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Salem is an ideal destination for horror lovers, as every year this Massachusetts city transforms into a massive festival full of witches, magic, and plenty of history.
If you haven't considered this destination for your next trip to the United States, here we tell you why Salem is an unmissable place during Halloween and what activities you can enjoy during your stay.
What is Salem's connection to Halloween?
Salem's connection to Halloween dates back to the so-called Salem Witch Trials, held between 1692 and 1693, when around 200 people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft.
According to National Geographic, 30 people were convicted and 19 people were executed.
However, the accused individuals were not witches, but rather inhabitants of a Puritan community who faced accusations in a context marked by xenophobia, religious extremism, and social tensions, as explained by Smithsonian Magazine in its article A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials.
Due to this historical episode, Salem is also known as the Witch City.
What is there to do in Salem during Halloween?
Currently, Salem has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for Halloween lovers, as it hosts the Salem Haunted Happenings every year.
According to its official website, the first edition of the festival took place in 1982, and over the years, the number of visitors has increased to over one million.
The festival is celebrated throughout October and offers activities such as parades, craft stalls, costume balls, psychic readings, haunted harbor cruises, ghost tours, haunted houses, live music, and chilling theatrical performances.
Five places to visit in Salem during Halloween 2026:
- Salem Witch Museum: conoce más sobre la historia de los Juicios de Salem. Está ubicado en 19 1/2 North Washington Square, Salem, Massachusetts.
- Specters & Apparitions: A Ghost Hunting Tour: explora los lugares embrujados de Salem con equipo especial para cazar fantasmas. El recorrido se encuentra en 32 Derby Square, Salem, Massachusetts.
- Salem Witch Trials Memorial: visita este monumento dedicado a las víctimas de los Juicios de Salem. Está ubicado en Liberty Street, junto al cementerio Old Burying Point.
- The Witch House: conoce esta casa del siglo XVII que perteneció al juez Jonathan Corwin, quien participó en los juicios de Salem. Se encuentra en 310 Essex Street, Salem, Massachusetts.
- Salem Museum of Torture: descubre instrumentos de tortura reales y representaciones a tamaño real de castigos criminales. Está ubicado en 30 Federal Street, Salem, Massachusetts.
To learn more about activities during your stay in Salem this Halloween, you can visit the official website of the festival Salem Haunted Happenings.
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