Hello Salem! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in Salem? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Dueling Pianos in Swamspcott at The Dory Live and 11 more events.
Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Salem Halloween 2026: How To Best Enjoy The Witch City This Spooky Holiday Season (patch.com) — Planning a Halloween trip to Salem this year means bracing for big crowds, tight parking, and a city that's home to 45,000 residents trying to live normal lives amid the festivities. Local tourism leaders and the mayor urge visitors to use public transit or the ferry, book tickets early, explore beyond Essex Street, and follow a strict zero-tolerance policy at bars and restaurants. With more than a million visitors expected, officials stress patience, respect for neighborhoods, and treating Salem as a real community, not a theme park.
2. Salem Awarded $425K For Playground, Park Restoration (patch.com) — Families in Salem can look forward to a fully revamped High Street Park thanks to a new $425,000 state grant. The project will overhaul the playground, add a bocce court and café-style seating with chess tables, improve accessibility with a third entryway, and upgrade aging surfaces, tying local improvements to a broader statewide push for climate resilience and outdoor recreation.
3. Salem, MA Historical Commission — October 7, 2026 (meetingwatch.org) — Salem residents can see that the Historical Commission conditionally approved a site plan, requiring a revised landscaping plan and other tweaks before final sign-off. Through MeetingWatch, you can review the exact vote, minutes, and timestamped video to understand how commissioners weighed preservation concerns, design details, and neighborhood impact for projects affecting the look and feel of the city.
4. WinnCompanies Lines Up Financing for Mixed-Income Salem TOD (connectcre.com) — A new 115‑unit mixed-income building called The Exchange Salem is moving forward at the northern gateway to downtown, replacing a former municipal parking lot by the MBTA station. The $48 million project will mix deeply affordable, workforce, and market-rate apartments, aiming to create more options for local workers while reshaping the connection between North Salem and the downtown core.
5. Women's Volleyball: Cadets take on Vikings in non-conference road setback (norwichathletics.com) — Salem sports fans just saw Salem State University sweep Norwich University in women's volleyball at the O'Keefe Center, winning 25-19, 26-24, and 25-17. The Vikings outpaced Norwich in kills, aces, and digs, pulling away late in each set despite several strong Cadet rallies. Norwich now heads to Elms College and Colby-Sawyer for upcoming road matches.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Salem PatchAM possible:
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Salem Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.