tours at Gallows Hill
- Witches Ball at the Hawthorne
- Salem Night Faire
- Witching Hour Spellcasting (full disclosure I read very negative reviews on this on)
The Haunted Happenings website as well as the Bewitched in Salem Facebook group is very helpful!
Where to Stay in Salem, Massachusetts in October
