Gallery: Haunted Happenings Parade in Salem

Photos by Leslie Breton and Adam Swift

Thousands of people, and more than a few ghosts, goblins, and other assorted creatures of the night, lined the streets of Salem for the 20th annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on Thursday night.

The Salem Chamber of Commerce event is the start of the month-long Haunted Happenings event in the city.

The theme of this year’s event was ’World Peace,’ so there was a fair share of peace symbols and tie-dye shirts mixed in with the usual assortment of zombies, vampires, witches, and pirates.

Aiden Wright, a local 7-year-old boy who found $8,000 on a slide at a local playground last weekend and made sure it was returned to its rightful owner, was the grand marshal for this year’s parade.

Friday night, the celebration in Salem focuses on city residents, with the annual Mayor’s Night Out offering free and discounted admission and events for those who live in Salem.