This is an annual series documenting my volunteer shifts and outfits for the Salem Haunted Happenings Visitor Information Booth. Every October over 150 local volunteers, coordinated by Salem Main Streets, sign-up for 2-hour shifts on the weekends and holidays to assist visitors from all over the world by handing out guides, maps, and directions, and answering any questions the visitors may have. We had three locations fully staffed this year: the Information Booth on Washington Street (4 people at a time), a shipping container on Salem Common (2 people at a time), and 3-4 ‘floaters’ that (as the name suggests) floated around town finding the most congested areas (Old Town Hall, MBTA train station, etc.). The crowds this year were historic (1,040,600 visitors in October, an 8.6 percent increase over last October, and 87,351 people on October 31, compared to 63,856 in 2023 — a 37 percent increase), but my numbers were pretty low, comparatively. We had so many volunteers this year, that I was limited in my official sign-up shifts, but I stepped-in to cover a few shifts that were understaffed.
Date (Location) – Visitors helped per shift – outfit worn (reason why):
9/26 (Info Booth) – 248 – no costume (because it was a last-minute shift during Mayor’s Night Out* and it wasn’t October yet!)
10/4 (Floater – 2 shifts**) – 463 – Ambassador Witch (because it’s my traditional first outfit)
10/5 (Floater & Common – 2 shifts**) – 279 – Ambassador Witch on Vacation (because it was unseasonably warm out!) 360 video here
10/12 (Floater) – 243 – The Gorton’s Fisherman (because we were expecting a Nor’easter and flooding)
10/18 (Floater) – 690 – Orange Ambassador Witch (cozy flannel for dropping temperatures)
10/19 (Common) – 55 – International Trader (it was an old Ren Faire costume that still fit)
10/25 (Info Booth) – 759 – Stanley Roper from Three’s Company (the Boston chapter of the International Order of Mrs. Ropers were visiting that day)
11/1 (Info Booth) – 82 – no costume (because Hallowe’en was over)
I helped 2,819 people out of the 37,432 visitors counted over the month! This doesn’t count the dozens I helped each day while walking to or from my shifts. I always made sure I had a bag full of maps and brochures, just in case. Last year I had only 1100 during my 5 shifts. You can see the variance in numbers over the weekends, especially depending on where I was standing. On the 18th and 24th, I was standing on the corner of Washington and Essex streets, at the intersection of all of the congestion. The train lets off at one end of Washington and the free parking shuttles let off at the other end. Essex street is the hub of activity for buskers and (as the only year-round pedestrian street) is always the most congested. It’s as if people arrive and then stop within those few blocks without exploring the rest of the city. They come to the booths and complain about lines or crowds, but when we show them the map and explain everything else they could be doing, they seemed genuinely surprised that it wasn’t just that one street and the Common…
In addition to the booth, I also helped-out at the Howl-o-ween Pet Parade, which had over 140 entries again this year! I registered pets and helped the announcer identify each contestant by name and number so the judges could take note. We had groups of Guinea pigs, a few cats, a chicken, and tons of dogs. Our master of ceremonies was Gigi, the newly elected Dog Mayor of Salem and her Deputy Mayor, Bruce! As usual, I wish I had had time to take pictures of all of the costumes, but I was too busy. There are some videos and photos online.
Here are some photos:
*Mayor’s Night Out was typically held on the Friday after the Haunted Happenings Parade (the first Thursday of October). This year, the Mayor wanted to return to a resident-focused event, so it was moved to the last Friday of September. It was still VERY crowded with visitors, but it was wonderful to see all the local families dressed in costume trick-or-treating downtown. I felt guilty as I stood on the street that I was not in costume. Maybe next year.
** That was a very interesting weekend! One of three people that handles volunteer shift changes and opens/closes the booths got COVID, so I had to step-in and take over those duties. I was scheduled to be a floater near the MBTA station that weekend, but because the Government shut down, the National Parks Service’s Visitor Center in the heart of town was closed. This is a go-to for so many visitors because they have the cleanest, maintained, accessible, indoor bathrooms, as well as a free movie and other information. We were stationed outside the closed center handing out maps and helping answer questions. You would not believe how many people had no idea the National Parks and their employees were part of the government. The most asked question was: “Well, when are they going to re-open?” Ma’am, if I knew that, I’d be on an island somewhere relaxing instead of standing here talking to you…
Did I help you this year?!? Let me know in the comments!
Small Stuff 