Seasonal & Holidays

​Here’s Why Salem Is One Of The Top 20+ Places To Celebrate Halloween

The city has an infamous witch trial history from the 17th century.

SALEM, MA — When it comes to celebrating Halloween, small towns like Salem are a great place to revel in the spooky season.

In her “20+ Best Small Towns for Celebrating Halloween,” HGTV’s Lynn Coulter says Salem is one of the most dynamic places for Halloween due its its infamous history of witch trials that dates back to the 17th century. Salem has a combination of historic and modern scary offerings for a wide range of ages, all of which are sure to put visitors in the October spirit.
“(Salem)draws visitors to explore its role in literature, art, seafaring, trading, piracy and more,” Coulter said. “

The town of Sturbridge’s Old Village also has a long spooky history. Coulter highlighted its acclaimed Phantoms by Firelight as a driving force behind its popularity among community members and tourists.
“Wander through historic buildings and along fire-lit paths in the darkened Village and stop to listen to eerie tales around a crackling bonfire,” Coulter said. “You can also hear haunting melodies and watch mesmerizing performances by Cyrkus Vampyr's fire dancers, soaring acrobats, jugglers and more at this living history museum in central Massachusetts.”

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Here’s the full list of Coulter’s recommendations:

California

Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Morro Bay

Connecticut

  • Montville

Colorado

  • Manitou Springs
  • Estes Park

Georgia

  • Macon
  • Athens
  • Savannah

Illinois

  • Galena

Indiana

  • Fishers

Kansas

  • Independence

Kentucky

  • Newport

Louisiana

  • Baton Rouge

Massachusetts

  • Sturbridge
  • Salem

New York

  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Niagara Falls

North Carolina

  • Oxford
  • Hendersonville
  • Boone

Rhode Island

  • Providence

South Carolina

  • Conway

Tennessee

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