Salem Preps For Significantly Scaled-Back Halloween Season

SALEM, MA — The city offered its first guidance Tuesday on Haunted Happenings, Salem's month-long Halloween celebration that underpins the local tourism economy, saying it would scaled down with several events already canceled.

"Many people inside and outside of Salem will be disappointed that their favorite, fun and festive October activities cannot take place this year," Mayor Kim Driscoll said in a statement. "However, as a community we are committed to doing our part to help protect residents, visitors, and staff and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Salem."

Salem is moving forward under the assumption that the state will still be under the Phase 3 coronavirus reopening plan, prohibits indoor gatherings of more than 25 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people. And that means many events will be scaled down or canceled outright, Salem officials said in a news release.

"While some events and activities may still be able to take place with restrictions, including several attractions, museums, walking tours, retail shops, and restaurants, many large-scale functions will not be able to proceed," the statement said.

Several events have already been canceled for 2020, including:

• Haunted Happenings Grand Parade
• Mayor’s Night Out
• Kids’ Costume Parade
• Lanterns in the Village
• Biz Baz Street Fair
• Creative Collective Merchant Marketplace vendors
• Salem Food Truck Festival
• Outdoor food vendors, including Fiesta Shows food trucks
• Great Salem Pumpkin Walk
• Haunted Harmonies
• Howl-o-ween pet parade

The city will also limit outdoor retail to existing Salem businesses and put new restrictions in place for street performers. Public programming for Halloween night, including the concerts, beer garden, and fireworks, are not being held. As of now, neighborhood trick-or-treating will be held as planned.

In a typical year, Salem attracts more than 500,000 visitors from around the world during the month of October. "There is no doubt this circumstance will have an impact on the many small businesses - including museums, restaurants, shops, attractions, vendors, service industry staff, and other partners that rely heavily on the increased business that October attracts," Driscoll said.

Additional updates will be posted at www.hauntedhappenings.org.

Dave Copeland covers Salem and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).