Page 37 - Indulge October/November 2015
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l is synonymous with foliage tours, apple ghost tours; a play based on the trials; psychics;
cider and picking pumpkins. And while these “haunted” houses; street festivals and more.
are fine ways to spend a weekend, why not put
a little spice in your life that goes beyond cinnamon “I’ve often referred to the Haunted Happenings
and nutmeg? After all, fall is also synonymous with Festival as their version of Mardi Gras,” Pirlis says.
Halloween — which the National Retail Federation “There are several walking tours that visitors can
calls the nation’s second-most popular holiday. take, as well as trolley tours. These tours will focus
more on the witchy and supernatural side of Salem. I
To up your game, what you need is a Scooby- would recommend the Hocus Pocus tour as it focuses
Doo-style adventure in one of the spookiest not only on the witchcraft side of Salem, but also
places in America: Salem, Mass. So shake off stops at various locations featured in the popular
any Puritan trappings and load up your Mystery ‘Hocus Pocus’ movie. The Spellbound Tour is another
Machine for a Halloween-themed vacation. excellent paranormal tour for visitors who want to
see actual locations from the infamous witch trials.”
Salem’s story is a mix of fact and fiction, legend
and lore. The facts: In 1692, a group of young girls, The businesses, of course, get in on the
who were having “fits,” claimed they were possessed. fun. Laura Potter, general manager of Gulu-
They accused a handful of neighbors of being witches, Gulu Café, says they’re planning “Halloween-y”
and hysteria ensued. In the year it took for the Salem bands as well as pumpkin beer (of course) on
Witch Trials to play out, more than 200 people were draft. “And we’ll be tapping and pouring beer out
implicated. Twenty were executed — 19 by hanging, of a carved-out pumpkin Thursday, Oct. 1.”
one by crushing — and at least seven died in jail.
By Patrick O’Donnell
In time, common sense prevailed. The trials were At Far From the Tree Cider, co-owner Denise
shut down, verdicts were annulled and apologies Snape — who hails from Harleysville, Montgomery
issued. Historians blame superstition and jealousy. County — says they’ll have live music on
And those “fits” the girls were having? Scientists point Thursdays and hold limited-edition cider releases
to grain contaminated with a fungus called ergot. through October. “We’ll be doing a pumpkin
cider and a [hot] pepper cider,” she says, adding
In the centuries since, Salem has turned that that she doesn’t want to release the names
horrible history to its advantage by bolstering the yet because they’re still perfecting recipes.
“boo” factor. Every October the city holds Haunted
Happenings, a monthlong celebration of all things A Halloween-themed trip wouldn’t be complete
fall and fright. Witches are extolled, ghost stories without lodgings that might include unpaid guests:
guaranteed and the supernatural celebrated. “I’d highly recommend the Hawthorne Hotel or the
Salem Inn,” Pirlis suggests. “While owners of both
“Salem is a great place to visit any time during the establishments will tell you otherwise, popular opinion
year, but in October, the place really comes to life,” says each place is haunted in their own way.”
says Melissa Pirlis, consultant with Liberty Travel,
near Easton. And finally, if you’re dead-set on fall scenery,
the trip to Massachusetts should suffice. “Whether
Maybe “come to life” isn’t the best way to visitors want to travel north and travel [Interstate] 84
phrase it, given Salem’s history. Regardless, the the whole way out, or try [interstates] 287 to 87 to
city rolls out a (blood) red carpet for visitors in 84, they’re bound to enjoy the drive,” Pirlis says.
October. There’s a carnival; a parade; costume balls;
cider and picking pumpkins. And while these “haunted” houses; street festivals and more.
are fine ways to spend a weekend, why not put
a little spice in your life that goes beyond cinnamon “I’ve often referred to the Haunted Happenings
and nutmeg? After all, fall is also synonymous with Festival as their version of Mardi Gras,” Pirlis says.
Halloween — which the National Retail Federation “There are several walking tours that visitors can
calls the nation’s second-most popular holiday. take, as well as trolley tours. These tours will focus
more on the witchy and supernatural side of Salem. I
To up your game, what you need is a Scooby- would recommend the Hocus Pocus tour as it focuses
Doo-style adventure in one of the spookiest not only on the witchcraft side of Salem, but also
places in America: Salem, Mass. So shake off stops at various locations featured in the popular
any Puritan trappings and load up your Mystery ‘Hocus Pocus’ movie. The Spellbound Tour is another
Machine for a Halloween-themed vacation. excellent paranormal tour for visitors who want to
see actual locations from the infamous witch trials.”
Salem’s story is a mix of fact and fiction, legend
and lore. The facts: In 1692, a group of young girls, The businesses, of course, get in on the
who were having “fits,” claimed they were possessed. fun. Laura Potter, general manager of Gulu-
They accused a handful of neighbors of being witches, Gulu Café, says they’re planning “Halloween-y”
and hysteria ensued. In the year it took for the Salem bands as well as pumpkin beer (of course) on
Witch Trials to play out, more than 200 people were draft. “And we’ll be tapping and pouring beer out
implicated. Twenty were executed — 19 by hanging, of a carved-out pumpkin Thursday, Oct. 1.”
one by crushing — and at least seven died in jail.
By Patrick O’Donnell
In time, common sense prevailed. The trials were At Far From the Tree Cider, co-owner Denise
shut down, verdicts were annulled and apologies Snape — who hails from Harleysville, Montgomery
issued. Historians blame superstition and jealousy. County — says they’ll have live music on
And those “fits” the girls were having? Scientists point Thursdays and hold limited-edition cider releases
to grain contaminated with a fungus called ergot. through October. “We’ll be doing a pumpkin
cider and a [hot] pepper cider,” she says, adding
In the centuries since, Salem has turned that that she doesn’t want to release the names
horrible history to its advantage by bolstering the yet because they’re still perfecting recipes.
“boo” factor. Every October the city holds Haunted
Happenings, a monthlong celebration of all things A Halloween-themed trip wouldn’t be complete
fall and fright. Witches are extolled, ghost stories without lodgings that might include unpaid guests:
guaranteed and the supernatural celebrated. “I’d highly recommend the Hawthorne Hotel or the
Salem Inn,” Pirlis suggests. “While owners of both
“Salem is a great place to visit any time during the establishments will tell you otherwise, popular opinion
year, but in October, the place really comes to life,” says each place is haunted in their own way.”
says Melissa Pirlis, consultant with Liberty Travel,
near Easton. And finally, if you’re dead-set on fall scenery,
the trip to Massachusetts should suffice. “Whether
Maybe “come to life” isn’t the best way to visitors want to travel north and travel [Interstate] 84
phrase it, given Salem’s history. Regardless, the the whole way out, or try [interstates] 287 to 87 to
city rolls out a (blood) red carpet for visitors in 84, they’re bound to enjoy the drive,” Pirlis says.
October. There’s a carnival; a parade; costume balls;
