Salem Haunted Happenings To Return This Halloween Season

SALEM, MA —Salem will once again come alive to celebrate the dead this fall as Salem Haunted Happenings returns to the streets of Halloween's unofficial hometown for 2021.

Salem Haunted Happenings is preparing for a return to pre-pandemic capacity and programming in October with street fairs, performances, expanded programming and special events.

Prior to last year when the coronavirus crisis forced the cancellation of all official events, Haunted Happenings was believed to be among the country's largest celebrations of Halloween.

Salem Haunted Happenings said many special events for 2021 are still to be confirmed, including the Grand Parade and the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, but that the Creative Collective is already planning the Merchant Marketplace and free family film nights.

The Howl-o-Ween pet parade, hosted by Salem Main Streets, is also in the works, according to Salem Haunted Happenings.

This year will also include some new events planned, including a Salem Witch Trials exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum, an Endless Night Vampire Weekend at the Hawthorne Hotel — which will include a "Vampire Ball" — and a Salem Arts Association exhibit called Artoberfest.

The Charter Street Cemetery also recently reopened with a new welcome center.

Residents and visitors can keep up with the events as they are added through the Destination Salem calendar.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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