Salem’s 400th Anniversary Draws Thousands in Creative Costumes
Thousands of revelers flooded the streets of Witch City for its massive Halloween celebration, transforming the destination into a sea of creative costumes. This year’s festivities mark Salem’s 400th anniversary, drawing visitors who brought out some of their most creative costumes yet.
From clever homemade creations to elaborate takes on familiar characters, the city played host to a wide array of pop-culture and traditional costumes. Among the standout groups spotted on Halloween were four friends portraying characters from Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Anthony Rofino dressed as Ursula, Mark Mitchell as Prince Eric, Nicole Eicker as Ariel, and Lisa Neville as Sebastian.
Travelers and Traditions Across the Crowds
Many attendees made long-distance journeys to take part in the celebrations. Delanie and Dawn Powell traveled from Michigan dressed as the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, continuing a tradition of coming to Salem for many years. James and Elaine Barbosa donned Victorian ghost attire to pose for visitor photographs, while Michael Ruggiero of Connecticut marked his 15th year visiting Salem by dressing as Uncle Sam.
Other visitors brought unique interactive elements to the celebration. Helen Budz wore a vintage camera costume, taking portraits of visitors in exchange for tips and handing out printed photos styled to look like a vintage Salem newspaper. Brandon G. traveled from Dallas, Texas, to attend the celebration dressed as a hot dog, while Inez and Joshua McGraw dressed as Marie Antoinette and King Louis, an idea sparked by a trip to France a few years ago.
Pop Culture, Pets, and Landmarks
Film and television inspirations were visible throughout the crowd. Zeke Mohammed and Mehak Wadhwa dressed as Coraline and Wybie, inspired by the horror classic Coraline. Nanette Capano traveled from New York dressed as a witch carrying “Abraham the Toad,” and a 7-year-old dog named Lily appeared dressed as Sam from Trick or Treat.
High above the streets on Essex Street, a participant dressed as Rapunzel lowered long hair from an apartment window. Down below, Ali Peccei dressed as Wonder Woman alongside her 13-year-old Labrador disguised as Super Girl. Other notable sights included a man dressed as Frankenstein posing for tips, a corgi riding in a stroller during a gathering of the Witch’s Circle on Salem Common, and Maria and Anthoullis dressed as the Evil Queen and Magic Mirror.
