How to celebrate halfoween 2023

Happy Monday everyone!! I am so excited to be sharing this blog post with you as we get into the groove with my new content schedule for ThingstodoinSalem.com. This week’s blog post is going to be about celebrating halfoween but (of course!) with a Salem, MA twist.

What is halfoween?

Halfoween is a fun term in the Halloween community for the halfway point in the year to Halloween. There is slight variation on when that falls but it’s generally May 1st or right around there.

Book your Salem, MA hotel

If you don’t already have your Salem, MA hotel booked for Halloween at this point you may be out of luck. The city books up extremely early for fall dates, generally about a year in advance. However, you might be able to still find some week day visit availability or rooms open in neighboring towns. Click right here for links and resources regarding that.

It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus

No halfoween celebration is complete without a viewing of Hocus Pocus! The original film utilized multiple areas in Salem for filming, so see if you can spot the areas you know while watching. Do you recognize the house above? They might make you bob for apples…

Other movie options that were also filmed in Salem include American Hustle, Joy, Hubie Halloween and The Lords of Salem. There are others, of course, but those are a few well known titles to give you alternatives to Hocus Pocus.

Plan your Halloween costume

The Halloween costume game here in Salem ranges from simple, all the way through classics and right into professional cosplayer level. It’s never too early to begin planning. If you aren’t sure where to begin, consider tying in Salem or it’s history. Salem has an extensive history with the sea and trade. It was once one of the most significant seaports in Puritan American history. Dressing as a pirate or a sailor might be a fun nod to that history. You could dress as one of the Sanderson sisters, of course. That is an obvious tie in to the original Hocus Pocus being filmed here. Another unique idea is dressing as one of Salem’s historical figures – Nathaniel Hawthorne, Roger Conant and Caroline Emmerton all come to mind. This last option will probably involve some creativity and I’d love to see what you come up with. Be sure to tag me on social media!

Plan your Halloween or fall wedding

You will likely need to plan for Halloween/fall 2024, as most vendors book at least one year out. However, this could be a fun nod to the halfoween spirit and an enjoyable way to kick off the wedding planning process. Need some help with that? The following links will definitely get you started…

SalemMAWedding.com
This is my other website, the sister site to ThingstodoinSalem.com
Witch City Wedding
This is my Salem, MA wedding planning guide
PhotographybyThingstodoinSalem.com
Did you know I am also a professional photographer? Yup! Click that link to check out my work and all inquiries can be sent to info@thingstodoinsalem.com. I am already getting emails about dates into 2025 so don’t hesitate to reach out if you are interested.

Brush up on your Salem history

If you want to do some reading before your fall visit, now is a great time to start! I have an entire section in my Amazon storefront dedicated to books about Salem and the Salem Witch Trials. Head over there, grab a few titles and brush up on your facts. Click right here or click the graphic above.

I hope this helped give you some halfoween inspiration. Enjoy!! <3