Salem Halloween: What To Know If You Are Headed To The Witch City

SALEM, MA — The next two weekends will almost certainly be the most crowded in downtown Salem in at least the past two years.

With the coronavirus crisis keeping most visitors away from Halloween's unofficial hometown last year, there is an abundance of extra interest in the spooky city with many restrictions relaxed for 2021.

Visitors are reminded that a mask order is in effect for all indoor businesses through Nov. 13. Those going to bars and restaurants must wear the masks at all times indoors when not seated. Only seated customers will be served at indoor locations.

Masks are also required for all indoor museums, performances and attractions.

Those coming for a Halloween-themed ball or one of the big indoor parties at a public location such as a hotel are also reminded that a negative coronavirus test order is in effect for all events with 100 or more guests regardless of vaccination status. A rapid test site is open on weekends at the Peabody Essex Museum Connect Building on Essex Street with test results available within the hour.

Salem visitors are highly encouraged to take alternative transportation methods other than driving downtown and looking for parking — which probably won't be found after mid-morning at the latest.

The city has expanded its free shuttle service from three free satellite parking lots to a third weekend this year.

Shuttles will run between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from the lots at Salem State University, Salem High School and Jefferson Avenue behind Salem Hospital to downtown Salem. The parking lots have 800 spots between them.

Dropoff and pickup will take place at Riley Plaza downtown with an accessible shuttle available from the high school and Jefferson Avenue lots.

Masks are required on the shuttles.

The Salem MBTA commuter rail parking garage is also only a short walk past Salem Common to downtown. Parking is available in the garage with payment accepted via the PayByPhone phone application.

To avoid the traffic getting to the Salem commuter rail garage, it is suggested visitors park at the train stations in Beverly and Lynn — where there is ample parking — and take the short train ride to Salem.

The MBTA has added six inbound and five outbound routes between Beverly and North Station on each of the next two Saturdays and Sundays.

The MBTA Commuter Rail schedule for the Rockport/Newburyport line can be found here.

Salem police have a street closure plan in place for crowds later this month but will monitor crowds throughout October and will likely have additional temporary closures in place as necessary for the next three weeks.

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(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.)

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