🌱 Patch AM: Salem Halloween 2026: Witch City Puts Out Call For World Record Witch Hat Photo Shoot

Hey there, Salem! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Help Salem make witchy history on Derby Street this October
• Salem Film Fest readies a milestone 20th year of documentaries
• Salem moves to block big data centers with new zoning ban

Also on today's calendar: Free Tai Chi & Qigong Class at Red Rock Park and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: How do billboards talk? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Sun through high clouds, with a high of 63 and low of 47 degrees.
• Sunday: Sun through high clouds, temps: high: 63, low: 54.
• Monday: Some rain in the morning, with a high of 64 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Salem Halloween 2026: Witch City Puts Out Call For World Record Witch Hat Photo Shoot (patch.com) — Salem is gearing up for a massive "Witch Hats on the Wharf" photo shoot on Oct. 17, inviting residents and visitors in witch hats to help create a record-setting image on Derby Street. The event doubles as a Salem 400+ celebration, with limited-edition witch hats and patches sold at historic Salem sites to benefit local nonprofit HAWC, which supports domestic abuse survivors across the North Shore.
   

• Salem Film Fest Sets 2027 Dates For 20th Annual Documentary Festival (patch.com) — Salem Film Fest is marking its 20th year with a four-day documentary festival in March 2027, filling venues like the Peabody Essex Museum and Cinema Salem with films, Q&As, and live events. Local audiences can expect student showcases, professional development for New England filmmakers, community parties, and a slate of awards, including a new honor in memory of Beki Ferrari.
   

• Salem City Council Passes Ban On Data Centers In Witch City (patch.com) — Salem residents just saw their City Council approve a zoning ban on standalone data centers, aiming to prevent large energy-hungry facilities from setting up in the Witch City. The ordinance carves out room for universities and medical institutions to maintain needed infrastructure while bolstering the city's legal footing after a recent Shetland Park proposal and echoing similar concerns emerging in nearby Beverly.
   

📸 Around Salem

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Salem

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 10
• Free Tai Chi & Qigong Class at Red Rock Park →
  Red Rock Park, 188 Lynn Shore Dr, Lynn
  10:00 am
Friday October 16
• Reckoners with Kevin James Graham →
  The Cut - Stage • Studio • Restaurant • Bar, 177 Main St, Gloucester
  8:00 pm
Saturday October 17
• Fall Fun at Beach Bluff Park 2026 →
  Beach Bluff Park, 499 Atlantic Ave, Swampscott
  10:00 am
Sunday October 25
• One Root, Many Branches: Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Parishes on the North Shore →
  Danversport, 161 Elliott St, Danvers
  12:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday October 10
• The Making of a Witch: A Play in One Act →
  St. Peter's-San Pedro Episcopal Church, 24 St Peter St, Salem
  2:00 pm
Monday October 12
• Free Admission for Indigenous Peoples' Day →
  Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St, Salem
  10:00 am
Tuesday October 13
• Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Series #2 →
  Enterprise Center, 121 Loring Ave, Salem
  8:30 am
• Storytime with Miss Simone for children ages 0-5 →
  Salem Public Library, 370 Essex St, Salem
  3:30 pm
• Chess Club for All Ages →
  Salem Public Library, 370 Essex St, Salem
  6:30 pm
• Unfolding Light: Mediumship & Healing Program →
  First Spiritualist Church of Salem, 34 Warren St, Salem
  6:30 pm
Thursday October 15
• Music and Movement for families with children ages 2 and up →
  Salem Public Library, 370 Essex St, Salem
  10:00 am
• Craft Club for kids in grades K and up →
  Salem Public Library, 370 Essex St, Salem
  3:45 pm

📣 Salem Shout Outs!

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:

• CRoy Plumbing and Heating LLC — (978) 979-9236
• Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church — (978) 774-3163
• MiraMar Print Lab — (617) 840-8424
• Uncharted — 8444807100

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• There is road construction on Highland Ave...
  There is road construction on Highland Ave reported at 8:31 AM. (Nextdoor )
• There is road construction on I-495 S reported at...
  There is road construction on I-495 S reported at 8:12 AM. "CAUTION - ROAD WORK AHEAD" (Nextdoor )

• Albertsons Company posted a job opening for Cake Decorator in Salem. Apply here.
• Target posted a job opening for Seasonal: Guest Advocate (Cashier), General Merchandise, Fulfillment, Food and Beverage, Front of Store Attendant (Cart Attendant), Style, Tech, Inbound (Stocking) (T1803) in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.

🗞 Nearby News

Marblehead

• Marblehead lands $718K Rail Trail grant as new volunteer group launches (marbleheadcurrent.org)
• First financial review since $15M override set for later this month (marbleheadcurrent.org)
• Brookline girls' volleyball needed a middle. They got the sister of Celtics' first-round pick Chris Cenac Jr. (bostonglobe.com)

Swampscott

• Swampscott Select Board Proclaims Indigenous Peoples' Day, Recognizes Town's Native History (swampscotttides.org)
• State Fire Marshal's Office Investigating Swampscott Blaze As Arson (patch.com)

Peabody

• Peabody Cosmetology Benefit Set To Help 2 Former Students (patch.com)

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: "How do billboards talk?" — Sign language (Thank you Ellen S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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