Salem Halloween Free Weekend Shuttles Begin Saturday

SALEM, MA — While the Halloween season seems like it is starting earlier and earlier in downtown Salem each year — both the Museum Place Garage and South Harbor Garage were full by noon despite unfavorable weather both days this past weekend — the city is making an effort to convince visitors to park and ride into downtown on weekends with free shuttle service from more than 1,300 parking spots at three lots starting on Saturday.

The city's free shuttle service on weekends begins for 2023 this upcoming weekend and will run every weekend day, as well as Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day on Oct. 9.

(Also on Patch: Haunting Reminder: Salem Halloween Season Tourist Crush On Its Way)

Last year, an estimated nearly 1 million visitors came to Salem during the month of October with more than 100,000 coming on weekend days leading up to the holiday.

Shuttles will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with pickup locations at the Salem State O'Keefe Center parking lot at 225 Canal Street, Salem High School at 77 Willson Street and the Salem Hospital lot at 108 Jefferson Avenue.

The shuttles will drop off and pick up downtown at Riley Plaza.

An accessible shuttle is available for those who require one and stops at the High School and Jefferson Avenue lots, as well as Riley Plaza.

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said the shuttle service, which has been expanded in recent years to include more days and longer hours, has served more than 32,000 rides to more than 15,500 visitors since 2017. He said that has helped keep 5,500 vehicles out of downtown — lessening congestion and the need to close additional roads — over the past six years.

"While a lot of visitors use the shuttle, we also see many Salem residents use it to easily get to and from downtown Salem on October weekends," Pangallo said. "I encourage everyone planning a visit to Salem this October to make use of the free satellite parking lots and this shuttle service."

Halloween visitors are also encouraged to use the MBTA commuter rail while parking at the Bridge Street lot in Salem or, ideally, at the Beverly station lot or taking the train from Boston or Swampscott. Salem Ferry service is also available throughout the holiday season.

(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.)