Oh, you guys: It’s only mid-October, and Salem is already buzzing with Halloween spirit.
It’s actually been crazy since the last week in September. For example, you can’t go into a drugstore or grocery store without dodging shoppers wearing witch hats:
  
Check out the crowd this past Saturday, for the Haunted Bizarre Bazaar on Essex Street, an open-air market that sells food, local crafts, and other assorted spooky goods.
We had some old friends come into town this weekend, and we took them for a tour down Essex Street, to Pickering Wharf, and back again.
As always, downtown Salem brings the Halloween spirit, and brings it on strong.
At Halloween, most locals have a love/hate relationship with the massive tourist influx. We love the party and the visitors, but the traffic can make running errands…a challenge. 😉
We stopped by to visit Witch City Wicks, close friends who make the best soy candles on earth. If you’re looking for seasonal candles, they have a great line of black, Halloween and Salem-themed candles. We burn them at home and they’re awesome. (Our fav? Black Apple.)
Pictures of Halloween 2016 in Salem, MA
If you want to get a flavor of what Salem is like prior to the big Halloween party on October 31, here are some of our favorite pictures from our walk!
   
  
     
  
     
    
  
We popped into the The Magic Parlor to peep their wares.
Then headed back out through the crowd, which has a bunch of costumed street performers who are happy to share a photo opp.
Our friends picked up some fantastic handmade skull mugs at this tent.
 
  
  
  
And it wouldn’t be Halloween in Salem if this guy didn’t show up.
We also stopped in to see the humungous pumpkin on display in the lobby of the historic Hawthorne Hotel.
Stay tuned for more Halloween hijinx this month from Salem, Massachusetts.
Want more Halloween?
Check out our posts from previous Halloweens in Salem. They’re packed with pictures.
