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400 years. That’s how long Salem has been settled, and yet we focus on the events of one year. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 inspire yearly Halloween pilgrimages to this harbor town, as well as beloved books and movies like Hocus Pocus. If these spooky vibes are also influencing your fall travels, below are the top things to do in Salem, MA in October.
Even though Salem calls itself the “Witch City”, in reality there never were any witches in Salem. Just twenty innocent people who were murdered at the whims of bored, pubescent girls and the judges that emboldened them. However, so many visitors flock to Salem due to fascination with the witch trials and Hocus Pocus that the city has come to embrace this identity.
In today’s Salem, you can wander historical witch trials sites, quirky museums, and creepy shops on Essex Street. Don’t worry – I’ll also list every single Hocus Pocus site for fellow devotees. Without further ado, here are the 13 best things to do in Salem, MA during an October trip.
Note: wearing a witch hat is optional, but encouraged!
The Best Things to do in Salem, MA in October
The below October things to do in Salem can easily fill a whole weekend. Make sure to plan enough time to see all your desired sights!
Some places are not open every day or have limited hours. I will provide that information below, but be sure to always double check with the site itself, as things are always changing!
Witch Trials Sites in Salem
As a history lover, it saddens me that Hocus Pocus sometimes gets more attention than the real stories of Salem’s past. After all, the Puritan society that held the witch trials were an intriguing bunch! Any October trip to Salem should include the following witch trials-related activities:
1. The Witch House
Once the home of judge Jonathon Corwin, this is technically the only building left in Salem that directly relates to the witch trials. It’s even been rumored that a couple interrogations took place here. However, with all the selfie takers and photo shoots outside, I feared the Witch House would be a tourist trap.
I was happy to be proven wrong. The interior is authentically preserved and there are insightful displays about 16th century Puritan life. The information includes typical diets, medical practices, religious beliefs, and societal roles. It helps illustrate the community that would go on to execute their innocent neighbors, most of whom were women.
Hours: Daily from 10am to 5pm, admission is $9. Exterior always viewable.
2. Witch Trials Walking Tour
Whether during daylight or after dark, this spooky Salem walking tour is a must. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the crisp October air, while getting a thorough overview of Salem. The best tours discuss real witch trials history, with just a hint of folklore and ghost stories to get you into Salem’s Halloween spirit.
Book your witch trials walking tour here!
3. Witch Trials Memorial
Honor the twenty innocent victims of the witch trials at Salem’s simple granite Witch Trials Memorial, which sits adjacent to the Old Burying Point. The victims were mostly women, some of whom were wayward outcasts, while others were highly regarded church members.
While it seemed the entire community was eventually hurling witchcraft accusations, the madness began with the “afflictions” of adolescent girls acting out “for sport”. Sadly, the paranoid magistrates and judges readily bought into the idea of witchcraft, even admitting “spectral evidence” in court. Spectral evidence was basically an accuser’s testimony of having received a menacing visit from the accused’s ghostly likeness.
Sadly, once you were accused, it was virtually impossible to prove your innocence. There was no order in the court room, and the trials were far from fair. Nineteen people would meet their end at the gallows, with poor Giles Corey being pressed to death when he would not confess to witchcraft.
Fun Fact: The last Salem “witch” to be officially pardoned was Elizabeth Johnson Jr. in 2022 – 329 years after she was convicted!
Hours: Open most days from 7am to 6pm; Friday and Sunday hours are 12pm to 6pm.
4. Salem Witch Museum
If you don’t know much about the witch trials, the Witch Museum gives a light background via a 45-minute presentation. Up front, I must admit I found the presentation underwhelming for the $16.50 price tag, especially for anyone with a light background on witch trials history.
That said, a Peabody Essex Museum employee mentioned that this is the third highest grossing museum in Massachusetts. I’ll let you form your own opinion.
In October, you will need to book a timeslot to the museum online in advance – tickets are not sold at the door. Arrive fifteen minutes before your reservation to have your ticket validated and join the long line outside (dress for the weather). Once inside, the presentation takes places in two rooms, and consists of narration and large-scale dioramas.
Hours: Daily from 10am to 5pm.
Travel Savvy Tip
Visit the nearby town of Danvers (the former Salem Village) to find even more witch trials sites. This small town used to be part of Salem, and is where the witch hysteria actually began.
Hocus Pocus Filming Sites in Salem
I know I’m not the only person who watches Hocus Pocus every fall. Therefore, I understand that seeing the Hocus Pocus filming sites are nonnegotiable things to do when visiting Salem, MA in October. While not all sites are open to the public, even a quick visit lets you imagine that a virgin just lit the “black flame candle”.
Related: The Perfect Salem, MA Day Trip Itinerary
6. Ropes Mansion
Remember the Halloween party at Allison’s house that Max and Dani crash during the movie? Well, the exterior of Ropes Mansion was used as the set of that house.
This 18th century mansion was home to four generations of the Ropes family. It is possible to tour the interior of Ropes Mansion on weekends, and the lovely gardens in the back are open to visitors all day, every day. Admission to the house and gardens is free of charge.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4pm, exterior and rear gardens always viewable
7. Hocus Pocus House
This was the set of Max and Dani’s house in the movie Hocus Pocus, and you’ll recognize its iconic tower where the Sanderson Sisters broke through the ceiling to steal Dani and the spell book.
In reality, the house is a private residence in a quiet, harborside neighborhood. You can find it near the water on Ocean Ave, just a short walk from Forest River Park. The owners accommodate visitors who want to take photographs outside, but please do respect their privacy.
Hours: Exterior always viewable
8. Salem Common
Salem Common was the site of an encounter between Max and Allison in the movie, when Allison returns Max’s number before sauntering off through the crunchy leaves. Historically, this land was used for livestock grazing and militia drills, but became a park during the early 19th century.
During October, the Haunted Happenings Marketplace takes place in Salem Common, featuring festive Halloween decorations, photo spots, food stalls, and performers. Otherwise, it’s simply a pleasant place to stroll when you need a break from the Halloween crowds.
Hours: Open all day, every day
9. Phillips Elementary School
The set of Max and Allison’s high school in Hocus Pocus, and also where they tried unsuccessfully to roast the Sanderson Sisters in a kiln.
The school is viewable across the street from Salem Common along S. Washington Square (it is hilariously called Max Dennison School on Google Maps), but closed to the public. In fact, the former elementary school had already closed down by the time Hocus Pocus was filmed in 1993.
Hours: Exterior always viewable
10. Old Town Hall
The site of the all-night Halloween party that Max and Dani’s parents attend and where the Sanderson Sisters famously perform “I Put a Spell on You”.
The role of the Old Town Hall in Hocus Pocus is not too far off from its actual purpose. While it was erected as a municipal building in 1816, today it serves as a venue for various events and shows.
In October you can purchase tickets to Cry Innocent: The People vs. Bridget Bishop at the Old Town Hall. It’s an interactive experience where you are part of the jury that sends the first Salem witch to the gallows.
11. Salem Pioneer Village
The set of 17th century Salem at the beginning of Hocus Pocus, when the Sanderson Sisters turn Binx into a cat and murder his sister Emily.
Salem Pioneer Village is actually a park that features full-scale replicas of furnished wooden homes to represent those of 1630’s Salem. Admission is $5 per adult and one hour is plenty of time to explore the small village. Afterwards, take a waterfront stroll beneath the colorful leaves at Forest River Park.
The Salem Pioneer Village website says tickets can be purchased at the door; however, for our Halloween weekend visit tickets had to be purchased online. Four-hour parking is available on site for $.50/hour on the Passport App.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm; closes seasonally after Halloween until spring
Travel Savvy Tip
You can find one more Hocus Pocus filming site one town over in Marblehead, MA. It is the Old Burial Hill, or where Jay and Ernie (“Ice”) steal Max’s tennis shoes.
Other October Things to do in Salem, MA
12. Pose by the Bewitched Statue
Erected in 2005, this bronze statue of Samantha from Bewitched is a tribute to the 7th season of the show, which was filmed in Salem. Although she’s been vandalized once or twice, the Bewitched statue is one of the most beloved landmarks in the city and a popular photo spot.
You can find the Bewitched Statue in Lappin Park, at the corner of Essex and Washington Streets. The Gulu-Gulu cafe right behind it is also a pleasant spot for lunch or coffee.
Hours: Viewable all day, every day
13. Stroll Past Shops and Homes of Salem
Essex Street is the place to be for shops and shenanigans during October in Salem, MA. Head to the pedestrian mall for apothecaries, street performers, and creepy stores with goth Hot Topic vibes. You can even find several spooky season-appropriate museums, like the Halloween, Monster, or Witch History Museums.
That said, you’ll need to leave the Essex Street tourist center to find the real charm of Salem. Many residents elaborately decorate their historical homes for Halloween, and strolling past them over crunchy leaves adds to the fall magic. I recommend taking a wander beyond the Witch House on Essex Street and returning on Chestnut Street to view a sampling of stately old homes.
Hours: Streets are strollable all day, every day
Bonus Site: Peabody Essex Museum
Often overlooked by visitors to Essex Street, the Peabody Essex Museum is the longest running museum in the United States. It’s the best place to go to learn about the real history of Salem, including the tragic events of 1692. There are even real letters and court documents from the witch trials on display!
Hours: Thursday through Monday from 10am to 5pm, admission is $20
Salem October Events
Salem turns up the spooky vibes in October, when a half-million tourists descend upon the city in advance of Halloween. These two festivals run all month and feature calendars lined up with fun, frightful events:
- Haunted Happenings: Events for the whole family ranging from wholesome to hair-raising that include ghostly shows, parades, interactive exhibits, and more.
- Festival of the Dead: If you take an interest in the paranormal, this month-long celebration of the afterlife includes psychic readings, séances, and an annual Halloween Ball.
Salem October Travel Tips
October is far and away Salem’s busiest month of the year. If you do not plan accordingly, the crowds, traffic and prices can be a nightmare, and not the cute Disney type that happens before Christmas.
Below are critical tips (from experience!) for navigating Salem as Halloween approaches:
- Arrive early to find parking in downtown Salem. Before 10am is best on a week day, and likewise by 9am on the weekends. At peak times, makeshift lots pop up on the outskirts of the city, but run as high as $30!
- Avoid driving by staying in Salem or utilizing public transportation. Boston is a thirty-minute train ride away or you could even take a ferry!
- Avoid long October lines by buying entry tickets online in advance (when possible).
- Consider visiting Salem on a week day instead of the weekend (including Friday).
- Visit Salem in early October; the further from Halloween, the better.
- My Witch Museum ticket warned me that traffic around Salem can add up to two extra hours to your commute on weekends. While our Halloween commute from Burlington was “only” 45 minutes, seasonal delays should definitely be expected.
- Entry fees and other prices may be inflated when visiting Salem in October. A store clerk admitted to me that $30 black witch hats are usually $25 in the offseason. I opted to buy the same hat on Amazon for $15.
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There are so many fun and spooky things to do in Salem, MA in October to get into the Halloween spirit. With its unique witch trials history and Hocus Pocus vibes, you’ll feel immersed into the mischief and paranoia of 17th century Salem. Plus, it’s an excuse to dress as a witch for the day – you won’t be alone!
