Halloween is the special time of year when the shades of the dead whisper from forgotten places and spirits walk among us. The Witches of Salem honor this time with Festival of the Dead, an annual event series that explores death’s macabre customs, heretical histories, and strange rituals. Presented by Salem Warlocks Christian Day and Brian Cain hosted by the foremost authorities on the spirit world, Festival of the Dead beckons guests to step through the veil into a realm where spirits await.

Festival of the Dead explores death’s mysteries through events that investigate the favored and forbidden ways in which people have honored, celebrated, and secretly delved into life’s inevitable destination. Events for 2024 include:

• Daily October 1 to October 31:

  Discover your destiny with an authentic psychic reading at The Salem Psychic Fair and Witches' Market

• Nightly Throughout October:

  Hear from Departed Loved Ones delivered by gifted psychic mediums at Messages from the Spirit World: An Authentic Salem Séance

• Thursday, October 30, 2025:

  Work the sorcery of the cemetery in Graveyard Magic

• Friday, October 31, 2025:

  Join us in The Salem Witches' Magic Circle

• Friday, October 31, 2025:

  Join the Witches of Salem and revelers from around the globe for The Official Salem Witches‘ Halloween Ball, Salem's most magical Halloween event! Celebrate the afterlife with food, dancing, ritual, live music, free psychic readings, and prizes where the dead cavort with the living and powerful spells are cast for the Witches’ new year!

• Sunday, November 2, 2025:

  Share stories of you your loved ones at The Mourning Tea

• Sunday, November 2, 2025:

  Honor Your Loved Ones Who Have Crossed Over at the Salem Witches' Most Sacred Event, The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead

Defying the boundaries of religion, culture, and continent, death captivates our imaginations and ensnares our minds, beckoning us to journey to destinations beyond the tattered shroud of mortality.

Need a Place to Stay?

Check out hotels, bed and breakfasts, and inns at Salem.org!

Are you a Psychic and Want to Read in Salem for October?

Festival of the Dead is looking for psychics for the Psychic Fair!

Want to Vend Your Wares in Salem?

Festival of the Dead offers vending spots at the Psychic Fair!

In memory of Shawn Poirier