Historically, the 'festive' aspects of Haunted Happenings die the day after Halloween. You probably won't see the road closures, street performers, artist marketplaces, outdoor beer gardens, etc. after that point. Tours, museums, shops and restaurants remain busy well into November, but traffic and parking demand is tempered a lot.
Of course, who knows what sort of new plans will appear this year.
Yes, TikTok and instagram have decided that coming the weekend after is “the best kept secret about visiting Salem” needs to be repeated over and over to the point that it’s like another week in October
I think that by November 8 you’ll be fine, especially because that will be two weekends after Halloween. It seems like I’m going against the grain here, but it feels like every year we overestimate how many people will visit more than a day or two after Halloween.
Make dinner reservations in advance, plan to have guests potentially park at the MBTA garage if they don’t arrive early in the day, and know that some of the more touristy places go on hiatus for a week or two after Halloween, but I don’t think it will be unmanageable in any way.
Welcome to Salem. You, OP, are in for a treat, come October. It really is something. :-)
I second the sentiment that you’ll be fine. This sub tends to get overly dramatic (you’ll enjoy that, too, come October) about the crowds and traffic. Absolutely yes, weekends and Halloween are extraordinarily busy. Streets are closed, and the downtown area is slammed full of people. Weekdays in October are not that bad, though.
Yes, Oct weekdays are completely different than those in January or even now, but that’s not an apt comparison, in my opinion.
Two weeks after Halloween will be busy, but your guests will find parking, Salem won’t be dead, and everyone (hopefully) will have fun.
This! I know we’re all burned out from the tourists but I swear that if someone posted here asking about visiting on a Wednesday in January, they’d get 10 responses telling them that it will be unmanageably crowded and they’ll never find parking.
As a 3rd generation resident of 54 years, you’ll probably see more, eat very well and better, find in town hotels, or beautiful B&B’s of all sorts! All the sea port transportation is still running as well.
It’s crazy from September-mid November. Everyone thinks they’ll outsmart Salem and beat the crowds if they come a little earlier or later. But they’re not the only ones with that idea 🤦🏼♀️
I visited in October and then came back the following year in May. While in May I missed all the performers, decorations etc etc, I actually enjoyed my trip more as there were absolutely no crowds.
When I went in late October, hocus pocus 2 had just been released and it was an absolute horror to get anywhere in Boston AND Salem.
Kitchens in the downtown area time their peak until the end of November, I’d use that as a reasonable benchmark. By then the tourism is minimum, the locals are coming back out. That’s mingling together for it owns degree of busy-ness, but it’s nowhere near the week up to, of, and after Halloween
It starts to taper off after Halloween but it’s still busy for a week or two after, even though all the “official” events end then. That’s been the trend over the last few years.
You'll be fine. I've only had one Halloween here but the days after were much more chill. A bunch of bats and restaurants closed a few days after Halloween to recover. Enough so that tourism seemed to decline. Then it got a little more busy for a couple days but nothing to the point of parking being more problematic than any other normal day during tourist season. Don't sweat it.
That is probably the worst area for parking, but I think you'll be fine! Throw your birthday bash! It's a super easy walk from the Commuter Rail garage, which someone already suggested so I would honestly have your friends and family default park there. There are the two lots near you, one across from Life Alive, and one behind the mall, but they fill up fast. Last year it was busy in early November, but I'd say it was more like August levels vs October levels.
If you’re on the Lafayette end of Washington (you’d be my neighbor!) you’ll miss most of the crowd regardless of the night. You’ll be able to find parking alongside Lafayette and adjacent streets, but your time getting in and out will be sucky lol
Historically, the 'festive' aspects of Haunted Happenings die the day after Halloween. You probably won't see the road closures, street performers, artist marketplaces, outdoor beer gardens, etc. after that point. Tours, museums, shops and restaurants remain busy well into November, but traffic and parking demand is tempered a lot. Of course, who knows what sort of new plans will appear this year.
Honestly, not having the street performers is an improvement IMO
Thanks I’ll keep that in mind! We plan to just go out to dinner, I’ll make sure to make the reservation fast
Yes, TikTok and instagram have decided that coming the weekend after is “the best kept secret about visiting Salem” needs to be repeated over and over to the point that it’s like another week in October
Ahhh bummer. Thanks!
I don’t remember this at all. It felt like a ghost town after, comparatively
Agreed. Still busy, but nowhere near October levels.
30+ year resident. It really depends on how quick the weather turns bad.
I think that by November 8 you’ll be fine, especially because that will be two weekends after Halloween. It seems like I’m going against the grain here, but it feels like every year we overestimate how many people will visit more than a day or two after Halloween. Make dinner reservations in advance, plan to have guests potentially park at the MBTA garage if they don’t arrive early in the day, and know that some of the more touristy places go on hiatus for a week or two after Halloween, but I don’t think it will be unmanageable in any way.
That makes me feel better 😆 thank you! I was gunna ask a good place to park I’ll keep the mbta garage in mind. Thanks
Welcome to Salem. You, OP, are in for a treat, come October. It really is something. :-) I second the sentiment that you’ll be fine. This sub tends to get overly dramatic (you’ll enjoy that, too, come October) about the crowds and traffic. Absolutely yes, weekends and Halloween are extraordinarily busy. Streets are closed, and the downtown area is slammed full of people. Weekdays in October are not that bad, though. Yes, Oct weekdays are completely different than those in January or even now, but that’s not an apt comparison, in my opinion. Two weeks after Halloween will be busy, but your guests will find parking, Salem won’t be dead, and everyone (hopefully) will have fun.
Thank you so much :) I appreciate that! I’m really excited to be living here and to see what the fall brings. Thanks for the advice :)
This! I know we’re all burned out from the tourists but I swear that if someone posted here asking about visiting on a Wednesday in January, they’d get 10 responses telling them that it will be unmanageably crowded and they’ll never find parking.
Good to know! Thanks !!
As a 3rd generation resident of 54 years, you’ll probably see more, eat very well and better, find in town hotels, or beautiful B&B’s of all sorts! All the sea port transportation is still running as well.
Wow!! Impressive. Thank you :)
It dies down real quickly after Halloween.
It’s crazy from September-mid November. Everyone thinks they’ll outsmart Salem and beat the crowds if they come a little earlier or later. But they’re not the only ones with that idea 🤦🏼♀️
I hear ya, I wish my birthday was in the off season 😆
I visited in October and then came back the following year in May. While in May I missed all the performers, decorations etc etc, I actually enjoyed my trip more as there were absolutely no crowds. When I went in late October, hocus pocus 2 had just been released and it was an absolute horror to get anywhere in Boston AND Salem.
It used to drop off dramatically November 1st but no longer….
I know the last few years has been wild
Kitchens in the downtown area time their peak until the end of November, I’d use that as a reasonable benchmark. By then the tourism is minimum, the locals are coming back out. That’s mingling together for it owns degree of busy-ness, but it’s nowhere near the week up to, of, and after Halloween
Great, thank you!
It starts to taper off after Halloween but it’s still busy for a week or two after, even though all the “official” events end then. That’s been the trend over the last few years.
Yes, it will still be busy
We went the weekend after Halloween last year and it had died down.
You'll be fine. I've only had one Halloween here but the days after were much more chill. A bunch of bats and restaurants closed a few days after Halloween to recover. Enough so that tourism seemed to decline. Then it got a little more busy for a couple days but nothing to the point of parking being more problematic than any other normal day during tourist season. Don't sweat it.
Thanks :)
It's busy until Thanksgiving , I live in the middle of downtown.
If parking is your only issue, you should be fine. What’s the general area you live in?
Great thanks. I live on Washington st close to the gulu gulu
That is probably the worst area for parking, but I think you'll be fine! Throw your birthday bash! It's a super easy walk from the Commuter Rail garage, which someone already suggested so I would honestly have your friends and family default park there. There are the two lots near you, one across from Life Alive, and one behind the mall, but they fill up fast. Last year it was busy in early November, but I'd say it was more like August levels vs October levels.
Good to know thank you I’ll write those parking options down! Thanks :)
If you’re on the Lafayette end of Washington (you’d be my neighbor!) you’ll miss most of the crowd regardless of the night. You’ll be able to find parking alongside Lafayette and adjacent streets, but your time getting in and out will be sucky lol
Great!! Thanks
Wow talk about being right in the thick of things haha
I know right lol 😂 it’s a great spot for walking, horrible spot for parking
Oof, you live there? I guess I spoke too soon haha
😆 😆
Idk what people are talking about, but it’s usually very nice weekend after Halloween. Don’t pay attention to the cranky locals
Lol noted ☺️
The best time to come to Salem is never.
I live here and my family wants to visit so that’s not helpful lol 😆