As hot summer weather with popsicles and tropical refreshments trickles away, in come pumpkin-spiced lattes, cozy sweaters, and the most anticipated part of the fall season for many: Halloween. Your local Spirit Halloween pop-up might get you hyped, but what’s more exciting than an entire city revolving around the holiday?
If Halloween happens to be your favorite holiday of the year, visiting Salem, Massachusetts should definitely be on your bucket list. The widely known “Witch City” can be visited by taking the MBTA’s Orange Line to North Station and hopping on the Commuter Rail’s Newburyport/Rockport line.
Historically, Salem was not centered around Jack-O-Lanterns and sweet treats, but the story behind this city’s association is truly terrifying. The tragic events of the Salem Witch Trials were not actually targeting witches, but innocent people who did not fit into the 17th-century Puritan society. It began with two young girls who contracted an unknown illness, and the rest enshrouds the history we know today.
When we think of the Salem Witch Trials, most of us do not think of the literal historical context; we first imagine pointed hats and broomsticks. Forms of entertainment such as the iconic movies “Bewitched” and “Hocus Pocus” helped shape the idea of what Salem is today. Iconic characters such as Frankenstein, Jack Skellington, and Ghostface fill the streets as people of all ages gather for photo opportunities. Lines full of horror enthusiasts and tourists fill the sidewalks and lead to the doors of local businesses.
Ironically, Salem’s history revolved around outcast communities, because most of the visitors and workers here proudly rebel against society’s norms. Salem has become a home to an extensive alternative fashion community, including a business called “Die With Your Boots On”, which sells all things gothic, leather, and lace.
Many Salem event attendees feel as if Salem is a haven, including sophomore Alexia Cordeiro. “I really enjoyed the expressive freedoms that came with Salem. It was a very interesting experience to be able to dress up like it was Halloween and see others doing the same,” Cordeiro noted.
“Every year I go, it’s such an exciting and refreshing experience. I love how different it is from other places in Massachusetts; it has this certain autumn, spooky vibe that I feel is accentuated by its history and overall what it is known for,” shared junior Salma Valencia Montoya.
From its haunting past to its vibrant present, Salem continues to captivate visitors as one of the most unique Halloween destinations in the country.
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