How Salem, Massachusetts Becomes America’s Halloween Capital

Every year, Salem, MA is flooded with visitors drawn in by its infamous witch history. This year, record-breaking crowds have been topping more than 100,000 visitors per day near Halloween. NBC’s Joe Fryer reports for Saturday TODAY.
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#news #Halloween #Salem #Massachusetts

[@michaelburton21]

Imagine. The faces of the original colonists of Salem back in 1692 finding out Salem has become the home for witches of all kinds and the modern era of Witchcraft. 🖤

[@jeffallcock4561]

Imagine instead the faces of the people wrongly accused of witchcraft and executed in 1692 seeing their town making money every year off this bogus association with witchcraft.

[@lyraserpentine894]

That's called irony. And I'm here for it. It's kind of sickening to see that people who escaped religious persecution were so hung up on folks worshipping the devil. Irony again.

[@jeffallcock4561]

@@lyraserpentine894 It's been said the Puritans left tolerant Holland because it didn't allow them to persecute people who believed differently. It's also been said that instead of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock should have landed on them. I don't quite understand yr 3rd sentence. The devil or Satan was a very real presence in the minds of these people. The Salem trials were the last, tragic gasp of this belief, which had caused thousands of deaths in the Old World; and I guess it's the human cost and aftermath of such a delusion that makes me look askance on the Salem witchcraft business.

[@lyraserpentine894]

@@jeffallcock4561 The Puritans left Europe to escape religious persecution. Everyone knows that and historians have made a point to note that. "It is said" is not a legitimate source for historical context. Escaping religious persuction to go on and persecute others based on opposing religious beliefs was the sarcasm of the 3rd sentence. The Salem Witch Trials were not the last of the witch trials in the American Colonies, nor were they the last breath of Puritanism, which we still experience ripples of today. Irony was the point of OP's post. Religious hypocrisy and irony were the points of mine.

[@jeffallcock4561]

@@lyraserpentine894 "Everyone knows" is scarcely a better source for historical context. Everyone knows the story of Washington chopping down the cherry tree, even though it's a 19th century fabrication. I'd be interested to know of other witch trials in the American colonies after Salem. Also, I didn't mean to imply that puritanism (small 'p') is a thing of the past here in the US, only that the Puritanism which tried and hanged innocent people for witchcraft went out with the 17th century.

[@Olivia3641]

The reason why Hocus Pocus was made in Salem, because of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The trials were horrible, but the history is interesting.

[@kelleymasters1522]

I live 25 minutes away from salem. I was there last night. Always a lot of fun.

[@si3916]

same!

[@MindyLeah]

I was supposed to just be here a few days stayed the ENTIRE MONTH of October 2022 filming daily for my KZbin and FB. It was like living in Halloween town all month people randomly just wore costumes. In line in front of me at a coffee house in a North Salem neighborhood a man in a full werewolf costume waited for his coffee, a woman in a full Glenda good witch dress pushed a grocery shopping cart.

[@viggianoj]

Sleepy Hollow New York is fun as well for Halloween!

[@Cristina-ur5jr]

I was just there three weeks ago! Great place to visit especially enjoying their weekend festivities and parade. Learning the history of the trials were entertaining and educational! FYI must get your tarot cards read.

[@judyfountaine8291]

Everyone looked so great love ❤️ the custom they have there So much fun

[@hagglemyivan]

Good stuff Joe.

[@kimchi8022]

Glad they didn’t poke fun at the tarot reading! Love the positivity there!

[@demostheodorakakis6328]

Fun! Good restaurants and museums.

[@bethgoldman2560]

I avoid Salem and the entire North Shore during October. It’s just too crowd, the traffic bites. Now Salem at Holiday time…..much better!

[@aliciapetronio2394]

I haven't been there since 1998 hope I get to go back 😔

[@jessicafallen9778]

My cousin lives in Boston Masschusetts

[@hectorlopez1638]

Im so moving there next year

[@rubydawn1]

my son and his gf are there now from Montreal

[@arthurau9231]

This makes wonder though how does the witches in Hocus Pocus compare to the witches and wizards from Harry Potter?

[@defchefman86]

The Best! 🧹🪄🎃

[@ee.som.o]

Watch out Anoka, MN

[@NightShade671]

Ashland, Oregon goes all out with a parade on Halloween.

[@aidanbarnes4290]

I would love to celebrate Halloween is this town. But I have to ask to anyone who lives in Salem Massachusetts. Does it get insanely cold there in October cause I want the weather to be habitable for when I go there in the fall

[@kh-sg3rd]

No 40s to 50s

[@aidanbarnes4290]

@@kh-sg3rd well that's a relief

[@kh-sg3rd]

@@aidanbarnes4290 I hope your a woman

[@aidanbarnes4290]

@@kh-sg3rd sorry I'm a man

[@willisapril]

Its hit or miss with the crazy weather its in the 80s this week today is October 3rd. and it dropped into the 60s at night. Its also right on the Atlantic Ocean so nights can get chilly. But Boston has mild winters these days that's why you got to love climate change

[@peytinbresciano]

I was there that day! I was dressed as an accused Salem Witch who was burned! Was looking in the background to see if I can find myself😂

[@adelem432]

No one was burned in Salem. All strangled to death by slow hanging. Burning was done in Europe.

[@wiilover07]

Actually Anoka Minnesota is the Halloween capital of America next to Salem.

[@infernicide666]

Was it that crazy in Salem on Halloween 1994? Or did it not become a huge thing until later years?

[@adelem432]

Some advice from a local: don't come in October! Long lines, lots of traffic, long waits for a table at a restaurant. Crowds start ramping up in late September now, and a lot of us avoid walking downtown. November first is a day we all look forward to!

[@Isochest]

I can imagine it must get mega crowded! Doubtless good for local businesses but must be a pain for residents

[@ramblinjay3816]

I thought Anoka was the halloween capital?

[@andrewauerbach3441]

Sistaaaaaas!

[@lynnewebley7270]

Because they forget the terror of the times, Halloween is just a fun day, in 2022 it just a party.

[@vampzombiewitch]

BORAH! the witch what a legend 🖤

[@spike16965]

I wanna visit Salem so bad

[@willisapril]

Do it! Life's too short. its awesome!!!

[@doctordl7757]

"You are going to be busy next year there's alot of work coming..." that is such a vague reading I hope he got his money back.

[@mac-ju5ot]

And the traffic backs right up our street ....we are part of it all.I love Halloween and now live near the Rebecca nurse home in danvers,mass.....magic never ends its what we do

[@DanielJames-wz3hd]

I love Halloween but its so trash in the UK. I need to move to america.

[@yannhavard22]

Wesh les gars j'ai ça comme question pour l'école comment s'appelle la journaliste svp

[@mrpain2331]

Zizi

[@yannhavard22]

​@@mrpain2331mais oui totalement bro

[@mrpain2331]

@@yannhavard22à oui oui oui oui 🦹🏿‍♂️

[@wabisabi6983]

My impression that it was just a tacky tourist trap of a town.

[@20maxilo]

Bucket list

[@user-xu4xj7bf2q]

Collab between salem and rovenna

[@MSivasakthi1807]

Sheela roja

[@B86432]

happened in 1600s with the salem witch trials ......not rocket science

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

😊😊😊😊

[@hungarianhistoryiii.1359]

becouse the word salem (szellem) means ghost in hungarian.

[@InevitableSecrets]

Is it just me or is it kind of creepy that the murder of innocent women and men has turned into a Halloween carnival? we shouldn’t ignore the fact that those were real people and real families that were destroyed.

[@thornmallow1]

There are sacred sites and walks in honor of the people who died there. One of the oldest cemeteries in Salem has a memorial for the victims of the Witch trials.

[@CrazyAlienLady051]

So .. cancel Halloween?

[@RASKATFAETON]

For today's events it is obvious that the wrong witches were executed.

[@TRACTS4JESUS]

TURN OR BURN JESUS IS COMING SOON , FOR WHOSEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALLBE SAVED ROMANS 10-13

[@Muttley3000]

I'm trying not to confuse this with Devil worship... 👹

[@stacystoltz8722]

Happy Halloween Peace wow Godloveyou

[@DasherPlayerWarrior]

Anyone here from Hubbie Halloween?

[@jeffpfannenstiel1011]

Nah. Anoka, MN has been the Halloween Capitol since 1920.

[@zacharyjames9602]

What's there to do? I'm going this Halloween and haven't found much information.

[@willisapril]

minnesota in october is freezing and a good chance you might get 2 feet of snow. However Salem is pleasant 81 degrees today on October 3rd 2023

[@thornmallow1]

How is it “Brave” to have your Tarot cards read? They are merely a tool to teach you about your path in life and how to move forward.

[@robertsteele5257]

I thought Martha's vineyard was the Halloween capital and Delaware 🤡 ?

[@maddoxghostman4572]

🙄🙄🙄

[@jamienelson9257]

Meh. Anoka, MN is better.

[@zacharyjames9602]

I plan on going there this year but haven't found any information on what there is to do there. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations on what to see there on Halloween? Thank you.

[@willisapril]

Minnesota is freezing and a good chance you'll get a foot of snow. Salem is 81 degrees today October 3rd 2023

[@hansstepford7824]

There were 7 cop cars this past week at a financial outlet in the Times Grocery store building in Waipahu, Hawaii. Today, there was a black man with a little girl. He seems to be doing a scam on Asia with the City of Refuge church and the other Waipahu area church on Mokuela next to the bus depot. Upon information and belief the management at City of Refuge Church is accessory to criminal threat, possibly 500 counts.

[@erickscherzy1903]

No. West Hollywood Halloween festival is America's Halloween Capital.

[@xmoomoo9158]

Ya ok🤣

[@brucekentnyc]

They had the most powerful (REAL) Warlock/Wizard/Sorcerer/God walk by them back in April of 2021 and they did not know what to do. They did not know what to say or how to act. 3 little girls lied on some people. That person could in a future lifetime conjure up all those involved and let those killed get their revenge including those 3 little girls. He left something on one of the gravesites. Elephant & Pandoras box. Hope nobody opened it or removed it. You will release more ills unto the world.

[@faithmiller1444]

1 NAME: JEZEBEL!.

[@javiruiz8365]

You should see how Brooklyn turns into wakanda forever with killings and shootings

[@sooooooooooooooo]

More like universal Halloween horror nights

[@debbie5728]

Creepy when adults are obsessed with events made for children.

[@turkGOLF]

Suppose being an adult means you can no longer have fun one day out of the year

[@debbie5728]

@@turkGOLF define “fun”? My husband getting all his ole’ Hockey buddies, and play hide N seek on the park playground? (I may be asking this rhetorical question to the wrong person..LOL)

[@turk5335]

Did you just ask me to "define fun?"

[@debbie5728]

@@turk5335 why did you sneak back under another name? lol.. I was just using “hide and seek” as an example .. didn’t want to actually play it.

[@EricaL2024]

The events in Salem, or Halloween in general, is for kids only? Since when? Adults have Halloween parties and contests too. Getting older doesn’t mean you just stop having fun.

[@Miltamaisonet]

God is the one that can guy you witches worship and works with the devil. It’s sad that people celebrate and seek guidance tarot cards Palm reading witchcraft when they can go to the direct source the Holy bible and opening your hearts to the only one creator God the father through his son Jesus Christ.

[@bobbobby2978]

Christ's father is not the murderous GOD of Abraham.

[@thephony1651]

Hail Satan!

[@JRKonungrinn]

The devil was made up by Christians, and witches do not worship that. Stop calling innocent people evil. Especially when you're the ones running around behaving so evilly towards everyone different from you.

[@carolinegodden4364]

Insulting to Christians Everywhere Never mind, hey. Strange characters you are. It was abhorrent to see Joe & Jill today doing their Halloween junk.

[@javiruiz8365]

Imagine reenactment of black men!!!

[@TaunTaunStrikesBack]

Salem is bland and boring

[@willisapril]

Not sure what you are smoking but Salem is beautiful in the summer being right on the ocean with nice waterfront restaurants and hotels along with harbor cruises

[@ladyprudence6]

So disrespectful to those who were innocent and hanged. Why does the town allow this? Money?

[@starcrib]

It's horrible. Cheesy- and insufferable.

[@genxer6928]

It’s the devils Holliday

[@thewellwateredgarden5955]

Repent of this celebration and love the Lord Jesus. 🙏🏾

[@SK-le1gm]

Repent ye sinners !!!

[@fkthedemlibscum7026]

This Halloween, we put a sign on our door saying (We Welcome Republican Families this Halloween) .... We also have Home Security Cameras & we have a CWP too for back-up, so yes, we're planning for fun Halloween Trick-or-Treaters, but we're also prepared for any violent D/L's.