Events Calendar
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Event held on The Common
= Event sponsored by SCNA
Calendar 2001
| January | February | March | April |
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| May | June | July | August |
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Thursday
5th, 7-9
PM Squirrel Hill Olde Tyme Band
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| September | October | November | December |
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Friday 2nd
6:30-9:00pm |
Christmas
in Salem
Thursday
20th, 6pm |
Children's Charity 2001 Christmas
You are cordially invited to a social gathering of friends for the benefit of the: Salem Children's Charity 2001 Christmas at Victoria Station on Thursday Eve, December 20th 6pm Good Company Substantial Food, Come and Enjoy Donation (all for the kids) $10.00.
I asked Conrad to tell me about the history of this event, and here's the e-mail that he sent. It's an interesting story...
The Story (from Conrad Prozniewski)
I've got this friend, Mitchell, who just cannot go through a Christmas season without trying to do something extra for the needy. Back in 1994 three of us were sitting inside Tammany Hall having a laugh over the time he went door to door trying to give away 25 turkeys to some "poor" families in Salem only to have the doors slammed in his face a bunch of times. They all thought he was some kind of weirdo. He was very frustrated about the whole thing and wound up giving the turkeys to the shelter. Then one of the other guys we were sitting with suggested that instead of turkeys he could sell paper Christmas ornaments in all the restaurants he haunted and turn that money over to the needy kids. Mitch loved the idea and was now on a new mission. He went around from bar to bar and the patrons were buying these handmade cutouts for a couple of dollars, putting their names on them and hanging them on the walls. He was doing well with it but there was still the problem of who to give the money to. I mentioned Mitchell's dilemma to Pete Baglioni, our Juvenile Officer, and he suggested talking to Charlie Walsh Principal of the Carlton School who had a lot of poor families. I called Charlie and he invited us to the school that afternoon. This is where the story gets good. We sat inside Charlie's office while he went over a list of families and their situations. It was really hard to listen to some of the stories. He told us that he and his staff were all pitching in to try to buy stuff like food, jackets, shoes etc. for those kids, but it was clear that he was overwhelmed. He then told us that how grateful he was that we called, because they didn't know what they were going to do that year, and whatever we could do would help a lot. Mitchell knew he hit the nail on the head this time. He stood up and pulled out a wad from his pocket (the $1,500.00 he'd recieved in dontations for the ornaments) and asked Charlie if it would help. Charlie put his head down on his desk and started to cry. He then stood up and walked over giving us all a big hug, saying something about the meaning of Christmas. I had a huge lump in my throat and couldn't talk. The rest is history. Charlie took his staff Christmas shopping for the kids that year and, even though he's retired now, has done so every year since. Last year the charity raised nearly $7,000 00, enough to help some of the other schools.
That's the story of how this event got started, please come join for this worthwhile event.
National Guard 365th Birthday
Thursday December 13th 2001, celebrate the order of December 13th 1636 issued by the Massachusetts General Court to form 3 militia units in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The East unit in Salem was the first to muster and prepare to defend the colony. Today's National Guard traces it origins to the East Regiment of the Massachusetts Bay Militia, and to Salem Massachusetts. This programs celebrate the 365 year anniversary date with units in uniform, and special ceremonies.
SCNA Concert series
by Kristin Hatch, Updated 7/8/2001
The Concert series is underway, the schedule of concerts is given below. SCNA has traditionally sponsored this event with the help of support from local businesses. However, this year support has been less than in previous years, and SCNA is seeking support from its friends and members. You can support this year's concert series on-line through PayPal's secure online payment service by clicking on the icon below (donations are tax deductible).
Schedule:
June 14: Warszawaiaki Orchestra- what can we say but OOM-PA-PA?!
June 21: Watson Reid and Americana-fuses vocals & elements of country music and jazz into a unique sound which no toes, young or old, can resist tapping!
June 28: Quintessential Brass- a brass quintet whose repertoire includes a wide selection of classical, pop, swing, Dixieland, jazz, and show tunes.
July 5: Squirrel Hill Olde Tyme Band- Stroll down memory lane as they play familiar styles of music including traditional Dixieland jazz.
July 12: Mamadou Diop - original music with authentic African rhythms.
July 19: Atwater & Donnelly- folk duo performing traditional American and Celtic folk music, along with original music and poetry.
July 26: Ye Mariners All-Quench your passion for sea chanteys, maritime songs and tunes, and early American repertoire.
August 2: Boston Horns- groove to the sounds of a unique brand of electrifying funk/ soul/jazz.
August 9: Rain Dates- Concerts canceled may be moved to these dates
Haunted Happenings
Updated Haunted Happenings schedule
Content provided by David Pelletier Updated 9/24/2001
Ironically, if there wasn't an event called Haunted Happenings there still would exist over 300-separate, independently produced activities operating outside of any committee's control. In other words: volumes of people are still going to come whether the Festivals Committee, who is managing the event this year does anything or not.
Hopefully this is the final version of what will comprise the 2001 Haunted Happenings. Not everything is included in this exposition, since much is independently produced. And, certain arrangements are still in negotiation to ensure that the program takes place as designed.
This just shows the principal attractions and what is proposed to be added to make a complete event.
The emphasis is to streamline the attractions, provide a workable traffic plan and change the emphasis to a family friendly atmosphere. What was past is past and our focus is on working with what we have to create what is needed to turn this event around.
Haunted Happenings
Content & Events Listing
Haunted Happenings spans four weekends with the following highlights.
October 6, 7, 8 12-10 Opening & Autumnfest Themes (Columbus
Day Weekend)
October 13, 14 12-10 Antique & New Auto Showcase
October 20, 21 10-5 Bizarre Bazaar (sponsored by the Salem
Chamber of Commerce)
October 26, 27, 28, 31 12-10 Halloween Themes
Ãø Opening Ceremonies will take place on October 6th
Ãø The Keyspan Grande Parade will take place at 7pm on October 19 Ãø Closing ceremonies will take place at 10pm on Halloween Night, October 31. This event is available for separate sponsorship. (Description of the above three events is at the end of this E-mail)
The following are recurring independent events sponsored by existing Salem institutions.
1. Eerie Events at the Peabody Essex Museum 2. Spirits of the Gables at the House of Seven Gables 3. October Dinner Theatre at the Italian Club 4. Salem Psychic Fair at the Hawthorne Hotel 5. Terror on the Wharf at Pickering Wharf 6. Myths & Monsters at Pickering Wharf
7. Wax Museum
8. Witch Museum
9. Witch History Museum
10. Witch Dungeon
11. Dracula's Castle
12. New England Pirate Museum
Added to this list will be vendors, participatory events, community fundraisers and special visual attractions. These are listed below. Mall
Ãø The Goth Maul (Shirley Cervoni Walkway) This is an area of 10+pavilions located along the Shirley Cervoni Walkway. It is a grouping of vendors whose offerings lean toward the occult, mystical, or otherworldly.
Ãø The Artisans Alley (Derby Square)
This is a grouping of 16-juried arts and crafts vendors whose pavilions will lead the festival attendees into the Front Street Theatre performance space.
Ãø Poet's Circle at Salem Five/Official Greeters (Salem Five) The circular planter in front of the Salem Five will serve as a raised platform for seasonal poetry readings as entertainment and as a formal (Ask me!) information area
Ãø Antique Car Showcase (All Downtown)
On Saturday, October 13th. will be the North Shore's premier Antique Automobile Showcase. Essex Street from The Witch House to the Hawthorne Hotel will be transformed into a showroom of exotic cars and a sea of balloons for the kids.
Ãø New Car Showcase (All Downtown)
Held on October 14th on Sunday a newer generation of automobiles will trade places with their elderly cousins and offer an entirely different treat for car lovers of all ages. ,
Ãø Bubble Land Park (Tentative) Phoenix School? (Lappin Park) This magical place will only allow people 4 and under in to transform pools of soapy water into fantastic floating rainbows of color. This will be located at Lappin Park during the Bizarre Bazaar and then Derby Square for the last weekend of the month.
Ãø Mask Making Lessons (Tentative) (Derby Square)
A companion to Bubble Land will be the Mask Making table. This features materials and guidance on how to create your own mask for any occasion.
Ãø Cry Innocent (Town Hall)
It is proposed that Cry Innocent be given residency rights throughout the Haunted Happenings Festival at Old Town Hall. They provide a consistently high quality level of performance of an important Salem historical event and it deserves to be on prominent display.
Ãø Community Days (Derby Square, Common, Pickering Wharf) Each Sunday will be dedicated to a community that was originally part of Salem.
October 7, Danvers-Middleton Day
October 14 Marblehead-Manchester Day
October 21 Peabody-Swampscott Day
October 28 Beverly-Wenham Day
Proposed: Registration at Derby Square/Marketplace
Elementary School Costume Contest and Parade Each Sunday before Halloween a daytime Costume Parade will take place between Derby Square to Salem Common and then to Pickering Wharf. Children will be invited to parade for prizes in Downtown Salem. They will be invited by "former" Salem locations. Entry fee is $1.00 and 50% of the entries will form the prize drawing to take place at Pickering Wharf.
Costumed Pet Parade
Each Sunday before Halloween a daytime Costume Parade for pets will take at Pickering Wharf. Pet owners will be invited to parade for prizes. Entry fee is $1.00 and 50% of the entries will form the prize drawing to take place at Pickering Wharf.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
It is proposed that a Pumpkin Carving Contest be held at Pickering Wharf in association with the Sunday costume parade
Apple Bobbing
Catch the apple
In conjunction with the Pumpkin Carving Contest, additional autumn activities involving Apple Bobbing, and biting an Apple on a String take place at Pickering Wharf.
Ãø Music Mainstage (Museum Place)
It is proposed that the center of operations be located at the stage erected in the former outside dining area of Museum Place. The principal performances in the Acoustic Music Competition will take place here as well as: Live Radio Broadcasts.
Acoustic Music Competition
Musical entertainment at the Museum Place Stage will take place in the form of a competition to see who gets to perform on Halloween Night. Winners will be featured on the Main Stage. It is being proposed that the winning act(s) also receive a professional sound system, studio recording time, and a chance to play at either the Newport Jazz or Folk Festivals.
Lost and Found, Children's programming by the Rebel Theatre Company, Puppet shows, Contest Entries, Awards Ceremonies, The King & Queen Selection and Closing Ceremonies
Ãø The Emporium (Witch Memorial Walkway) The Emporium is the designated space for miscellaneous food and dry goods pavilions that will provide a link between Essex Street, Charter Street and the Derby Street Area. This space can hold up to 10 10 x 10 vendor booths.
Park
Ãø Haunted Happenings Road Race (HSI & YMCA) (Salem Willows) It has been proposed that a running race of 5km be held as a fundraiser for Historic Salem Inc. and the YMCA on October 28 at 9am. Start and finish will be at The Salem Willows.
Salem Common events are only schedule on October 19,20,21,26, 27, 28, & 31.
Ãø Scarecrow Festival (Salem Common)
It is proposed that, in conjunction with a nonprofit charity that a "create your own scarecrow" event be installed and be allowed to grow within the bounds of the Common. We will provide materials for a modest fee and allow the creative minds of our citizens and guests, as well as their sartorial taste determine the looks of these temporary visitors. They will be removed on Halloween night. There is an opportunity to set a world record at 700+.
Ãø Juried Scarecrow Competition (Salem Common) Entries will be accepted on the weekend of October 20, 21 for a Scarecrow Competition. Competitors will enter Scarecrows based on various themes in different categories. Prizes will be awarded.
Ãø Scooter Drag Races (Salem Common)
On two of the concrete pathways to the left of the war monument, we propose to allow two person scooter drag racing. One pathway will be for children only and the other will be for those who still think they are children. The paths will be lined with hay bales and protective nylon fencing to prevent injuries, veering off and helping hands. The distances will be @ 30 yards for children and 50 yards for adults.
Ãø Scarecrow-quet (Salem Common)
A croquet course in a scarecrow setting will be open for small children to hit a ball around a course enclosed by haybales.
Ãø Hay Bale Maze (Salem Common)
Behind the Haystack and to the left of the bandstand will be the hay-bale maze for children. This maze will be designed only to accommodate children under 4’ tall.
Ãø Pumpkin Bowling (Salem Common)
Located on the grassy area in front of the bandstand, this event will test the skills of the most die-hard bowler. Pumpkins will be used as balls to knock down plastic pins in a game of skill and fried nerves.
Ãø Food Court (Little Hawthorne Blvd) Witch Memorial Walkway, Tentative) An International Food Court will be laid out along Little Hawthorne Blvd. which will be turned into a pedestrian way. This will be managed by the Boys and Girls Club.
Ãø Kapnis Old Fashioned Popcorn Wagon (Father Matthew Triangle) The original Salem Popcorn family will still be serving fresh popcorn from their turn of the century wagon next to the Father Matthew Triangle.
Seaside
Ãø Memorial Illumination by Candles (Salem Witch Memorial ) It is proposed that a selection of votive candles be used to illuminate the Salem Witch Memorial at night.
Ãø Derby Wharf
Candles would illuminate Derby Wharf along its entire length. Wharf Walks & Sea Tales told by actors and would allow a stroll out to the end where a "mysterious harpist" would be playing songs from the sea under a candle lit canopy. The end of these stories would serve as a "hand-off" over to the House of Seven Gable’s program.
Ãø House of Seven Gables
Working in tandem with the Derby Wharf storytellers, "Spirits of the Gables" would either begin their tales or pick up where they left off. This will proved the customer with a sense of historical continuity between the two locations.
Haunted Happenings Opening Ceremonies
Saturday October 6, 2001
Haunted Happenings is celebrated over a mile long Concourse that extends from the Daniel Low Building at the corner of Washington and Essex Streets all the way down Derby Street to the House of Seven Gables.
During the Haunted Happenings Festival there are over 60 specific activities stretched along the length of the Concourse that take place over 11-days between October 6 and October 31.
The first weekend of the event is shaped by the seasonal elements of an Autumn Festival that begins on Columbus Day Weekend.
The following weekend is devoted to an automotive showcase of Antique (Saturday) and New (Sunday) cars displayed throughout Downtown Salem and numerous Children’s events. Elements from the previous weekend would continue.
The third and forth weekends take on the traditional Halloween elements beginning with the Annual Haunted Happenings Parade through Downtown Salem, the Bizarre Bazaar and the elements begun earlier in the month.
Grand Opening Ceremonies:
It is proposed that the opening ceremonies be staged in three installments in order to feature the three segments of the Haunted Happenings Concourse.
Ceremony #1, 3pm: Dedication of Salem Common Children’s Park with Mayor, sponsor representatives, directors of the Salem Common Neighborhood Association, The Witch Museum and the Boys and Girls Club.
Ceremony #2, 5pm: Kickoff of Main Stage musical events with Mayor & sponsor representatives.
Ceremony #3, 7pm: Illumination of Derby Wharf with a half-mile of candles by Congressman Tierney, Mayor, NPS , Sponsor Representatives, Directors of Pickering Wharf, The House of Seven Gables and The Salem Wax Museum. (Darkness is needed of this)
Keyspan Grande Parade
̿ The Keyspan Grande Parade is Salem’s largest and the only one that traverses Essex Street Mall; Salem’s historic retail center.
Ãø It is a nighttime tradition that brings out the entire City and those from all of the surrounding cities and towns to kick off the Halloween season.
̿ It is filled with color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from Kindergarten to college age. They are joined by all of their families, friends and relatives. It is a Norman Rockwell experience second to none.
Ãø Media are attracted to it because it is their first Halloween story and it is their way of kicking off the Halloween season in the area.
Date: October 19, 2001 Staging Time: 6pm Parade Start
7pm
Ãø 11 Divisions,
Ãø 3,000+ Marchers
Ãø 11 Marching Bands
Ãø 11 Floats
Ãø 20,000+ Spectators
Staging Area: Shetland/Congress Street
Route: Derby St, New Derby St, Right on Washington, Right on Essex St. Mall, Left on Hawthorne Blvd. Marchers enter Common and continue along Washington Square North pathway. Floats continue along Washington Square North Street in a clockwise direction around the Common and park on Washington Square East to disembark passengers into Common.
Divisions:
1. Bates
2. Bentley
3. Bowditch
4. Carlton
5. Horace Mann
6. Phoenix
7. Saltonstall
8. Witchcraft Heights
9. Collins Middle School
10. Salem High School
11. Salem State College
Theme: Harry Potter/Keyspan Gas Tank/2002 Ford Thunderbird/Salem 375th
Floats: Must be designed to be able to navigate the Essex Street Mall
Music: Salem 375th anniversary Marching Band Invitational
Invitations to musicians : Salem, Beverly, Wenham, Peabody, Danvers, Middletown, Marblehead, Swampscott, Manchester, Gordon College, Salem State.
Celebrities: One invited from each of the 9 cities and towns that comprised the original Salem, nominated by citizens from each community to represent them.
Parade of Beauty Pageant Winners from surrounding region
Introduction of 2002 Ford Thunderbird preceded by a parade of historic Thunderbirds
Additional celebrities: Invite the cast of "Passions." Political leaders from each of the 9 cities and towns of the original Salem cities and towns.
Finale: Massed performance in front of Witch Museum near Roger Conant Statue.
Common Activities: Children’s Autumn Festival open, including Scarecrow concession with reduced rates for Salem residents.
Food Court: Not Recommended to be open on Hawthorne Blvd. since crowd gathers on Essex St. Mall then follows parade to Common.
Scenario: Parade starts at Derby Wharf then proceeds to Salem Common via the Essex St. Mall. At end, activities are available to entertain the audience in an active fashion and it is proposed that a mass band performance take place in front of the Roger Conant Statue, since it is a well lit area, already closed to traffic and can host that number of musicians. Upon the conclusion, it is expected that the crowd will be dispersed after receiving announcements about Salem Scarecrow day and the Bizarre Bazaar the next day. By then everybody will be ready to go home.
`Haunted Happenings Closing Ceremonies
Date: October 31, 2001 Staging Time: 9pm Finish 12pm
Staging Area: Main Stage to NewDerby Street/Pickering Wharf Area
Procedure:
Announce the Haunted Happenings Halloween Procession to begin at 9:30pm Assemble all the King & Queen contestants behind a horse drawn carriage Begin procession behind a group of drummers from the PEM military encampment Proceed from Main Stage down Essex Street, turn right on Hawthorne, turn right on to New Derby.
Have a stage set up in the area of the granite Charter St. Cemetery Wall.
Conduct King and Queen judging
Crown King & Queen
Invite the crowd to attend the King & Queen Outdoor Ball in the middle of New Derby Street.
Hold Prize Drawings
Provide either live or DJ entertainment until midnight.
Disperse crowd starting at prearranged time.
Rationale:
Moves crowd from where you don't want them to a location where they can provide vast economic benefit. There are a total of 21 businesses that will still be open along that stretch from Pickering Wharf all the way over to Dodge Street. By transferring the crowd to this area you accomplish four primary objectives:
Ãø Essex Street is emptied out.
Ãø The crowd is hosted in an area set up to accommodate this type of activity Ãø The job of crowd control and dispersal becomes more manageable. Ãø It serves as a template for how to deal with larger crowds when the event returns to a weekend basis.
The Festival Committee's press release
by Michael Coleman updated 7/18/2001
Salem Celebrates October Planning continues for America's Halloween Festival Salem, MA. The Salem Festivals Committee, led by Project Manager David Pelletier of ProMonde, continues to iron out the details of Salem's annual Haunted Happenings festival. The festival, which has been subtitled "America's Halloween Festival," will begin on October 6 and concluded on the 31 of October. The first two weekends, Columbus Day weekend and the weekend of October 12th, will celebrate the autumn season and the final two weekends, October 19â 21 and 26â 31 will celebrate Halloween. The entire festival will focus on entertaining families and providing a fun, event-packed October experience for its audience. The 2001 Salem Haunted Happenings will begin with Opening Ceremonies on October 6. The ceremonies will begin at 3:00 PM and will open the mile-long concourse of events, which will be open for the entire October festival. "The concourse is designed to bolster Salem business with activities during the peak leaf-peeping season," says project manager David Pelletier. Events planned during October include a New Car Showcase, and Antique Car Showcase, Acoustic Music Competition, Psychic Faires, Magicians, Pumpkin Carving, Apple Bobbing, Children's Costume Contest & Parade, Puppet Shows, a Scarecrow Festival, Scooter Races, Giant Leaf Pile, Hay Bale Pyramid, Pumpkin Bowling, the annual selection of the King & Queen, Sea Tales, luminarias on Derby Wharf, Ghost Stories, the Grand Parade and Closing Ceremonies. These events, and others, are available to local non-profit organizations to manage, generating profit for the managing organization. Also planned for October are the Salem Chamber of Commerce's Bizarre Bazaar, the Hawthorne Hotel's annual Costume Ball, Eerie Events at the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of the Seven Gables' Spirits of the Gables, the and the Haunted Village at the Salem Wax Museum. Many of Salem's museums and attractions also plan extended hours, including the Salem Witch Museum which will continue its tradition of being open until midnight on Halloween. Events will be concentrated in three zones of downtown Salem. The zones are comprised of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, the Salem Common, and the Waterfront. A main stage area is planned for Essex Street and a secondary stage for dramatic vignettes is planned for Derby Square. More than 40 vendors will also be selling their wares throughout the concourse. A "Goth Maul" area, artisans area and international food court are all being planned. Vendors for Haunted Happenings will be juried for the first time this year, ensuring no conflicts between Salem's permanent merchants and the Haunted Happenings vendors arise. Salem Haunted Happenings festival hours will be 12:00 Noon â 7:00 PM on Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day during the month and 5:00 PM â 8:00 PM on Fridays and the 30th and 31st. "Special activities celebrating Haunted Happenings have always been concentrated on the weekends during October," says Destination Salem executive director Kate Fox, "that is nothing new. What is new this year is the establishment of festival hours which provide visitors and residents with a beginning and an end to the events." Salem's attractions and shops will be open during the weeks, and visitors to Salem will find plenty of activities, including museums, haunted houses, ghostly walking tours, wonderful shopping and delicious dining every day of October. Now that the festival content has been designed, the Festivals Committee, which was organized in January at the request of Mayor Usovicz, is meeting with community and city agencies to ensure the festival will be entertaining, fun, safe and meet all city regulations. Festivals committee members are also working with members of the Salem Common neighborhood association to ensure only appropriate family activities are scheduled for Salem Common. A Web site is being designed which will feature a calendar of events, children's activity pages and general information on Haunted Happenings. This site, www.hauntedhappenings.org, will be live within the next couple of weeks. People can also contact Destination Salem at (877) SALEM MA for information about the festival.
Mayor's Ad-Hoc Comittee Updates
by Scott Sneddon, Updated 7/3/2001
Last week's meeting with the Mayor's ad-hoc Committee on Haunted Happenings had the festival organizers giving further details of the proposal for events this coming October (see below). Items of interest to SCNA members.
The event is now scheduled to run from October 6th through Halloween. The organizers argue that visitors will be coming anyway, and it's better to have them taking responsibility for infrastructure issues during this time, than not.
The event is broken up into an "Autumn Themed" event for the first two weeks, and Halloween Themed events for the final two weeks (the parade signals the transition).
We expressed our concern that in the new schedule of events, the Halloween events culminate on the Common, and that we need to return to an earlier plan where the finale is not on the Common. The organizers said they would reprogram the events to accomplish this.
The events that will be held on the Common (as described below) will pay 50% of their revenue to an account dedicated to restoration of the Bandstand on the Common.
In contrast to earlier statements, the Quidditch field will not be set up prior to October 6th.
Food vending will be kept to a minimum on the Common. A "Food Court" is proposed for Hawthorne Boulevard.
Updated hours of operation
| Day | Date | Hours |
| Saturday | October 6 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 7 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Monday | October 8 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 13 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 14 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Friday | October 19 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 20 | 12:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 21 | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
| Friday | October 26 | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 27 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 28 | 12:00 am - 8:00 PM |
| Monday | October 29 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | October 30 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Halloween (Wednesday) | October 31 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Haunted Happenings 2001 Proposed events
by Scott Sneddon, Updated 6/20/2001
The "Festival Committee" has given their first update of the proposed events for HH 2001. Below is a sketch of their proposal for use of the Salem Common. Please contact SCNA with any recommendations of feedback for the Festival Committee.
The Common is shown in outline, the effected areas are shown in yellow.
The events:
The main entrance will be from the South West corner of the common, where a ticket booth will be placed. The walking path that rings the common will be open and available for citizens' use throughout the event. The intent of these events is to bring an "Autumn theme" to the events held on the Common.
Scooter Races:
Foot powered scooter races will be staged along the paths projecting Northeast from the entrance. The Upper path is for kids, the lower path is for adults. Lines will be painted down the center of the paths, and finish lines will be painted at the first cross-path (just past the Veterans Memorial). Participants will compete in pairs; hay bails will be placed on either side of the paved paths, and the lampposts will be padded (perhaps also with hay bails). The scooters (the two-wheeled "Razor"-type scooters) will be returned to the start line along the grass path between the two paved paths.
Hay bail maze:
A hay-bail maze has been proposed for the area marked on the figure. The building inspector said the approval of this event is unlikely due to new strict regulations brought about by recent deaths in maze-like amusements.
Needle in a Haystack:
A large haystack will be created; participants will pay to race to find a prize in the haystack. The haystack will be covered with a tarp to protect it from rain.
Leaf Pile:
A large pile of leaves will be placed as marked, just south west of the bandstand. The pile will be several feet deep, and will be contained with nylon fencing. Participants will pay for a set amount of time jumping around in the pile. The pile will be covered with a tarp to protect it from rain, and it will be replenished when compacted.
Quidditch field:
The proposal calls for the erection of a "Quidditch stadium" based on the game described in the "Harry Potter" books. The game is played on the grass, and the festival committee proposes a tournament involving grade-school and middle-school teams from the surrounding communities that made up the original towns of Salem. The tournament will culminate with a championship game on Halloween evening. The Festival committee proposes construction of bleacher-like stands surrounding the field. The committee proposes construction of this "court" sometime in the summer, in order to give the teams an opportunity to train in playing the game. The field will be illuminated at least for the championship's.
These matches serve several purposes in the eyes of the organizers; it gets local communities involved, it provides an entertainment for people who will be visiting the Common during October (admission to the matches will be free) and it provides and event for the evening of Halloween. The thought is to present the trophy to the winning team during the "closing ceremonies".
Scarecrow Festival:
Following the lead of scarecrow festivals that have been part of other autumn festivals, the Festival Committee proposes holding a similar event on the Common. Participants will pay to construct a scarecrow from materials provided for them (or those they bring themselves) i.e. clothing and costumes. The decorated scarecrows will be spiked into the ground just inside the walking path, thus not interfering with the common fence, or the view of the pathway from outside the fence (a security concern from last year's Pumpkin-Fest). There will be some form of judging of the scarecrows on the night of Halloween, and a prize will go to the winning scarecrow builder(s). Clothing will be provided by the Salvation Army for those who arrive and wish to build a scarecrow, but have no materials with them.
Pumpkin Bowling:
A set of large plastic bowling pins will be set up in front of the bandstand, and participants will attempt to knock down the pins by bowling a small pumpkin. This is obviously harder than it might at first appear, and should be a humorous event.
Stage:
The festival committee is planning musical and storytelling events on a stage to be placed on the back-side of the bandstand.
Storage Containers:
Two large storage containers will need to be placed on the Common to house supplies for the events. The currently proposed position for these two trailer-size containers is behind the row of scarecrows along the South side of the Common.
The Schedule:
Events will start on Saturday October 6h and proceed through Halloween night (which is a Wednesday this year).
| Day | Date | Hours |
| Saturday | October 6 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 7 | 12:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Monday | October 8 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 13 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 14 | 12:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 20 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Friday | October 26 | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | October 27 | 11:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | October 28 | 12:00 am - 9:00 PM |
| Monday | October 29 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | October 30 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Halloween (Wednesday) | October 31 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
The current proposal involves all the above listed events running during all the above listed times.