Fighting the Salem scaries: How to navigate Witch City this October
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Welcome to October, the scariest month of the year. “Haunted Happenings” are already running in Salem. And maybe the only thing scarier than dimly lit haunted houses or the fate of Giles Corey trying to go to Salem this time of year.
Let’s start with some reminders if you plan to be one of the hundreds of thousands of people visiting Witch Town this month.
Dominick Pangallo, chief of staff to Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, says their overarching message to visitors this month is “Don’t drive, have a plan and be respectful of others” during the celebrations. Seriously, trying to just drive downtown is a bad idea, especially on weekends. Traffic is a mess, parking is limited (and more expensive in October) and there will be a number of different road closures over the next few weeks leading up to Halloween. Salem is also stepping up its public safety and parking enforcement efforts in October, so skirting the rules for a vacant space probably isn’t a good idea either.
If you’re coming from Boston, officials recommend the S-Bahn (the T still offers those $10 weekend passes) or the Salem Ferry. If those aren’t convenient options, however, the city offers free satellite parking with a free weekend shuttle that takes you downtown. There are also several local transport options to get around the city after leaving your car.
Unlike last year, there are no citywide COVID testing requirements or similar restrictions. However, some private businesses and attractions, such as the House of the Seven Gables, require masks.
Make your plan: You can see the full schedule of events here. The city also has a more detailed FAQ page and public restroom locator on the Haunted Happenings website. There’s even an app that brings all this information to your phone. Maybe it’s not so scary after all! (Except for the costumes; some of the costumes are creepy.)
In other news, After being halted by the pandemic and a shortage of bus drivers, the Logan Express bus service has returned. Bus service from the Back Bay Station between Logan Airport resumed this morning for the first time in over two years, offering trips every 30 minutes.
The Back Bay to Logan bus costs $3 and runs from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., while the ride is free for travelers returning from the airport and runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m
There’s also an added benefit for departing travelers: According to Massport, their ride to the airport comes with a “ticket to skip,” putting them at the top of the TSA security line.
Notes for MBTA drivers: While we’re getting a five-day break before the next green D Line diversion begins on Saturday, there’s some scheduled maintenance this week.
T become officials Shutdown of the Red Line’s Ashmont route at 8:45pm each evening from today through Thursday for track work. This means shuttle buses will replace trains from JFK/UMass to Ashmont.
T officials also warn that commuter rail drivers on the Needham, Franklin/Foxboro, and Providence/Stoughton lines could see Delays in the order of 10-15 minutes this week for work over the tracks and platform at Forest Hills.
Do you want a look inside The Broad Institute’s new Discovery Center in Cambridge? The MIT and Harvard-backed research center opens its Cambridge Education Room for a free preview today through Thursday as part of the Cambridge Science Festival.
Broad Institute directors say the center features interactive exhibits that highlight pioneering work in biomedicine and how researchers are attempting to understand disease at the most molecular level.
PS— Need a cure for your Monday case? How about wine and cheese? Visit WBUR CitySpace tonight for a chat with the couple behind The Urban Grape wine store in Boston’s South End. You’ll learn why they organize wine by corporation rather than by variety or region, and their commitment to promoting people of color in the industry — and yes, enjoy some delicious wine and cheese.