Halloween In Salem Continues Despite Superstorm

October 31, 2012

Frank Major, of Chicopee, Mass., dressed as the grim reaper rides in a motorized coffin days before Halloween, Oct. 27, 2009 in Salem, Mass. (AP) — Frank Major, of Chicopee, dressed as the grim reaper rides in a motorized coffin days before Halloween in Salem in 2009. (AP)

While many coastal communities continue cleaning up after Superstorm Sandy, Salem will spend Wednesday night celebrating.

Mayor Kim Driscoll says the "City of Witches'" annual festivities will take place as planned, despite many last minute hotel cancellations due to the storm.

“A lot of our tourists come from the New York area, so they were doing their own storm preparations there,” Driscoll said. But, she adds, hotel rooms didn't stay vacant for long. “We’re actually seeing them fill up with last minute folks who weren’t as impacted by the storm.”

Kate Fox, head of the city’s tourism agency, says the storm caused some power outages and forced a few attractions to close temporarily, but all are expected to be open for Halloween.

Fox says about 50,000 will participate in the celebration Wednesday night, which culminates with fireworks over the Salem harbor. That display marks the end of Salem's month-long “Haunted Happenings” festival, which generates approximately $25 million annually for the city.

Meanwhile, many other communities in the state have postponed trick-or-treating until the weekend. According to their respective town websites, Holyoke, Norwell, Methuen, Leominster, Lunenburg, Ashby and Fitchburg have all delayed trick-or-treating events to Saturday, Nov. 3. Sudbury plans to hold its festivities on Friday.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom.

This program aired on October 31, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.