Agreeably, Salem’s history is very old and very haunted. 

Established in 1628, Salem was the second oldest settlement in New England, with its Charter Street Cemetery circa 1637. The infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 reportedly have left ghosts of the executed earthbound among other lingering spirits due to Salem’s sometimes dark and mysterious past. 

Salem’s Haunted Happenings boasts the largest Halloween celebration in the world. 500k+ visitors will embark on the city for a month-long celebration of parties, parades, and special events, including the Salem annual Witches’ Ball.

There is no better time to experience ‘Living History’ (amongst the dead…) 

Colonial Williamsburg, America’s largest outdoor living museum, will host haunts and happenings for all ages. With an authentic, 18-century experience that immerses visitors into early American life, there are tours, concerts, and performances that shriek Halloween.

Explore graveyards dating back to the late 16oo, preserved Colonial dwellings, and witness trials of piracy. On October 29th, the Duke of Gloucester Street will transform! Fall takes life with lit cressets, painted horses, and spooky street performers throughout the Historic Area.

Top city on our creepy-meter…

New Orleans descends from strong cultural influences; founded in 1718 by the French, briefly occupied by the Spanish, then purchased by the United States in 1803. Throughout the next century, it was the largest exporter in the South, trading commodities as far as western Europe. 

With this rich, diverse history, the Crescent City is a perfect backdrop for entertaining spirits from all walks of life. There are rumors that Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, pirate Jean Lafitte, and American President Andrew Jackson often appear in the mist and shadows. Second to Mardi Gras, this city’s yearly spectacular Halloween festivities await you.

Chicago provides partygoers with citywide shriek-worthy experiences.

A third of America’s largest Midwestern city, Chicago, succumbed to fire in 1871. By 1930, it rebounded; its prosperity attracted business, commerce, and a population boom, as well as organized crime, labor disputes, and political upheaval. 

The Windy City’s haunts reflect its past, with souls of disasters, culture wars, and nefarious mob bosses remaining. Al Capone, H.H. Holmes, and folklore Resurrection Mary are among the more colorful specters. Halloween celebrations are citywide, and the Haunted Halloween Ball at the Congress Plaza Hotel is billed as its largest costumed event. Just outside city limits, SIX FLAGS boasts Illinois’s top attraction for satisfying every ghoulish need.

Enjoy these sun, fun and scare factors along the California coast.

The Gold Rush of 1848 prospered and changed San Francisco, previously a Latin mission, to include a haven for lawless activities along its Barbary Coast. The earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed much of the city, but not its resilience to flourish. It would reinvent itself with an influx of various populations. 

Disasters, immigration, and ‘wild west’ occupations have provided countless hauntings. Alcatraz on the bay echoes cries of dead men incarcerated, Winchester Mystery House’s endless rooms cloaked an ailing rifle tycoon widow from vengeful souls, and guests witness a heartbroken schoolmistress ghost at the Queen Anne hotel. 

The City by the Bay’s October calendar is overflowing with events with a perfect one waiting just for you.

photo credits: pixabay: Salem: Валерий Мороз, Nola: Tina Schulz, Chicago: David Mark, San Francisco: Bettina Norgaard. Williamsburg: Courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

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We hope you enjoyed reading FALL LIVING MAGAZINE. 
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