Salem Haunted Happenings Grand Parade

Join the Salem Chamber of Commerce for their 27th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade on the first Thursday of October!

The theme for the 2024 Parade is "Our Time on Earth", inspired by the upcoming exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum opening earlier this year. This theme encourages participants to explore a wide range of costumes and stories.

"Our Time on Earth" is part of PEM’s Climate + Environment Initiative, featuring a traveling exhibition from London’s Barbican Centre. Celebrating global creativity, the exhibit showcases structures made from sustainable materials to minimize carbon footprint. It challenges us to envision a sustainable future and foster harmony on earth. Join us to creatively engage and educate on the climate crisis.

This time-honored kick off the Halloween season is full of color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college and our local business owners.  Their participation is what makes this a highly successful, cherished event for our community.

The Parade is a special nighttime tradition for the city of Salem and visitors alike to officially kick off Salem’s Halloween season. The Parade is always full of color, pageantry, music, and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college plus many local business owners. Over 10,000 spectators (children, adults, and those in between) are expected to attend.

Route: The parade will follow its traditional route from Prime Group Shetland Park to Salem Common.
The parade will start from Shetland Park on Congress Street and turn left onto Derby Street, then right onto Central Street, left onto Front Street, right onto Washington Street, another right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finishes in the Salem Common.

This is a rain or shine event.