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Current mood:  accomplished Category: Travel and Places
Officials urge revelers to use public transportation and be on their best behavior
Salem, MA... Halloween attracts tens of thousands of costumed revelers to the City of Salem who visit numerous attractions and partake in the Fall festivities. This year, with Halloween falling on a Saturday night, we are anticipating larger than normal crowds in Salem.
Given that Halloween is generally perceived as a mischievous holiday, coupled with the fact that large numbers of visitors come to Salem clad in costumes on Saturday, our public safety officials have extensive plans in place to ensure the evening is safe and fun for all participants.
The City of Salem is working diligently to mitigate visitor impacts to residents, improve crowd control, and encourage an orderly exit out of the City at the end of the evening. The following requests are being made of people planning to spend Halloween in Salem this year:
Take public transportation. The MBTA has added extra train service from the North and South. The Salem Ferry is connects Blaney Street, Salem, with Long Wharf North, Boston. We anticipate considerable motor vehicle traffic coming into the city, and parking will be at a premium. Thus, public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Plan to depart after the Halloween Fireworks. Halloween is a great street festival in Salem. In addition to bands and DJs performing on five stages around the downtown, Radio 92.9 is producing a Main Stage Concert featuring the Dancing Nancy Band, a Dave Matthews Band cover band. Dancing Nancy will perform on a temporary stage at the top of Washington Street (between Federal and Bridge Streets) from 9:15 - 10:45 PM followed by fireworks over the North River at 10:45.
The fireworks are the conclusion of the public Halloween celebration and the end to the evening. Police and Public Works Departments will begin clearing streets and moving crowds out of the city immediately following the fireworks. Visitors should expect to depart Salem after the fireworks (approx. 11pm), which is timed to coordinate with the last trains out of Salem.
Visitors coming to Salem should be on their best behavior. Given the larger numbers, the City has adopted tougher sanctions for disorderly behavior. Uniformed police officers will be brought in from eight other communities to support Salem Police in their efforts ensure the safety of all Halloween revelers.
Fines for any disorderly conduct during Halloween evening, such as drinking in public, vandalism, littering, disorderly behavior, have been tripled up to $300 per offense, the maximum amount allowed under the law.
Surveillance Cameras are installed throughout the downtown and will be monitored by Police officials throughout the evening. These cameras will aid downtown enforcement efforts.
Leave weapons - real or fake - at home. Police will be confiscating these items.
Public drinking will not be tolerated. Public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Salem.
Salem, Massachusetts is recognized internationally as one of the best destinations to celebrate Halloween and the month-long Haunted Happenings festival. Salem is pleased to present live music throughout the downtown on Halloween night, as well as a carnival and food vendors.
We encourage our guests and visitors to bring their common sense to the celebration, and respect the City of Salem, and its 40,000 residents. Through public cooperation the city will maintain a fun and safe downtown environment for all.
For more information on Salem Haunted Happenings visit www.hauntedhappenings.org or call Destination Salem at (978) 741-3252.
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About Salem: Salem, Massachusetts, is a destination recognized around the world for its rich history, which includes the tragic Salem Witch Trials of 1692, the glorious maritime era that left its indelible mark on Salem through architecture, museums, and artifacts, and for its month-long celebration of Halloween. Today Salem more than 800,000 visitors come to Salem annually, generating more than $55.6 million in tourism spending.
As the destination marketing organization for the City of Salem, Massachusetts, Destination Salem cooperatively markets Salem as one of Massachusetts' best destinations for families, couples, domestic, and international travelers who are seeking an authentic New England experience, cultural enrichment, American history, fine dining, unique shopping, and fun.
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