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Best Fall Festivals :: Festival of the Dead in Salem

Where: 18 Washington Sq. [map], Salem, MA, United States, 01970
October 10, 2007 at 4:30 PM | by | Comment (1)

Nothing says fall like ridiculous harvest festivals in small-town America. This week, we'll be mapping the best.

This one may be a bit spooky to be called a harvest festival, but it's too wild to pass up. Salem, Massachusetts is of course famous for its 17th-century witch trials, lampooned in more modern times by everyone from Arthur Miller to The Simpsons. But in one of history's greatest transformations of lemons to lemonade, Salem is now a town for witches, and its Festival of the Dead is the best time to practice the dark arts in New England

The festival has already kicked off in Salem, but that's no reason to wait until next year. Witches, ghouls and their fans have plenty to do in town in the next few weeks, like attending the Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo. It might be the only place you can get a palm reading, past life reading and visions for your future all at the same time.

The Salem Witches Halloween Ball is set for October 26 this year, with famous [Ed note: really?] witch Fiona Horne providing the tunes. It happens at the Hawthorne Hotel, the historic and haunted inn downtown. Be sure to dress your best: Big prizes will go out to the top costumes.

If this all seems a little to fun for a death festival, don't worry. On October 20, a team of ghost hunters will set out to a local graveyard to scout for spirits. And October 28 is the day that Salem's own medium, Leane Marrama, conjures the dead in what's being called an "authentic seance."

Getting There:
Salem isn't too far from Boston, so you'll probably be flying into Logan International. If you can live through that, you'll make it through the Festival of the Dead.

Related Stories:
· Festival of the Dead [Official Site]
· Salem Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]
· Fall Festivals Map [Jaunted]

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The Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball

What a sham!We came from very,very far to attend this event.It was in the tiniest ballroom ever. For $150.00 per person I was at least expecting a place to sit between dances and a glass of water. We couldn't find the palm-reader that was advertised.Not that we could of heard a reading it was so loud in there.There was a lengthly line for booze that you had to endure to get some water.The decorations looked like they were done for a kids party,not some serious witches.Christian Day (the "witch" putting this party on)was no help.He was too busy text messaging,rolling his eyes,  and running around all flustered....My advice would be to spend that money somewhere else.There were 2 of us,$300.00.I would have been more entertained making a fire out of that cash. ALL of the Festival of the Dead events that we attended were equally as lame,hokey and way overpriced. I wouldn't recommend any of them.Christian makes nice enticing webpages. That's his only true magical talent.Use the money for some fancy dinners and shopping.There are many nice restaurants and unusual shops in Salem.
disenchanted on December 15, 2007 at 6:14 PM #Permalink

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