Salem Halloween 2023: A Visitor's Guide To Tuesday Night's Spooky Season Grand Finale

SALEM, MA — A clear and seasonably cool night is expected to bring out the big crowds once more on Tuesday as the Witch City celebrates the grand finale of the Halloween season in the holiday's unofficial hometown.

A day of music at Salem Common and multiple downtown locations will help entertain the masses ahead of the fireworks planned for 10 p.m.

There will be road closures and parking restrictions throughout the day with visitors once again implored to take public transportation downtown. Trains from Boston's North Station to Salem will be $10 round trip for the day with the final train to Boston departing at 10:59 p.m. and the final train north to Beverly and Newburyport departing at 12:30 a.m. The final Rockport train departs Salem at 12:21 a.m.

Those who do get a spot in the MBTA parking garage are reminded that access to enter and depart the garage will be restricted from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. to accommodate the crowds watching fireworks.

"Visitor trends throughout this month indicate that we are expecting large crowds for Halloween night," Mayor Dominick Pangallo said on Monday. "We encourage visitors to plan ahead, take the train, respect our rules and our residents, and enjoy a safe and fun visit."

The city released a Salem Halloween Night Visitors guide — which includes a QR code for a restroom guide — here, which is also available to download on the Destination Salem and My Salem MA apps.

There will be music and entertainment throughout the day at Salem Common featuring DJ Richard Mixin from 2 to 5 p.m., Witches Circle from 5 to 6 p.m., Take Two from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and the M8's from 8 to 10 p.m.

The American Midnight Band will be performing on Federal Street at Washington Street from 7 to 10 p.m., The Undercover Band at the Front Street parking lot at 7 p.m., and Synergy at Derby Street outside of Forten Park at 7 p.m.

The Salem Ferry departs from Long Wharf in Boston. The Salem Ferry is $29 each way with the final departure from Blaney Street in Salem at 7 p.m.

There will also be a free shuttle from Salem High School to Riley Plaza downtown. Salem Public Schools are closed on Tuesday. The other two satellite lots that were used on weekends throughout the month are not open on Halloween.

Visitors are asked to be considerate and reminded that fines for illegal behavior such as public drinking, public urination and vandalism are tripled for the day — which could be up to $300.

Those wearing costumes are also reminded that weapons of any kind — real or fake — are prohibited and will be confiscated.

Police will be clearing the streets at about 10:30 p.m. following the fireworks.

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