Peabody Essex Museum Celebrates Salem Halloween With 'Eerie Events'

SALEM, MA — The historic Peabody Essex Museum has a month full of "Eerie Events" scheduled to satisfy any resident's or visitor's thirsty for spooky knowledge this Halloween season.

After two highly successful witch trial exhibitions the last two years, this year's events will include a pop-up experience of authentic witch trial documents focused on the Towne sisters, as well as several storytelling, fashion and film programming.

One of the new offerings is the PEM's Salem Witch Trials Walk self-guided audio tour that takes visitors to three galleries inside the museum and six destination sites in downtown Salem.

"The Salem Witch Trials: The Towne Sisters" exhibit includes rare, original documents that illustrate how the Towne sisters — Rebecca Nurse, Mary Etsy and Sarah Cloyce — experienced the Trials. The documents are showcased through Nov. 28.

More on each of the PEM's events:

Pop-Up Halloween Shop

Shop unique seasonal speciality goodies. Located at 181 Essex Street. Open Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, and Oct. 27 through Halloween.

Hocus Pocus at Ropes Mansion

Take a walk over to 318 Essex Street to take a selfie outside of Allison's house from the Disney classic on Oct. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m.

Oct. 6 | 7–8 pm
Illustration Workshop
Learn how to draw Halloween-themed character illustrations with artist Bill Crisafi in this virtual Create Night.

Oct. 7 | 1–3 pm
Author Book Signing
Meet Laurie Lico Albanese, author of Hester: A Novel.

Oct. 7 | 6–8 pm
The Lighthouse Horror Film Screening
Enjoy this 2019 film set on a remote New England island. Rated R.

Oct. 8 | 3 pm
Curator Talk Series: Dark Glamour
Dresses dyed with arsenic. Fresh blood that provides a healthy glow. Learn about the darker side of fashion with PEM Curator Petra Slinkard.

Oct. 9 | 1–5 pm
Author Book Signing
Meet J.W. Ocker, author of The United States of Cryptids.

Oct. 14 | 7–11 pm
After-Hours Dance Party and Fashion Installation
Dance all night with DJ Ana Matronic and see a mystical fashion installation designed by Hogan McLaughlin.

Oct. 14 & 15 | 11 am–5 pm
Costume Trunk Show
Shop unique headpieces, crowns and masquerade masks created by a designer who dressed Moira on Schitt's Creek.

Oct. 17 | 3 pm
Curator Talk Series: Materializing Ancestral Shadows
PEM Curator Paula Richter dives into fashion designer Alexander McQueen’s ancestor who was executed for witchcraft in Salem.

Oct. 21 | 3 pm
Curator Talk Series: Frances F. Denny's Major Arcana
PEM Associate Curator Lydia Gordon explores contemporary photographer Frances F. Denny’s portrait series Major Arcana: Portraits of Witches in America.

Oct. 21 | 4:30 pm
The Witch: A Pre-Film Conversation
Emerson "Tad" Baker and PEM’s head librarian explore the movie’s hauntingly accurate portrayal of early New England.

Oct. 21 | 6–7:30 pm
The Witch Horor Film Screening
A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession. Rated R.

Oct. 22 | 11 am
Curator Talk Series: Bats! Beyond Halloween Decorations
PEM Curator Jane Winchell broadens our imagination about these nocturnal and secretive creatures.

Oct. 22–23 | 2–5 pm
ParaNorman Film Screening and Q&A
Enjoy this 10th anniversary matinee of this animated feature from LAIKA Studios.

Oct. 23 | 1–5 pm
Author Book Signing
Meet Dan Gagnon, author of A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse.

Oct. 24 | 3 pm
Curator Talk Series: Remember Me, Objects of Mourning
How do we grieve and remember loved ones who have passed? PEM Assistant Curator Lan Morgan delves into American mourning objects and mementos.

Oct. 27–28
Haunted Histories after Dark
Listen to eerie stories inside three of PEM's historic houses. Family-friendly storytelling, 5–6 pm; Goosebump-inducing, 7–10 pm.

Oct. 28 | 3 pm
Curator Talk Series: Spine-Chilling Posters of Classic Horror Films
PEM Curator Dan Finamore explores some of the greatest examples of classic horror and sci-fi movie art ever made.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)