I Lived in Salem, and This Is What It's Really Like During Halloween

Hocus Pocus lovers cannot possibly go to Salem without visiting Max and Dani’s house! I lived there and still thought it was cool. It’s a few blocks from downtown Salem and is located next to another large park. Once you go down the side streets, you’ll notice a crowd of people, and the house is right there! It’s actually located right on the water (Ocean Ave, to be exact), which is something you don’t see in the movie. Usually, there’s people out there with props like witch hats, brooms, vacuums, spell books, and more that you can use to take pictures. You can’t go inside as someone actually lives there, but it’s fun to get a feel for its surroundings.

Don’t pass up on the photo op! You will usually have to wait in line due to a crowd of people, and depending on how close you go to Halloween, the busier it will be – but the picture is worth it. For me, I went at the beginning of the season, because I lived there and knew it wouldn’t be too crowded. But even this year I still plan to go!

While the movie says it takes place in Salem, it was actually shot in Marblehead, MA, which is the town over from Salem. Marblehead is a very quaint and cute town, and those from the North Shore often joke that Marblehead is where everyone’s boss lives (it’s that nice). There was definitely some witch activity back in the day in Marblehead, too. However, don’t be fooled by the scenes in Hubie Halloween. The only real shot from Salem throughout the whole movie is the Salem Witch Museum.

From fun and modern witch shops like Hauswitch Home + Healing to age-old witch stores like Crow Haven Corner (a must see) to Coven’s Cottage and more, Salem’s downtown is filled with trinkets, potions, spells, and goodies that’ll leave you with some memorable keepsakes. Hint: don’t get distracted by all the stuff the vendors are selling (they’re everywhere); the stores are where it’s at!

Salem basically turns into a Halloween amusement park come October. Vendors are set up everywhere, and rides like Ferris wheels and mini roller coasters can be found in the common and on Washington Street (Salem’s main street). I’m not going to lie, it can be pretty hectic if you’re visiting just to see the history, let alone if you live there (most locals are not fans of any of it). Nevertheless, it is entertaining, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

If you really want to get spooked, you can do a graveyard or ghost tour and learn about all of those who’ve been buried from the witch trials and beyond. The graveyards in Salem date back to the early 1600s, so you can imagine how unsettling the stones look. I recommend the candlelight ghost tour, as it sets the tone for a frightful night.

While Salem has become a Halloween hot spot filled with vendors, fair rides, street performers, and more, it’s easy to get distracted from the best part of Salem: its history. While you may want to get lost in the haunted houses and take pictures with the street performers, make time to visit Salem’s museums and to do its historic tours, too. The witch trials are what Salem is best known for, and once you understand that history, it makes everything else even cooler – especially living there.