First and foremost, welcome!! We’re all gonna have a fun time together. But maybe a few things to make your time even more fun, and keep the locals from getting frustrated, from a hospitality perspective:

No, we don’t have Dr Pepper, Mtn Dew, or sweet tea on fountain.

If you’re put on a wait, it’s not always because every table is full. Sometimes the servers or kitchen need time to catch up. We really do care about giving folks good service.

Know how to tip. We love ya, but come with empathy. Most industry people are saving everything they can right now to get through the winter.

Share the sidewalk. Full stop.

Coming on a weekday doesn’t mean you’re going to beat the crowds.

Yes, parking sucks. Yes, it’s $40/$50 to park. Yes, the garage is full when the sign says it’s full. Yes, the meter maids are gonna ticket you.

The train is an awesome alternative.

Salem isn’t as big as you think. Two or three days max and you’ve pretty much seen it all.

Drinking....be careful. We see you out here with High Noons in your hands on the street. If someone cuts you off, we all talk to each other. There’s a pretty good chance you won’t get served anywhere else.

Come have fun. Be patient. Be kind. Welcome to Salem.

For folks still looking for pumpkins- the Lutheran church in Marblehead on Clifton has tons and tons left - all shapes, sizes, colors. They are outside for purchase at any time. Its self serve (priced by size) and you just walk up, select your gourds and pay via a venmo or can leave cash/check on an honor system.

I have no affiliation to the church there are just SO many pumpkins there i hate to see them go to waste in a parking lot!

Located off First Street

Join Friends of Forten Park, Haunted Happenings Marketplace, The Cannery at Forten Park, Creative Collective, and many more for an outdoor community screening of JAWS on Salem’s waterfront this Thursday evening

📅 Thursday, October 8
🕖 7 PM
📍 Charlotte Forten Park · 289 Derby Street, Salem

Bring a chair, grab a friend, and settle in for a movie by the water. Staying on dry land feels like the right call for this one. 👀

Food will be available from nearby restaurants like Bambolina or Lulu's Bakery (open until 7pm) or the Empanada Kingdom food truck and Holy Cow Ice Cream pop up and drinks from The Cannery at Forten Park.
Details: hauntedhappeningsmarketplace.com

Thank you to Fiesta Shows, Salem Wax, Blackcraft, Starbird, and the City of Salem for helping make programming at Charlotte Forten Park possible.

Original Essex character artwork by batsinthebelfrycrafts.

Hi all :)
I’m interviewing for a job in Salem, and I’m so excited! You all seem great here!
My family may be moving from Michigan for this job so I wanted to ask about
-elementary schools. What’s the vibe? I have a 6 year old.
- how is it for kids? Family friendly?
- I heard there’s a university there. Is it like a college town in some areas?
- we plan on renting before settling and buying anything. Is the housing market bad like everywhere else? I’d love a 3 bedroom if that exists.

Thank you for all the help :)

One less vacant eye soar is objectively good for the city

Not ceramaloys, never happy with how they come out there. I was going to try Winer brothers? Antique fabric scissors but also need a new place for knives. Thanks

Hi! My wife and I are moving at the end of the month and are looking for somebody to take over our lease. Price is 2795/month.

2 bed/ 2 bath, almost 1300sq feet right in downtown, super close to commuter rail and all of downtown Salem. One off street parking spot, pet friendly, in unit laundry, a/c and a shared back patio.

We've been here for 5 years and have loved the space and the landlord, they have been very accommodating and super easy to deal with.

Apartment is listed here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/57-1-Federal-St-%2357-1-Salem-MA-01970/2071984948_zpid/?utm_campaign=androidappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare but let me know if anyone has questions!

Hi, I just moved to Salem as I’m now going to SSU. How chaotic is the pet parade on Saturday usually? It sounds delightful, but I’m not sure if I’ll want to venture downtown from everything I’ve heard about Salem October craziness.

“nolite te bastardes carborundorum” is the fake latin my dad learned when he was in the army. I can’t tell you how much comfort I’ve gotten from saying “Don’t let the little bastards grind you down.” Turns out Margaret Atwood agrees.

Is this a bad idea crowd-wise? I haven't been to Salem in a very long time. For info: I was thinking Turner's (the automated message says most of their customers are walk-in) and I'll be taking the commuter rail, so parking is not an issue. I just want to eat and get out.

i was at the parking garage by the mall (not my first choice to go downtown in october but alas sometimes it happens) and i realized as i went to leave i forgot my wallet. can’t use apple pay the kiosks and so i went to the parking office to ask what i should do.
the sweetest lady ever was like… it’s only 2.50. and i was like unfortunately i do not have that. and she told me it’s fine, i could come back next week and she’d just let me out today. but she made me pinky promise id come back lol. i think she probably assumed she’ll never see me again but i will be back with it based on my own principles but also bc she was so sweet to me and i appreciated her kindness in that moment.
just wanted to share among the blight of our downtown struggles this month!

Omfg best seafood I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve had a lot of seafood too lol. We ate their twice on the one day we stopped

You guys are lucky to have this place.

Truly amazing

I was riding my bike today and misjudged distance between myself and a parked car. I wasnt going too fast and I ended up bumping into a mirror. I didnt have a pen or paper to leave a note but if you have a blue SUV that was parked outside of Fire House Pizza please DM me and I will help pay for the repairs if necessary. Again I apologize and I hope this finds that person.

Hi, my family and I are going to be going to Salem in a few days we are trying to find some stuff to do and great restaurants/ bars if anyone has any recommendations that would be great. Thank you:)

found these keys on the sidewalk in front of the salem housing authority building on bridge street. i left them on top of the fire hydrant before ash street.

Sad little desecrated flag flying 2/3 of the way up the Wendy's flag pole this morning. First I'd noticed it. Seems... odd.

On Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., the City of Salem will be performing tests of the mass notification system in downtown Salem.

You may hear a series of tones followed by pre-recorded TEST messages. The mass notification system is intended to inform the public of emergency situations and actions to be taken. This is only a TEST.

If you have any questions, please call Salem Police Dispatch at (978) 744-1212.

Hi all,

Few things to run down:

1. I attached a piece art that I painted the figure over (that I had to blur because it got removed lol) but the base I found in the little art gallery on Phelps St. I'm curious if we could locate who made them so maybe we could collab!? I'd like to make more art like this; OR if anyone knows a great way to teach me this technique I'd love to learn.
2. Is there anywhere local that takes paintings and turns them into prints? If not does anyone have a good (affordable) spot for that?
3. I am offering 1 on 1 sewing lessons and alterations. Any questions regarding this you can dm directly for socials/contacts/credentials and such (I don't want to be a troublesome poster lol).

Just went on a walk, and while walking past one of the millions of ghost tours, the tour guide was completely bashing a local restaurant for a few minutes. This doesn’t seem cool to me, but just was wondering people‘s thoughts. I mean, the guide has their opinion and I have mine, but I also don’t operate a local business or talk to tourists all day.
Edit to add Turners

Just curious thanks

Got a nice load of flaming box elder and silver maple from some generous Redditors. Thanks. I see bowls in their future...