Disappointing photos show what it can be like visiting Salem during Halloween season

Eryn DiPhilippoOct 29, 2022, 00:33 IST

Salem's downtown area, including the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, is packed with tourists during October.Shutterstock; Eryn DiPhilippo

Thousands of people travel to Salem every October to attend the Haunted Happenings Festival.
As a local, I've watched the historic town transform into a heavily trafficked tourist destination.

Salem draws thousands of visitors in the fall, especially during the town's month-long Haunted Happenings Festival in October.

When you walk into downtown Salem, you'll come across a large banner for Haunted Happenings.Eryn DiPhilippo

If you drive into Salem in October, be prepared to sit in standstill traffic.Eryn DiPhilippo

A large crowd fills Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts.Eryn DiPhilippo

People head toward the vendors at the Haunted Happenings Festival in Salem Common.Eryn DiPhilippo

The line to get into O'Neills Pub & Restaurant extended down the block.Eryn DiPhilippo

For those who don't want to deal with long restaurant waits, the food trucks at Salem Common are a reliable solution.Eryn DiPhilippo

People explored the shops on Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts.Eryn DiPhilippo

Buskers perform on the crowded Salem streets throughout October.Eryn DiPhilippo

Police help pedestrians safely cross Essex Street in Salem.Eryn DiPhilippo

People line up to enter the historic Ropes Mansion.Eryn DiPhilippo

Officers monitored the Salem crowds.Eryn DiPhilippo

Police patrol the Salem streets during October.Eryn DiPhilippo

I prefer to visit Salem Common late at night when the daytime crowds have dispersed.Eryn DiPhilippo