From Witch City

Salem events this week October 11–17, 2026 · 117 events, all in Salem

117 events are on in Salem this week (October 11–17), at 40 places around town. 68 start at 5pm or later. The busiest day is Saturday, with 29. Every event on this page is in Salem itself, not the next town over.

Updated . I pull this list from local calendars every 6 hours, so it changes as venues add things.

Sunday, October 11 · 5 events

Blacklight Cookie Decorating Class

· Salem Art Gallery

Join the Salem Art Gallery and Sugar Anarchy for a deliciously devilish cookie decorating workshop at The Satanic Temple of Salem. Unleash your inner artist and create unique, spooky, and fun designs on a fresh batch of sugar cookies! These classes will feature BLACKLIGHT frosting. All Skill Levels welcome! Cookies, icing, tools, sprinkles and everything you’ll need will be provided by Sugar Anarchy! All supplies included in ticket price. $86.66 Ticket Includes: -Cookie Decorating step-by-step instruction -All necessary supplies, prepped and ready to use -Complimentary charcuterie and sparkling cider -Admission to The Satanic Temple of Salem and opportunities to explore the museum

The Shadows of the Seven Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

GHOSTS, CURSES, AND MURDER! Embrace the spookier side of The House of the Seven Gables with an after-hours candlelit journey through the mansion. Experience the home as it was described by Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his 1851 novel – an old Salem mansion that is haunted by a family curse, mysterious deaths, and ghosts of its past. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $40 for Gables members. THIS TOUR DATE IS SOLD OUT!

Monday, October 12 · 15 events

Salem Glass Pumpkin Patch

· Salem Common

The Salem Glass Pumpkin Patch returns this fall in a new Salem Common setting, with three days of glass, artists and live demonstrations. Explore a vibrant collection of hand-blown glass pumpkins, watch glassblowing live, discover decorative glass created by North Shore Glass School artists, and be among the first to discover Salem Glass Witch Ball Co. Bring your family and your friends. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Derby Square

· Old Town Hall

Shop small in the heart of downtown Salem at this free outdoor marketplace beside historic Old Town Hall. Meet independent makers, artists, designers, and creative small businesses offering original art, jewelry, apparel, accessories, home goods, seasonal décor, gifts, and more. The lineup changes throughout the season, so check the live calendar before visiting. Produced by Creative Collective.

Superheroes vs. Villains

· Witch City Hibachi, Inc.

Celebrating superheroes and villains alike from DC to Marvel, and all the multiverses in between. Stop in at Witch City Hibachi, Inc. this October 12th from 11:30-10p.m Serving specialty cocktails/mocktails, themed decor, music and more! -Dress up in theme to receive a complimentary goodie bag upon check out. We will be hosting a themed costume contest at 6:30p.m. Cash prize winner chosen at 6:45p.m. Make sure to be dressed up in your best superhero/villain inspired costume to be eligible to participate. (This is a non ticked event) 94 Lafayette St. Salem, MA 01970

The Salem Haunted Magic Show: HYSTERIA: Ghost Psychic!

· Emerson Hall Theater

The Salem Haunted Magic Show presents HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! Step into Salem’s strangest live entertainment experience, where magic, mind reading, psychic phenomena, and the unexplained collide. HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! is a darkly theatrical and highly interactive magic show where audience members become part of the mystery. Watch thoughts get revealed, predictions come true, impossible coincidences unfold, and ordinary people experience extraordinary things—right before your eyes. Funny, mysterious, surprising, and just a little unsettling, HYSTERIA! is unlike a traditional magic show. You don’t just sit back and watch—you may find yourself at the center of the impossible. Perfect for visitors, families, couples, friends, skeptics, believers, and anyone looking for something uniquely Salem. 🧠 Interactive Mind Reading 🃏 Impossible Magic 🔮 Psychic Phenomena 👻 Unexplained Experiences Come see what happens when your thoughts aren’t quite as private as you think. Nothing is what it seems. 🎟 Tickets & showtimes: TheSalemMagicShow.com

Hat Making Workshops – Hands-on Experience

· Historic Salem Inc

Hat Making Workshops Learn the craft in good company and leave Salem with a hat made by your own hands. Small-group workshop · up to 10 seats Ten humans enter. Ten witches leave. Give or take a little glue. Gather around one worktable for a small-group Salem workshop where up to ten people learn, make, compare choices, laugh at the awkward middle, and leave with a witch hat shaped by their own hands. The hat-making workshop is a small-group Salem experience at $130 per seat, with up to 10 seats and a choice of set designs. You leave with a witch hat made by your own hands. The table is part of the magic. This is not ten private appointments happening near one another. It is one shared workshop. Everyone starts together, learns together, navigates the slightly chaotic middle together, and watches ten different hats emerge from the same room. The craft gives everybody something to do while conversation takes care of itself. Friends can make Salem memories together. Families can compare creative decisions. Solo visitors can simply pull up a chair and discover that strangers become much easier to talk to when everyone is trying to persuade a piece of hat material to behave. Each scheduled workshop is intentionally small, with no more than ten seats. The limit gives the maker enough room to help, gives everyone enough space to work, and keeps the gathering feeling like a workshop rather than a minor textile emergency. Hat-Making Workshop $130 per person. Attendees must be 15 or older

Monday Evening Conversations

· Maitland farm, kitchen, & spirits

This group currently meets online. Register here The Monday Evening Conversations Group meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. All members and other interested parties are invited. It may be of interest to know that the The Social Library, predecessor of the Salem Athenaeum, was founded by a similar discussion group, called the Monday Evening Club. Edward Augustus Holyoke, Rev. Thomas Barnard, Rev. Thomas Gilchrist, Benjamin Lynde, Nathaniel Ropes and others were among the Monday Evening Club founders, who gathered to discuss current events and topics of mutual interest. Topics for discussion are wide open, but must be amenable to good conversation. Examples include: The long ranging effects of the Civil War The courage to be vulnerable European architecture The importance/non importance of art Why have friends Meetings will start with something to help frame the discussion for the evening, such as a: brief talk podcast video reading of prose or poetry music We look forward to talking with you!

Open Mic Night

· East Regiment Beer Company

INDUSTRY NIGHT OPEN MIC 6:30pm Sign Ups Start 7-9pm Open Mic First come, first serve, with PA provided. Drink, sing, and be merry with your host and bartender, Dylan!

Tuesday, October 13 · 8 events

Writers' Open Studio

· Salem Athenaeum

Weekly Writing Studios at the Salem Athenaeum. The building will be open from 9:00-11:00 today especially for quiet work. Feel free to come by and write in a peaceful setting.

Start the Night Salem at Bernadette

· Bernadette

This October, Bernadette invites locals and visitors to kick off their evening in Salem with Start the Night Salem, a complimentary 90-minute cocktail reception hosted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00–6:30 p.m. Guests will be welcomed with a seasonal nonalcoholic sipper and warm cheese gougères, with additional fall cocktails, Harvest Punch, curated wine flights and a special Bernadette Bites menu available for purchase. The menu features tastes of the restaurant’s signature French-inspired dishes, including dressed oysters, Jambon-Beurre, Croque Forestier, country pâté tartine, roasted local beets and warm sourdough with house-made butter. Designed as a gathering place for both Salem residents and October visitors, the reception offers a chance to meet Bernadette owners Chef Aaron Chambers and Shanna Chambers, mingle with locals and begin the night with a taste of one of Salem’s acclaimed restaurants. When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays in October, 5:00–6:30 p.m. Where: Bernadette, Salem, MA Admission: Complimentary; RSVP required due to limited capacity RSVP: [email protected] More Information: https://www.bernadettesalem.com/post/start-the-night-salem-at-bernadette

Wednesday, October 14 · 12 events

Start the Night Salem at Bernadette

· Bernadette

This October, Bernadette invites locals and visitors to kick off their evening in Salem with Start the Night Salem, a complimentary 90-minute cocktail reception hosted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00–6:30 p.m. Guests will be welcomed with a seasonal nonalcoholic sipper and warm cheese gougères, with additional fall cocktails, Harvest Punch, curated wine flights and a special Bernadette Bites menu available for purchase. The menu features tastes of the restaurant’s signature French-inspired dishes, including dressed oysters, Jambon-Beurre, Croque Forestier, country pâté tartine, roasted local beets and warm sourdough with house-made butter. Designed as a gathering place for both Salem residents and October visitors, the reception offers a chance to meet Bernadette owners Chef Aaron Chambers and Shanna Chambers, mingle with locals and begin the night with a taste of one of Salem’s acclaimed restaurants. When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays in October, 5:00–6:30 p.m. Where: Bernadette, Salem, MA Admission: Complimentary; RSVP required due to limited capacity RSVP: [email protected] More Information: https://www.bernadettesalem.com/post/start-the-night-salem-at-bernadette

Notch Run Club Wednesdays!

· Notch Brewing

Meters for Liters is a weekly 5k run from the brewery. This is not a race, just a chance to get out and earn some cold beer. When we get back to the brewery, there will be plenty of beer and free pretzel bites for runners! No sign up is required but you do have the option to “sign in” before the run. Meet at the Tap Room between 6pm and 6:30!

Tarot Intensive For Artists and Creatives

· Salem Arts Association

Learn how to read the Tarot in this Beginning Tarot class where we will explore the history of the Tarot, the basic symbolism and meaning of all 78 cards, and how to use the Tarot for self-reflection and as a divination tool. Each class in this three-week lecture series will include a guided meditation and an opportunity to both give and receive Tarot readings in an inclusive supportive workshop setting. This class also includes an artist talk on how to best use the Tarot as an artist to manifest the creative career you want drawing upon real life experiences of a psychic visual artist in the entertainment industry. All classes are hands-on and interactive so creative networking is integral and highly encouraged! In addition, all registrants will receive free priority access to the next event in our Metaphysical Series – the Salem Arts Tarot Artist Talk: The Salem Arcanum Tarot by Jim Bostick with Special Guest Madame Thérèse DeVoe, Hps. Whether you are new to Tarot, could use a review, or simply want to gain a new perspective, this class will help you push the relationship between your creative skills and intuitive gifts while developing a newfound confidence in reading the Tarot for yourself and others. Please bring to each class your very own deck of the Rider-Waite Tarot and any materials you feel would enhance your learning such as a sketchbook or Tarot journal, water bottle, and pen. Hope you can join us for this rare and enriching opportunity to celebrate the Halloween season at Salem Arts! Seats are limited, so RSVP today! Dates: September 30, 2026 October 7, 2026 October 14, 2026 6:00 pm EST – 8:00 pm EST Tuition for All 3 Classes: $75 for Salem Arts Members $100 for Non-Members Sign up for Class Today!

The Shadows of the Seven Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

GHOSTS, CURSES, AND MURDER! Embrace the spookier side of The House of the Seven Gables with an after-hours candlelit journey through the mansion. Experience the home as it was described by Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his 1851 novel – an old Salem mansion that is haunted by a family curse, mysterious deaths, and ghosts of its past. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $40 for Gables members. THIS TOUR DATE IS SOLD OUT!

Halloween Sober Sip and Paint

· Salem Art Gallery

Join our curator for a unique and creative evening at The Satanic Temple! This sober sip and paint night offers a chance to explore your artistic side in a relaxed and intimate gallery environment. All skill levels are welcome, and all art supplies will be provided. This special Halloween-themed session will focus on painting adorable **vintage Halloween cats**! Come unwind, socialize, and create something spooktacular without the pressure of alcohol. We’ll have a selection of non-alcoholic beverages and snacks available. $36.66 Ticket Includes: -Guided painting session led by our curator -All Art Supplies (provided by the Salem Art Gallery) -Non Alcoholic beverages and charcuterie -Friendly, welcoming atmosphere -A vintage Halloween Cat painting, completely unique to you! Come express yourself with us while enjoying a fun SOBER night out! This class is recommended for ages 12+

Thursday, October 15 · 25 events

Tim Burton Day

· Witch City Hibachi, Inc.

Celebrating Tim Burton’s spooky classics this October 15-16th at Witch City Hibachi, Inc. from 11:30-10pm Serving specialty cocktails/mocktails, themed decor, music and more, so make sure to stop in for a terrific time. -Dress up in theme to receive a complimentary goodie bag upon check out. -We will be hosting a themed costume contest on FRIDAY 10/16 at 6:30p.m. Cash prize winner chosen at 6:45p.m. by Joshua Madruga’s iconic Beetle juice 🪲Make sure to be dressed up in a Tim Burton inspired costume to be eligible to participate. (This is a non ticked event) 94 Lafayette St. Salem, MA 01970 📞978.594.0832

Haunted Happenings Food Court at Old Town Hall

· Old Town Hall

Step inside historic Old Town Hall for a free indoor food marketplace featuring a rotating mix of local and regional vendors. Find sweet and savory options, seasonal specialties, and Halloween treats throughout Haunted Happenings. Vendor lineups can change by date, so check the live calendar before visiting. Produced by Creative Collective.

Convivial Craft

· Salem Athenaeum

Thursdays and Saturdays 1:00-3:00 p.m. Use this time to move a creative project forward (knit, scrapbook, sketch, journal, write) or complete a task (write those thank you notes, sign the kids up for camp, organize your photos) in community.

Start the Night Salem at Bernadette

· Bernadette

This October, Bernadette invites locals and visitors to kick off their evening in Salem with Start the Night Salem, a complimentary 90-minute cocktail reception hosted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00–6:30 p.m. Guests will be welcomed with a seasonal nonalcoholic sipper and warm cheese gougères, with additional fall cocktails, Harvest Punch, curated wine flights and a special Bernadette Bites menu available for purchase. The menu features tastes of the restaurant’s signature French-inspired dishes, including dressed oysters, Jambon-Beurre, Croque Forestier, country pâté tartine, roasted local beets and warm sourdough with house-made butter. Designed as a gathering place for both Salem residents and October visitors, the reception offers a chance to meet Bernadette owners Chef Aaron Chambers and Shanna Chambers, mingle with locals and begin the night with a taste of one of Salem’s acclaimed restaurants. When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays in October, 5:00–6:30 p.m. Where: Bernadette, Salem, MA Admission: Complimentary; RSVP required due to limited capacity RSVP: [email protected] More Information: https://www.bernadettesalem.com/post/start-the-night-salem-at-bernadette

Monthly Meat Raffle (Cheese Edition!)

· Notch Brewing

Monthly raffle ft Vin Fromage (Wenham, MA) Thursday 10/15 at Notch Taproom Prizes raffled every 20 mins! Raffle tickets $1 each, each ticket is good for the whole event Free raffle ticket with each beer purchase Raffle ticket proceeds donated to The Salem Food Pantry

Members Preview Sale

· Salem Athenaeum

Mark your calendars for the best book sale of the Fall! Members, plus one guest, have the opportunity to attend the Members Preview Book Sale on Thursday night, before it opens to the public on Friday morning. Tickets: Free to Members and one guest. Sign up Volunteer at the Book Sale here!

East Reggie Run Club

· East Regiment Beer Company

Calling all runners! Are you ready to lace up your shoes, hit the pavement, and join a fantastic community of like-minded individuals? Look no further than the Thursday Night Regiment, East Regiment Beer Company’s very own run club, designed to bring together runners of all levels for an incredible weekly experience. Every Thursday at 6pm. Running in a group offers numerous benefits beyond the physical. It provides motivation, accountability, and safety while building camaraderie that can make long miles feel effortless. Together, we’ll explore the beautiful streets and scenic routes of Salem!

Witch Broom Making Class

· East Regiment Beer Company

Make your very own Witches Broom in Salem at our spiritual broom making workshop. Start by choosing your hardwood broom stick and gathering your broom corn bundle around the stick. Then accessorize your broom with various dried flowers, a charm, a crystal, and a leather wrap included in all ticket purchases. No additional purchases necessary.

Haunted Fables at The Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

Join Salem’s master storyteller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, for a frightful evening of thrills and chills! The famous author performs his most frightening tales, as well as the terrifying works of fellow writer, Edgar Allan Poe. Stories include The House of the Seven Gables, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, Young Goodman Brown, The Raven, and more. Experience the greatest Gothic horror stories ever written, brought to life by one of the authors himself! Appropriate for families with brave children 10 and up. Please note, this event takes place in our Visitor Center auditorium and does not include access to the Mansion. Tickets are $50 general admission, $40 for Gables members, and $10 for children under 5. Tickets are non-refundable. THIS PERFORMANCE DATE IS SOLD OUT!

The Shadows of the Seven Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

GHOSTS, CURSES, AND MURDER! Embrace the spookier side of The House of the Seven Gables with an after-hours candlelit journey through the mansion. Experience the home as it was described by Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his 1851 novel – an old Salem mansion that is haunted by a family curse, mysterious deaths, and ghosts of its past. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $40 for Gables members. THIS TOUR DATE IS SOLD OUT!

Salem's Comedy Coven – Haunted Comedy Show

· Salem Witch Village and the Lost Library

Salem’s Comedy Coven is back… but only for the Halloween season. Hidden inside The Lost Library’s Black Box Theater, this limited-run haunted comedy pop-up returns for just a few weeks each fall. Created in partnership with Witch City Comedy, the show brings together some of New England’s funniest comedians for an evening of wicked stand-up, eerie surprises, and laughs that are anything but dead. Seating is limited, and once the season ends, the coven disappears until next year.

Couch Dog Trivia

· Couch Dog Brewing Co.

Game time! Every Thursday from 7:30-9:30pm, join trivia emcee extraordinaire Tressa for some friendly competition and small-batch, home-brewed questions. Top 3 teams will win a Couch Dog gift card, and a random runner-up team will go home with a random physical prize!

Thursday Night Trivia at Couch Dog Brewing

· Couch Dog Brewing Co.

Game time! Every Thursday from 7:30-9:30pm, join trivia emcee extraordinaire Tressa for some friendly competition and small-batch, home-brewed questions. Top 3 teams will win a Couch Dog gift card, and a random runner-up team will go home with a random physical prize!

Friday, October 16 · 23 events

Book Sale

· Salem Athenaeum

The best book sale of the year has moved to October! Friday–Saturday, October 16–17 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Support the Athenaeum! Please note: We are still accepting donations for the book sale. If you are dropping off less that 2 boxes of books, you may bring them anytime during open hours. If your donation is more than 2 boxes of books, an appointment is required (email: [email protected] or call 978-744-2540). Thank you! Sign up to volunteer at the Book Sale here!

Haunted Happenings Food Court at Old Town Hall

· Old Town Hall

Step inside historic Old Town Hall for a free indoor food marketplace featuring a rotating mix of local and regional vendors. Find sweet and savory options, seasonal specialties, and Halloween treats throughout Haunted Happenings. Vendor lineups can change by date, so check the live calendar before visiting. Produced by Creative Collective.

Eerie Stories: Haunting Legends of the North Shore

· Salem Armory

Listen to the shadowy history and folklore of Massachusetts’ North Shore! From buried treasure and ghostly ships to legendary pirates like Black Sam Bellamy and Captain Kidd, this program brings the haunting legends and maritime mysteries of Salem, Gloucester, Ipswich, and beyond to life. These stories are grounded in history, shaped by folklore, and told with all the drama of the high seas — these are the stories passed down for generations along one of America’s most storied coastlines.

Casper, The Guinness Experience

· Daniels House Historic Site

Meet Guinness World Record holder Vanessa Irino, explore items from her Casper collection certified by Guinness World Records. Experience Casper Across the Decades at Salem’s historic Daniels House. Meet Vanessa Irino, Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest collection of Casper the Friendly Ghost memorabilia, and explore a remarkable private collection featuring vintage Casper items from across the decades. Guests will have the opportunity to see rare and nostalgic memorabilia from different eras, learn more about Vanessa’s record-breaking collection, take photos, and celebrate the enduring legacy of everyone’s favorite friendly ghost. Vanessa will also be selling and signing copies of her book, Kindred Spirits: A True Story on How a Friendly Ghost Changed the Life of Another. This family-friendly Halloween experience is perfect for Casper fans, collectors, families, and anyone who loves pop-culture nostalgia. Children ages 10 and under: Free Tickets are available online and at the door.

Tea & Cake Tasting

· Jolie Tea Company

Free Tea & Cake Tasting at Jolie Tea Company. Every Friday afternoon, 3:00-5:00pm. Come enjoy and taste some of our favorite tea blends and cake flavors!

Salem Night Faire

· Salem Pioneer Village

Presented by The Black Veil . Tread beyond the darkened pines of The Pioneer Village . Featuring art, clothing, jewelry and oddity vendors, performances, ghost stories, hot cider, food trucks, Biergarten & more.

The Salem Haunted Magic Show: HYSTERIA: Ghost Psychic!

· Emerson Hall Theater

The Salem Haunted Magic Show presents HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! Step into Salem’s strangest live entertainment experience, where magic, mind reading, psychic phenomena, and the unexplained collide. HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! is a darkly theatrical and highly interactive magic show where audience members become part of the mystery. Watch thoughts get revealed, predictions come true, impossible coincidences unfold, and ordinary people experience extraordinary things—right before your eyes. Funny, mysterious, surprising, and just a little unsettling, HYSTERIA! is unlike a traditional magic show. You don’t just sit back and watch—you may find yourself at the center of the impossible. Perfect for visitors, families, couples, friends, skeptics, believers, and anyone looking for something uniquely Salem. 🧠 Interactive Mind Reading 🃏 Impossible Magic 🔮 Psychic Phenomena 👻 Unexplained Experiences Come see what happens when your thoughts aren’t quite as private as you think. Nothing is what it seems. 🎟 Tickets & showtimes: TheSalemMagicShow.com

Haunted Fables at The Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

Join Salem’s master storyteller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, for a frightful evening of thrills and chills! The famous author performs his most frightening tales, as well as the terrifying works of fellow writer, Edgar Allan Poe. Stories include The House of the Seven Gables, The Cask of Amontillado, Annabel Lee, Young Goodman Brown, The Raven, and more. Experience the greatest Gothic horror stories ever written, brought to life by one of the authors himself! Appropriate for families with brave children 10 and up. Please note, this event takes place in our Visitor Center auditorium and does not include access to the Mansion. Tickets are $50 general admission, $40 for Gables members, and $10 for children under 5. Tickets are non-refundable. > CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS <

The Shadows of the Seven Gables

· The House of the Seven Gables

GHOSTS, CURSES, AND MURDER! Embrace the spookier side of The House of the Seven Gables with an after-hours candlelit journey through the mansion. Experience the home as it was described by Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his 1851 novel – an old Salem mansion that is haunted by a family curse, mysterious deaths, and ghosts of its past. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $40 for Gables members. THIS TOUR DATE IS SOLD OUT!

Salem Witch Fest's Hellfire Cabaret

· Hawthorne Hotel

Join the denizens of hell at the Hawthorne Hotel’s Grand Ballroom for a truly epic night of devilry as we gather Friday, October 16th for the Hellfire Cabaret! Be you angel or devil come dressed in your finest for an evening of dancing, cocktails, drag, burlesque, and sideshow. Our evening begins with an hour of appetizers and complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks! So get there early! Costumes are highly encouraged! Come dressed as your favorite sinner or saint! Think devil horns, halos, martyr attire, or even your sexiest smoking jacket. Come dressed to impress, and get ready to have the night of your life! Our lineup would temp even the devil himself. You will be thrilled, tantalized, and delighted by our diabolical drag queens and wicked dance performances. * Samuel Bendix * Hella Hayes & Andy Ryan of Skellingtons Screaming Sideshow * Belle Gunz * Sarah Jezebel Wood * Master of Ceremonies Johnny Caligula * DJ’s Arcanus & Motia * Lighting by A Curious Production The crown jewel of our evening is the costume contest! Our top contest winner will bring home $500 in prizes!

Bars After Dark

· Salem Witch Village and the Lost Library

Bars After Dark Presented by Bars Over Bars and The Lost Library You’ve seen Salem by daylight. Now discover what happens after dark. Hidden beyond the shelves of The Lost Library, an intimate Black Box theater comes alive for one night only with Bars After Dark — an immersive Halloween-season rap showcase in the heart of downtown Salem. Step inside, leave the October crowds behind, and enter a dark underground world of live music, heavy beats, eerie projections, and some of the area’s rising hip-hop talent. With performers taking the mic throughout the night and visuals surrounding the entire room, this isn’t your typical concert — it’s a hidden Salem nightlife experience made for Halloween season. Whether you’re visiting Salem for the weekend, exploring the city after the attractions close, or looking for something unexpected to do at night, follow the music and find your way inside. One night. One hidden room. Nothing but bars. Friday, October 16 Doors: 7:00 Music: 7:30 End: 10:00pm The Black Box at The Lost Library Salem, Massachusetts Live Rap • Immersive Visuals • Halloween Atmosphere • One Night Only

Becky Nurse of Salem by Sarah Ruhl

· Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts

Sarah Ruhl’s dark contemporary comedy follows Becky Nurse, a modern-day descendant of accused witch Rebecca Nurse in Salem. Becky’s been fired from her job at the local museum, troubled by her granddaughter’s boyfriend, is pining for a married man, and taking pain pills to cope after her daughter’s overdose. It seems hers is anything but a charmed life as Becky just tries to get by. She looks to a local witch to help right her wrongs, leading to shocking, funny, and even disturbing results. Ruhl’s story reveals the real human beings inside the noise of history and how far one woman will go to hold onto what she holds dear.

Terror Ticket: Raveyard

· Salem Witch Village and the Lost Library

After dark, it gets louder. Dance amongst the monsters. Fridays • 8 PM–10 PM Live DJ • Haunted Walkthrough • Halloween After Hours A Haunted House Rave When the sun goes down, the Haunted Witch Village and Frankenstein’s Castle get louder. Every Friday night, step inside Salem’s two premier haunted houses for an after-hours experience filled with pulsing music, eerie lighting, fog, Halloween atmosphere, and a live DJ spinning from inside the haunt. Explore the village, dance among the monsters, discover photo ops, and experience the attraction in a completely different way as the entire haunted house transforms into a Halloween party. This isn’t your typical nightclub and it definitely isn’t your typical haunted house. Fridays • 8:00 PM–10:00 PM 🎧 Live DJ 🎃 Live Actors 💀 Sober Halloween party atmosphere 📸 Photo opportunities 🌙 Limited late-night experience Come for the haunt. Stay for the rave.

SPFX Workshop at The Satanic Temple

· Salem Art Gallery

Step into the bloody side of practical effects with Dead Puppy Studios for a hands-on Horror SPFX Workshop at The Satanic Temple’s Salem Art Gallery. Led by the FX artist behind the practical effects for Satanic Planet’s latest music video, this 18+ workshop will introduce you to the techniques used to create convincing bruises, cuts, wounds, blood effects, and other on-skin horror FX. You’ll learn how to layer color, texture, liquid latex, and blood to transform ordinary skin into something that looks like it had a very bad night. No prior makeup or special effects experience is required. Whether you’re a horror fan, Halloween obsessive, aspiring FX artist, performer, photographer, or scare actor looking to make your character a little more disturbing, this workshop is designed to give you practical techniques you can recreate on your own. Your ticket includes a take-home Horror FX Kit with a bruise wheel, liquid latex, blood, and applicators so the carnage doesn’t have to end when the class does. Attendees will also receive 10% off FX makeup supplies at The Magic Parlor. Come ready to get messy, make something gruesome, and leave with the skills—and supplies—to create your own horror effects. This workshop uses liquid latex. Attendees with a latex allergy should not participate in latex-based applications. Tickets: $106.66

Saturday, October 17 · 29 events

Book Sale

· Salem Athenaeum

The best book sale of the year has moved to October! Friday–Saturday, October 16–17 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Support the Athenaeum! Please note: We are still accepting donations for the book sale. If you are dropping off less that 2 boxes of books, you may bring them anytime during open hours. If your donation is more than 2 boxes of books, an appointment is required (email: [email protected] or call 978-744-2540). Thank you! Sign up to volunteer at the Book Sale here!

Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Derby Square

· Old Town Hall

Shop small in the heart of downtown Salem at this free outdoor marketplace beside historic Old Town Hall. Meet independent makers, artists, designers, and creative small businesses offering original art, jewelry, apparel, accessories, home goods, seasonal décor, gifts, and more. The lineup changes throughout the season, so check the live calendar before visiting. Produced by Creative Collective.

Kids' Fun Fest

· Salem Common

Families visiting Salem during October can stop by Kids’ Fun Fest on Salem Common for kid-friendly activities and seasonal entertainment.

Slime Potion Brewing Class

· Salem Witch Village and the Lost Library

Get Ready for a Magical Experience at Our Slime Potion Brewing Class! We’re calling all aspiring wizards, witches, and slime enthusiasts to join us at Burying Point Productions for an enchanting Slime Potion Brewing, This family-friendly event invites participants of all ages to dive into the magical world of potion-making by crafting their custom slime “potions.” With Halloween-themed charms, glittering mix-ins, and a touch of whimsy, attendees will unleash their creativity and take home a fun and unique keepsake. Event Highlights: Hands-On Potion Making: Learn how to mix, swirl, and craft the perfect slime potion using simple ingredients. Participants can customize their creations with colors, glitter, charms, and even scents. Potion Personalization: Everyone will have the chance to name their potion and label their magical creation in their own unique way. Take-Home Fun: Each participant will leave with their own bottled slime potion to show off or gift to friends.

Witch Hats on the Wharf

· Derby Wharf Light Station

In honor of Salem’s 400th anniversary, we’re inviting everyone to join us for Witch Hats on the Wharf, a one-of-a-kind community photo opportunity and world record attempt on Salem’s historic waterfront. Wear your favorite witch hat and gather with us on the wharf for a drone photo capturing hundreds, maybe thousands, of witch hats on the Wharf. Whether you’re a local, a longtime Haunted Happenings fan, or visiting Salem for the first time, this is your chance to be part of a 400th anniversary moment . Come for the record . Stay for the waterfront, the shops, the restaurants, & the full Salem experience. Hosted by the City of Salem, Salem Maritime National Historical Park, and Destination Salem. The City will be selling special edition Salem 400+ witch hats to benefit HAWC. Download the event poster – here . Follow this link to make a donation to HAWC.

Saturday Morning Run Club

· Couch Dog Brewing Co.

Join us for a 5K run or 1 mile run/walk and then enjoy beer or coffee with fellow runners — all are welcome (including sporty pups!). Prizes at every 5th run, and also at milestones of 10, 25, and 50 total runs.

The Salem Haunted Magic Show: HYSTERIA: Ghost Psychic!

· Emerson Hall Theater

The Salem Haunted Magic Show presents HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! Step into Salem’s strangest live entertainment experience, where magic, mind reading, psychic phenomena, and the unexplained collide. HYSTERIA: The Ghost Psychic! is a darkly theatrical and highly interactive magic show where audience members become part of the mystery. Watch thoughts get revealed, predictions come true, impossible coincidences unfold, and ordinary people experience extraordinary things—right before your eyes. Funny, mysterious, surprising, and just a little unsettling, HYSTERIA! is unlike a traditional magic show. You don’t just sit back and watch—you may find yourself at the center of the impossible. Perfect for visitors, families, couples, friends, skeptics, believers, and anyone looking for something uniquely Salem. 🧠 Interactive Mind Reading 🃏 Impossible Magic 🔮 Psychic Phenomena 👻 Unexplained Experiences Come see what happens when your thoughts aren’t quite as private as you think. Nothing is what it seems. 🎟 Tickets & showtimes: TheSalemMagicShow.com

Convivial Craft

· Salem Athenaeum

Thursdays and Saturdays 1:00-3:00 p.m. Use this time to move a creative project forward (knit, scrapbook, sketch, journal, write) or complete a task (write those thank you notes, sign the kids up for camp, organize your photos) in community.

Eerie Stories: Haunting Legends of the North Shore

· Salem Armory

Listen to the shadowy history and folklore of Massachusetts’ North Shore! From buried treasure and ghostly ships to legendary pirates like Black Sam Bellamy and Captain Kidd, this program brings the haunting legends and maritime mysteries of Salem, Gloucester, Ipswich, and beyond to life. These stories are grounded in history, shaped by folklore, and told with all the drama of the high seas — these are the stories passed down for generations along one of America’s most storied coastlines.

Casper, The Guinness Experience

· Daniels House Historic Site

Meet Guinness World Record holder Vanessa Irino, explore items from her Casper collection certified by Guinness World Records. Experience Casper Across the Decades at Salem’s historic Daniels House. Meet Vanessa Irino, Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest collection of Casper the Friendly Ghost memorabilia, and explore a remarkable private collection featuring vintage Casper items from across the decades. Guests will have the opportunity to see rare and nostalgic memorabilia from different eras, learn more about Vanessa’s record-breaking collection, take photos, and celebrate the enduring legacy of everyone’s favorite friendly ghost. Vanessa will also be selling and signing copies of her book, Kindred Spirits: A True Story on How a Friendly Ghost Changed the Life of Another. This family-friendly Halloween experience is perfect for Casper fans, collectors, families, and anyone who loves pop-culture nostalgia. Children ages 10 and under: Free Tickets are available online and at the door.

Eerie Stories on Salem Sound

Escape the crowds this fall and take to the sea, where haunting tales and harbor views await! Join us on weekends in October at 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm to dive into the dark side of Salem’s history. On this 90-minute boat tour, your guide will relate tales of murderous plots, public executions, and strange sightings. You’ll find that the facts of Salem’s past are stranger than any fiction you could dream up. Come ride the waves of history – just keep a weather eye for privateers! Tours depart from the end of Central Wharf, behind the Waite & Pierce Museum Store (193 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970). Walk past Waite & Peirce and the National Park Restrooms and walk all the way to the end of the wharf, your crew will be waiting at the dock to greet you!

The Making of a Witch – A Play in One Act

· St. Peter's-San Pedro Episcopal Church

How wealthy merchant, Philip English, became the accused. Join us for the truth about Philip English based on our extensive research through our own church archives and historical documents from Salem. This work, written by Rory O’Brien and edited by Marilynne Roach, will be appreciated for its authenticity and power to convey the essence of the man who not only built a successful career in young Salem, but also narrowly escaped the witch trials with his life and founded a church that still stands and serves today. All proceeds benefit the ministries & historic preservation of St. Peter’s. Two showtimes available on Saturdays: First Show: 2:00 – 2:45 pm Second Show: 4:00 – 4:45 pm

Salem Night Faire

· Salem Pioneer Village

Presented by The Black Veil . Tread beyond the darkened pines of The Pioneer Village . Featuring art, clothing, jewelry and oddity vendors, performances, ghost stories, hot cider, food trucks, Biergarten & more.

Hawthorne's Halloween Bash

· The House of the Seven Gables

Nathaniel Hawthorne invites you to his Halloween Bash; an exclusive costume party to celebrate the spooky season. Dress up in your Halloween best as you wander the gardens of The House of the Seven Gables. This is more than just a party; it’s an immersive journey into the heart of Salem’s literary and haunted legacy. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night! Nothing is more magical than an October evening on The Gables’ seaside campus. Tickets are $180 each for the public and $150 each for Gables members (For entry at this rate, you must show your membership card at check-in). Special tickets for Rappaccini’s Parlor are SOLD OUT! Become a member to receive the discounted price and other great benefits! > CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO <

The Steely Dan Project

The Steely Dan Project is the ultimate live celebration of one of the most iconic bands in rock history! This powerhouse ensemble of world-class musicians brings Steely Dan’s legendary catalog to life with electrifying energy, jaw-dropping precision, and the kind of groove that keeps audiences on their feet all night long. From the instantly recognizable hooks of Reelin’ in the Years to the silky smooth vibes of Peg and Hey Nineteen, every performance is packed with the hits, deep cuts, and signature jazz-rock brilliance that made Steely Dan a global phenomenon. More than just a tribute, The Steely Dan Project is a full-throttle concert experience—complete with soaring vocals, blazing horns, and flawless musicianship that will leave fans shouting for more. Whether you know every lyric or you’re ready to discover what makes Steely Dan’s music timeless, this show delivers the thrill, the soul, and the sound of a true classic. Get ready to sing, dance, and groove—because The Steely Dan Project is rolling in, and you don’t want to miss it!

Becky Nurse of Salem by Sarah Ruhl

· Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts

Sarah Ruhl’s dark contemporary comedy follows Becky Nurse, a modern-day descendant of accused witch Rebecca Nurse in Salem. Becky’s been fired from her job at the local museum, troubled by her granddaughter’s boyfriend, is pining for a married man, and taking pain pills to cope after her daughter’s overdose. It seems hers is anything but a charmed life as Becky just tries to get by. She looks to a local witch to help right her wrongs, leading to shocking, funny, and even disturbing results. Ruhl’s story reveals the real human beings inside the noise of history and how far one woman will go to hold onto what she holds dear.

Salem's Comedy Coven – Haunted Comedy Show

· Salem Witch Village and the Lost Library

Salem’s Comedy Coven is back… but only for the Halloween season. Hidden inside The Lost Library’s Black Box Theater, this limited-run haunted comedy pop-up returns for just a few weeks each fall. Created in partnership with Witch City Comedy, the show brings together some of New England’s funniest comedians for an evening of wicked stand-up, eerie surprises, and laughs that are anything but dead. Seating is limited, and once the season ends, the coven disappears until next year.

2026 Salem Witch Trials

· Tarot Cove

Based on the true story of a tarot-reading lesbian forced from her home by Christian neighbors likely in a cult, Gretchen Wylder’s darkly comedic one-woman show explores witches as healers, the patriarchal systems that burned them and the modern dangers of organized religion. Living a double life – reading tarot in Salem while residing in a creepy cottage town run by zealots – her personal horror show reinterprets Biblical women’s stories and becomes a fierce reclamation of spirituality, all while trying not to get burned at the stake.

Quick answers

What's on in Salem tonight?

5 events start at 5pm or later tonight, including COOKIE DECORATING WITH SUGAR ANARCHY at Salem Art Gallery at 6:00 PM. Tonight in Salem →

Is there trivia in Salem this week?

Yes, 4 trivia nights this week: Tuesday Trivia @ ERBC (Tuesday), Horror Movie Trivia (Tuesday), Couch Dog Trivia (Thursday), Thursday Night Trivia at Couch Dog Brewing (Thursday). Trivia nights in Salem →

What's on in Salem this weekend?

57 events from Friday to Sunday this week. The weekend page has them by day, with dates in the headline. This weekend in Salem →

Looking further out? The Salem events calendar has the whole month, and the week planner sends the ones you pick to your calendar.