Salem, Massachusetts has to rank among the top few cities in America to visit during Halloween. With its history of witches and witch trials, the atmosphere in Salem couldn’t be better for those who desire a spooky Halloween experience. During the month of October, you can find more focus on witches, and more spooky history, than the usual that you would find in any historic town. There are haunted houses, tours of historic homes, lots of bars to visit, and much more. If you intend to go to Salem on Halloween, though, plan to get there early. By nighttime, the traffic will be extremely heavy and the streets will already be packed with costumed revelers. If Salem is your intended destination on or around Halloween this year, you can take in all or parts of the Festival of the Dead, an exploration of death and the rituals and mysteries that surround it, presented by Salem Warlock Christian Day. This event has multiple parts, so you can take in whatever is most interesting to you. Here are a few of the highlights of this year’s festival.
- Spectral Evidence: Ghost Hunting 101. Ron Kolek, a radio personality, ghost hunter, and author, teaches methods of ghost photography, use of Electro-Magnetic Field meters and thermal scanners, use of dowsing rods, pendulums, and other methods to observe the existence of ghosts and spirits and perhaps communicate with them as well. Tickets to this event are $75.
- The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead. This ceremonial dinner is served in complete silence, save for music chosen to commemorate the dead. The ritual dinner is served backwards, so you’ll begin with dessert and coffee, followed by an entrée, then soup, salad, and finally appetizers. Previous Dumb Supper guests have reported feeling a ghostly presence or touch, or encountering sights, smells and sounds that indicate spirits are present and partaking in the meal as well. Tickets for this event are $95.
- The Official Salem Witches Ball. On Friday, October 26th, from 7:30pm to 12:30 AM, You can join Christian Day, along with other Witches of Salem, for magic and dancing at this exclusive Halloween party. Eat, dance, get a free psychic reading, and more. This year’s party will feature live performances from the Dragon Ritual Drummers, including a belly dance by Hadiya, a bagpipe performance from Cu Dubh, which includes another belly dance by Rajuli, and concerts by Kellianna and Jenna Greene. The costumed ball has a theme of “Witch and Famous,” so dress as your favorite witch, warlock, magician, or sorcerer whether real or fictional. First prize for the costume contest is $1000. Tickets for this event are $150.
These are only a few of the exciting events that make up the Festival of the Dead. More can be found on the event’s website at www.festivalofthedead.com. As you can see, Halloween in Salem is a really big deal. If you’re a fan of witches and spooky events, be sure to check it out.
