Salem · Massachusetts
The Salem Blog
Local guides, itineraries, and honest tips for making the most of Salem, MA — from first-time visitors with two hours to spare to returning fans chasing the perfect fall weekend.
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September 19, 2026
Parking in Salem, MA in October 2026: Garages, Rates, the Free Lot, and When to Skip the Car
Where to park in Salem in October 2026: garage addresses and special event rates, the free Jefferson Avenue lot (no shuttle this year), road closures, rideshare zones, and why the train is usually the better call.
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September 19, 2026
How to Avoid the Crowds in Salem, MA in October 2026: Best Days, Worst Days, and Quiet Corners
When Salem is busiest in October 2026 and how to dodge it: the best and worst days (Halloween is a Saturday this year), the best time of day, quieter corners downtown, and what to book ahead.
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September 2, 2026
Practical Magic 2 in Salem: Where to Watch It, and Where It Was Actually Filmed
Practical Magic 2 opens September 11, 2026. Here are the Cinema Salem showtimes, the honest answer to whether it was filmed in Salem, and what the Owens sisters' Massachusetts actually looks like if you come looking for it.
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August 30, 2026
Tattoo Shops in Salem, MA: A Guide to Every Studio in Town
Salem, MA has seven tattoo studios for a city of 44,000. Here's every shop — who works there, which take walk-ins, which are appointment-only, and what each one specializes in.
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August 18, 2026
A Salem Bachelorette Weekend: The Two-Night Itinerary
A full Friday-to-Sunday bachelorette itinerary for Salem, MA — tastings, tarot, a haunted pub crawl, aura photos, the shopping crawl, and where to eat, hour by hour. Plus what to book ahead and which month to avoid.
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August 16, 2026
Salem in December: Holiday Events, Markets & Things to Do
A local's guide to Salem, MA in December — Holiday Happenings, the tree lighting, Wassail Weekend, the Ghost Ship Yule Market and New Year's Eve, plus why December is the easiest month of the year to actually enjoy Salem.
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August 3, 2026
The Best Haunted Houses & Haunted Attractions in Salem, MA
Salem's scariest haunted houses and attractions — Chambers of Terror, Frankenstein's Castle, Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery, the Witch Dungeon Museum, and more. What's genuinely scary, what's family-friendly, and how to book before they sell out.
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August 3, 2026
Where to See Live Music in Salem, MA (Bands, Bars & Weekly Nights)
The complete guide to live music in Salem, MA — the bars and breweries with regular bands, the reliable weekly music nights, bigger stages, and how to find who's playing tonight. Updated by locals.
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August 3, 2026
Salem Halloween Parade 2026: Date, Route & What to Know
Everything about the Salem, MA Halloween parade — the Grand Parade that kicks off Haunted Happenings: when it happens, the route, where to watch, road closures, parking, and how to get there. A local's guide.
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August 3, 2026
Visiting Salem in October 2026: The Complete Guide to Haunted Happenings
How to visit Salem, MA in October 2026 — Haunted Happenings, the Halloween parade, crowds, parking, getting there by train, what's free vs ticketed, and the smartest days to come. A local's honest planning guide.
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July 27, 2026
Every Hocus Pocus Filming Location You Can Visit in Salem (and the Ones You Can't)
A local's guide to the real Hocus Pocus filming locations in Salem, MA — Allison's house, the 'I Put a Spell on You' town hall, Max's house, and Binx's village — plus the two things almost every fan gets wrong about where the movie was really shot.
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July 25, 2026
Salem in August: Events, Weather & Things to Do
Everything to do in Salem, MA in August — the signature summer festivals, live music by the harbor, beaches, weather and what to pack, plus how to enjoy the museums and ghost tours before the October crowds arrive.
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July 23, 2026
The Best Night Tours in Salem for History & Ghosts
Visiting Salem in October and want a night tour that's actually about history and ghosts — not just jump scares? Here are the reader-recommended Salem ghost tours locals point visitors to, plus tips for booking in the busy season.
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July 22, 2026
The Best Restaurants in Salem, MA: Where to Eat by Craving
Looking for the best restaurants near Salem, MA? Here's a local's guide to where to eat — from harborside seafood and date-night spots to arcade bars, wood-fired pizza, and the coziest cafes in town.
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July 21, 2026
Can You Take the Train or Subway to Salem? A Visitor's Guide to Getting Here
Wondering if you can take the subway or train from your Boston hotel to Salem, MA? Here's exactly how the MBTA commuter rail, buses, and ferry connect to Salem — plus parking, apps, and the mistakes to avoid.
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July 18, 2026
Top 5 Free Things to Do and See in Salem
Salem, MA can get expensive fast — but some of the best spots in the city cost nothing. Here are five free things to do in Salem, from the historic waterfront to a neighborhood full of murals.
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July 16, 2026
The Best Museums in Salem, MA: A Local's Guide
From world-class art to campy horror and the 1692 witch trials — a local's rundown of the best museums in Salem, MA, what each is really like, and which to pick.
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July 5, 2026
2 Hours in Salem: What Locals Say to See — and What to Skip
Only have two hours in Salem, MA? Salem locals share where to send a first-time visitor, what to skip, where to grab a quick bite, and a realistic walking route.
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June 22, 2026
Welcome to Witch City Today: Your Daily Guide to Salem, MA
New to Salem, MA? Here's how to use Witch City Today to find tonight's events, live music, restaurant specials, museums, and tours — updated every day by locals.