The Phillips House Celebrates Halloween

I love this! One of the guides at the Phillips House carved Stephen Phillips into their pumpkin. I love a little heritage injected into Halloween.

You can find more history and Halloween at the Phillips House this weekend, with their second annual Tricks, Treats, and Treasures at the Phillips House.  There will be a special show led by Salem Pirate Ken Harris, including sea chanteys and pirate tales.  5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sunday, October 31st.  The event is free and open to the public.

Chris & John to the Rescue... in Salem!

Salem was all aflutter with film crews last week. The TLC show What Not to Wear was in town filming for an episode that will air in 2010, and the Toronto-based reality show Chris & John to the Rescue was filming four episodes that will air as the show's "Halloween Superstar!" in October.

John, of Chris & John, sent me a few fabulous pictures from their shoot. This show is great fun - it's impossible not to smile with Chris & John to the Rescue around. They shot one segment on the Salem Trolley, and the driver said it was a blast.

The producers of the show "...had an AMAZING time in Salem! Everyone was SO welcoming to us - honestly it was the best and most welcoming town we have ever shot in."

We were happy to have the show - and we look forward to seeing the Salem episodes!

Check out these pictures!

1... the Halloween Party (in Old Town Hall)

2... Pumpkin Pie eating contest on Salem Common

3... the Contestants' arrival, in Derby Square (Old Town Hall behind them).

Halloween's Not Over Yet!

Here's what's happening in Salem during the next 24 hours...

• Celebrate Halloween at Crunchy Granola Baby, 3-5pm. 72 Washington Street.
• Chilling Tales on the Friendship, 5-9pm.
  
• 16th Annual Temple of Nine Wells Samhain Magick Circle, 5:30pm. Gallows Hill Park. tnw-salem.org.
• Sixty2 on Wharf Halloween Cocktail Party, 7pm-midnight, 62 Wharf St.
• Live Music Around Town - featuring Total Entertainment DJ on Derby Street, DJ Doug on Salem Common, Undercover Band on Front Street, Grateful Ted & Britannica on Hawthorne Blvd. 7-10pm
• Legacy of the Hanging Judge & Spirits of the Gables at The House of the Seven Gables. 7:30pm-9:30pm.
• Witches Commemorative Candlelight Samhain Walk, 7:30pm.
  
• The Hawthorne Hotel's Car-Evil Creep Show Costume Ball, 8pm-midnight.
  
• Salem's Witches present A Feast to the Spirits, 8pm-midnight. CrowHavenCorner.net
  
• Eerie Evenings at the Witch House.
  
• Halloween at Capt.'s Topsides, 8:30pm. Capts.com.
  
• Halloween Finale, presented by VDA Productions at Washington & Federal Streets followed by fireworks over the North River. 10:30-11pm

It doesn't end on Friday night. If you couldn't make it here on Halloween, many of the street vendors will be here on Saturday, and there will be music at the Fountain Stage, as well as a number of events on Saturday night, including The Official Salem Witches' Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Visit HauntedHappenings.org for complete info.

Public Safety on Halloween

NEW RULES FOR HALLOWEEN IN SALEM

City of Salem advises visitors to be safe, use common sense,

and be prepared to leave at the end of the evening

The City of Salem is encouraging participants in Salem’s Halloween night festivities to be safe and considerate during their celebration of all things haunted, spooky and bewitching.

Halloween night is filled with costume balls, festivals, dramatic presentations, ghost stories, walking tours, and parties. Visitors are advised to make reservations for tickets events early, as most will sell out.

The schedule of public events is as follows:

7:00-10:00 pm - Live music around town featuring the Undercover Band on Front Street and Grateful Ted on Hawthorne Boulevard;

10:30 pm - Halloween Finale presented by VDA Productions at Federal & Washington Streets, near the MBTA Commuter Rail station, followed by fireworks over the North River.

11:24 pm - Final train departs to North Station, Boston

11:26 pm - Final train departs to Newburyport

12:38 am - Final train departs to Rockport

The MBTA has added additional train service for Halloween night, and will be adding a temporary loading platform that will enable northbound and southbound trains to service Salem depot simultaneously. Visit MBTA.com for the complete expanded schedule of services for Haunted Happenings.

Those planning to celebrate Halloween in Salem are reminded of the following:

• Omit any weapons – fake and real – from costumes, as they will be confiscated;
• Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated;
• Salem is a residential city – please be considerate of private property and downtown residents;
• The finale at 10:30 PM is the conclusion of the public Halloween celebration . Please note that the streets will be closed after the fireworks and in conjunction with the final trains departing Salem . The Police and Public Works Departments will be clearing all streets and sidewalks so visitors should be prepared to depart Salem following the closing ceremony;
• To make the most of the public Salem Halloween experience, people are encourage to arrive no later than 8:30 pm, and should plan to depart after the finale at 10: 50 pm.;
• From October 29 – November 1 citations for illegal behavior – including public drinking, vandalism, and littering – will have tripled fines, up to $300, associated with them..

The Halloween holiday attracts tens of thousands of costumed revelers to Salem to visit attractions and partake in the Fall festivities. While the vast majority of visitors enjoy their time here without incident, there are some that take advantage of this public gathering and end up causing harm to the area, themselves or others. Please know that the City strongly discourages disorderly behavior (such as drinking in public, littering and random acts of vandalism) and will penalize offenders to the maximum amount allowed under the law both civilly and criminally. Please help us maintain a fun and safe downtown environment on Halloween evening!

For complete information on Salem Haunted Happenings and Halloween night, please visit Salem.com and HauntedHappenings.org.

Haunted Happenings for Families & Kids

Salem Haunted Happenings started as a day of Halloween celebrations for children. That was 27 years ago. Today it is a month-long celebration of the spooky and the fun, and events are geared toward both children and adults.

Here are the events for this year that promise perfect haunted entertainment for your family. All of these are listed in the Guide to Haunted Happenings, and on HauntedHappenings.org. There are 22 events, and a number of them happen multiple times.

The important thing? Trick-or-treating in Salem starts this Friday - so get your costumes out!

Grand Opening Haunted Happenings Parade
Thursday, October 2 | 6:30 PM
Welcome in the Halloween season with our 'Never Never Land' theme and our Grand Marshals Mayor Kimberley Driscoll & Salem State College President Dr. Patricia Maguire Meservey. Route begins at Shetland Park on Congress St. travels Derby Street, Lafayette Street, Front Street, Washington Street, and Essex Street before it ends at the Salem Common. 978-744-0004.

Mayor’s Night Out
Friday, October 3 | 3:00 – 8:00 PM
Salem residents, with identification, are admitted free to attractions and museums. Please look for the “Mayor’s Night Out” sign on the door of participating businesses. There will be free parking in the East India Mall garage after 4:00pm. 978-745-9595, ext. 5676

Trick-or-Treat with the Mayor, East India Fountain, Essex Street
Friday, October 3 | 5:30 PM
We will trick-or-treat up and down the pedestrian mall, through the shops at Museum Place Mall and beyond. Trick-or-Treat Bags will be provided. Costumes are encouraged.

Maritime Stories & Songs, Salem Maritime NHS, Derby Street
Thursdays October 9, 16 & 23 | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Come listen to strange tales and songs associated with New England's maritime history. Admission: $3.00 (limited to 25 people. First come, first serve. 978-740-1633

Annual Halloween Children’s Day, Salem Common
Saturday, October 11 (Rain date: Oct. 12) | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entertainment, rides, vendors, costume parade and contest. 978-744-8444.

Curious Creatures, Salem Maritime NHS, St. Joseph's Hall
Saturday, October 11 | Shows at 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM
Live tortoises, snakes, parrots and lizards visit. Discover how these exotic animals are connected to Salem's 19^th century maritime trade. 978-740-1663.

Haunted Biz Baz, Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
Saturday October 11 & Sunday, October 12 | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Street festival featuring entertainment, crafts, food, and more!

Bootiful Pets, Salem Common
Sunday, October 12 | 10:30AM – 2:00PM
An outdoor Halloween costume contest for dogs and cats. Owners will be asked to tell our judges why their cat should be named the Official Cat of Salem (must be a Salem cat resident). Prizes for the winners. Registration fee $5. Cat registration begins at 10:30am and contest begins at 11:00am. Dog registration begins at 12:30pm. Dog contest at 1:00pm. 978-744-2615.

Ms Firefly’s School of Spirit Conjuration, Museum Place Mall
Sunday, October 12 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join Salem’s own Ms. Firefly as she teaches kids to conjure their own friendly ghosts! Ice cream buffet! 800.595.4TIX • FestivalOfTheDead.com

Eerie Evenings, The Witch House, 310 Essex St.
October 17 & 18, 24 & 25, 31 & Nov. 1 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Come listen to eerie tales performed in the darkened rooms of this 17^th century mansion. For tickets & info, call 978-744-8815.

Pumpkin Display & Food Court, Salem Common
October 17- November 2 | 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Daily (10:00 PM Fri. & Sat.)Don't forget to stop by the Common and see how are talented young residents decorated their holiday pumpkins, wind through the hay bale maze or take your picture next to a 1,000lb. pumpkin or just sit down, relax and try some delicious seasonal fair foods.

Salem Youth Hockey Pumpkin Sale & Festival, Salem Common
October 18 & 19 | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
One Stop Shopping – Buy your holiday pumpkin and decorate it right there. Don't miss the opportunity to get your picture taken with a 1,000 lb. pumpkin. Find your way through a hay bale maze, get your face painted and play some holiday games.

Wind over Wings, Salem Maritime NHS, Custom House, Derby Street
Saturday, October 18, 1:30PM & 3:00PM Shows
Skywalker, the Golden eagle, and three of his fellow raptors (owl, hawk & falcon) will visit the maritime site. Programs will be presented outdoors behind the Custom House. 978-740-1663.

Fiesta Shows Carnival, 289 Derby St.
Oct. 20 – November 2 | Noon – 9:00 PM daily (10:00 PM Fri & Sat.)
Come ride on an old fashioned merry-go-around or on the crazy bus! Try your skill at one of the game booths or just have some fair food favorites.

Trick-or-Treat, Pickering Wharf
Friday, October 24 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Parents with children in costume, age 14 and under are encouraged to visit all stores in Pickering Wharf with balloons outside their doors. 978-740-2877.

Pumpkin Festival, Salem Common
October 25 & 26, November 1 & 2 | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
One Stop Shopping – Buy your holiday pumpkin and decorate it right there. Don't miss the opportunity to get your picture taken with a 1,000 lb. pumpkin. Find your way through a hay bale maze, get your face painted and play some holiday games. Proceeds benefit the Salem Common Neighborhood Association.

Thrill the World: Michael Jackson's Zombie Dance, Salem State College, O'Keefe Center Saturday, October 25 | 1:00PM
Take a lesson to learn the Thriller Zombie Dance and then dance in sync as part of the world's largest performance of Michael Jackson's hit with the Thrill the World destinations across the planet from Madrid to Los Angeles to Singapore. Prizes for best dancer and best costume. $12/general/$7 students and seniors/children under 12 free. 978-542-7890.

Annual Children’s Halloween Party & Costume Parade, Salem Common
Saturday, October 25 | Registration at 11:00 AM, Parade begins at Noon
Costume contest with prizes to be awarded at Old Town Hall, followed by the Phoenix School's Halloween Party at the Phoenix School at 89 Margin St. $10 for both events. 978- 741-0870.

Kids Fun Run, Salem Common
Sunday, October 26 | 11:00 AM
Come enjoy a fun run! Prizes awarded for the scariest costume, funniest costume & the most creative costume. For children ages 2-12. 978-744-0351.

Stop by for a Spell Children’s Costume Brunch, The Hawthorne Hotel
Sunday, October 26 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Children are welcome to come in costume. Meet our entertaining characters, decorate pumpkins, & receive Halloween treats. Tickets $28.95 for adults & children 11 & under are $15.95. Reservations by calling 978.825.4311 • HawthorneHotel.com
(Photo is from last year's costume brunch. )

Neighborhood Trick or Treating
Friday, October 31 | 5:30PM – 8:00PM

Salem Haunted Happenings 2008

Believe me when I tell you that we in Salem are working really hard to get all of the information on Salem Haunted Happenings together and posted. Lots of you are already planning your trips to Salem - wisely so, I must say - and you have been asking for information to be sent to you.

Here's the scoop: The Official Calendar of Events for Salem Haunted Happenings will be printed in July. If you would like to be put on the mailing list, you can either send an email to info@salem.org requesting it, or you can fill out a visitor guide request form on Salem.org and check off that you are interested in Haunted Happenings. The Official Haunted Happenings web site at HauntedHappenings.org is being redone, and should be live this summer.

In the meantime, please use Salem.org for your information and updates. The calendar is updated continually. Other online resources for October in Salem are Festival of the Dead and Haunted Happenings Salem.

Here's what we know so far:

October 2nd... Haunted Happenings Grand Parade
October 11th - 12th... The Haunted Bazaar (visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce for more info on this very popular street fair)
October 18... Salem Harvest Fest
October 31st... Halloween Fireworks

There are lots of details to fill in the middle. We are waiting for confirmation on the PT Cruiser Car Show, the Harley Davidson ride, Spirits of the Gables, the Psychic Fairs, Children's Day on Salem Common, the Costumed Pet contest, Concerts, balls, and so on.

I promise you there will be lots going on during Haunted Happenings 2008, and the weekends of October will be chock-full of Haunted Fun for all. Accommodations are going fast, so if you're planning to come, book your stay now and fill in the details later!