I love Salem, MA because there’s a lot to love about Salem, MA. But I’m here to tell you: don’t go to Salem in October.
I feel the need to say this and share what I’m about to share because of something that happened recently. My old friends at Boston.com were compiling tips from readers about visiting Salem in October. They posted a tweet soliciting tips, I saw the tweet, and retweeted it with this simple suggestion: Don’t. My tweet was liked over 800 times. Take a look.
Don’t https://t.co/5vJNcimuXB
— Adam 12 (@adamxii) September 24, 2023
Did I expect this kind of response? No. Was this a knee-jerk, tongue-in-cheek retweet to get a few laughs? Yes. Do I actually believe and follow the advice I gave? Also yes. Now, please don’t take this the wrong way: I want the diverse and unique businesses community in Salem to thrive. And I know they do big numbers in October. But I also believe you’d have to be mad to visit them during that month.
Salem, MA: Here’s Why You Should Avoid This Town in October
When I first met my kid’s mom, she was living in the old Customs House on Central St. One year, on Halloween, we had to leave her apartment and check into a hotel for the night because tourists on the mall were going so batshit crazy we couldn’t sleep. That’s the type of energy you’re dealing with during spooky season: packed with tourists, starting as early as late August. So by October? It’s bedlam.
The good news is that all the great things you can do in Salem in and around Halloween you can do year-round. And there’s a LOT to do. I’m going to share a half-dozen of my favorite haunts below in hopes that you’ll grab a bite or a beverage there. Just not in October.
