'Hocus Pocus' Fans Asked Not To Go Salem House Hunting

SALEM, MA — Salem city officials are not the only ones asking people to "Turn Back Now" this Halloween season.

With many downtown parking garages closed, and restaurants and attractions sold out due to coronavirus-related restrictions — as city officials request visitors avoid Salem for the next two weekends — it appears Halloween-hungry movie fans are turning to famous holiday house tours to get their spooky fix in 2020.

But those in the neighborhood of the "Max and Dani" house made famous in the 1993 cult classic are asking for privacy after tourists invaded the neighborhood in recent days.

The Colonial is the house in the movie where Max and Dani reawakened the Sanderson Sisters — played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy — before they ran "amok, amok, amok, amok, amok" all over the Witch City.

The Salem Black Hat Society posted the plea Saturday afternoon at the request of homeowners and neighbors: "There is too much traffic around Dani and Max's house. Please respect the home owner's and the neighborhood's privacy. There is so much traffic that they have had to block the roads. PLEASE do not go onto anyone's property, thank you."

I was asked to post this: PSA: There is too much traffic around Dani and Max’s house. Please respect the home owner’s and the neighborhood’s privacy. There is so much traffic that they have had to block the roads. PLEASE do not go onto any one’s property, thank you. pic.twitter.com/v54JF7tslz
— Salem’s Black Hat Society (@SALEMSBHS) October 24, 2020

The suggestion: If you want to see the where the Sanderson Sisters were reawakened, then go watch the movie.

Much like the Christmas favorite "A Christmas Story" the Sanderson Sisters and "Hocus Pocus" have become more and more popular each year with generations of fans who grew up after the initial release of the film.

Milder, Parker and Najimy this week have a reunion planned to benefit Midler's New York Project. Online tickets are being sold for $10 to watch the Oct. 30 performance.

Viewers can expect to see Glenn Close, Billy Crystal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Samantha Diaz, Todrick Hall, Jennifer Hudson, among others involved in the production.