P&K Insider

OK, I am fully in Halloween holiday mode now. Yesterday, my husband and I spent the morning strolling through the streets of Salem joined by the occasional witch, pirate, psychic, and vampire.

This city is the hub of Halloween with events happening daily - from pumpkin fests to ghost tours. It’s most widely known as the site of the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, making its folklore and current witches , a reason to travel 30 miles north of Boston.

 Here are two events that the whole family can enjoy (without getting too spooked out!)

Pumpkin Festival on the Common

Weekends: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Display of pumpkins decorated by Salem and area school children, have a picture taken with a 1,000 lb pumpkin and try to find your way out of a hay bale maze.

New England Pirate Museum

Open 7 days

Features a guided tour of re-created dock-side village, cave and pirate ship and experience the adventures of New England’s sea-robbers. Save $5 per person with a Combination Ticket to Witch Dungeon Museum, Witch History Museum and Pirate Museum.

There are ton of other Halloween events for the whole fam too!

Photo: From left, Sara Eddy, 7, Caylee Post, 9, and Sara’s sister, Amanda, 9, all of Salem, react with delight as a Salem Halloween Parade float with a “ghostbusters” theme approaches on Washington Street last year.
Matt Viglianti / Staff file photo