Salem City Councilor tells visitors not to come to the city 'on a whim' this October
SALEM -- If you are heading to Salem this weekend for some Halloween hobnobbing expect to wait in line. The city is seeing record numbers of people coming this spooky season.
Over the first nine days of October the city has seen 100,000 more people this year compared to this time last year. Now businesses are trying to keep up with demand. Destination Salem suggests people make reservations ahead of time and take advantage of public transportation. Parking is limited around the city.
"Take the train or the Salem ferry," said Tina Jordan, Executive Director Salem Witch Museum, "It is busier than it's ever been in the 40-year history of Haunted Happenings. We have been selling presentations out in September. Normally we don't do that,"
A Salem City Councilor also asked people not to spontaneously visit Salem this month. "IF you are thinking about visiting Salem this October, do not show up on a whim," Ty Hapworth wrote on Facebook. "Have a plan and reservations."
According to the city councilor, in the first nine days of October, there were 276,000 visitors. In the same time frame last year, there were 164,000 visitors.
Business owners attribute the spike to the release of the popular movie remake Hocus Pocus 2, as well as changing COVID restrictions.
"I think it's a combination of Canadians and Europeans being able to travel here again," said Tim McGuire, owner of Salem Night Tours. "My retail stores have way more Hocus Pocus items than usual."
Destination Salem says the MBTA is adding additional trains to Salem on weekends.