Salem’s Halfway to Halloween Festival Returns

Halloween is six months away, but fans of the spooktacular holiday can get their pre-fall fix on April 19 in Salem, “The Witch City,” during the Halfway to Halloween Festival. The event takes place at Old Town Hall and Derby Square, and it will feature stage presentations, a vendor market, photo ops, monster appearances, and trick-or-treating for kids.

The event continues the festival's 2025 run and aims to showcase New England's Halloween culture with a focus on family-friendly experiences and regional spooky offerings. New activities for 2026 include Derby Square festivities that do not require admission and a new trick-or-treating option at participating vendors.

“With the success of the first Wicked New England event in 2025, I want to continue to shine a light on what New England has to offer during the Halloween season,” said Wicked New England founder and producer Jeff DePaoli in a statement shared with Attractions Magazine. “Halloween is a special day wherever you live, but Halloween in New England holds a bit of extra magic. There's a reason so much media tied to the holiday is set in New England. I hope everyone who attends gets an early touch of that magical feeling as we celebrate halfway to Halloween.”

Appearances by BORAH! The Witch, as seen on America's Got Talent, and cast members from Hocus Pocus Live: An All New Parody Musical will be available for photo ops. In addition, stage presentations will focus on profiling family-friendly Halloween options in New England, a Barrett's Haunted Mansion demo, Witch City Broom Co., tales from Wicked Ghost Hunters, a behind-the-scenes look at a parody musical, and a mass wedding vow renewal hosted by BORAH from Salem's Black Hat Society.

The festival will run from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. General admission is $11, and VIP admission is $40. Children 4 and younger attend free with a paid adult. Tickets are available for purchase online.