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The 29th Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade will take place, as always, on the first Thursday of October, October 1st, 2026. The parade will follow the normal route from Prime Group Shetland Park to Salem Common.
This year’s parade will feature the theme “Old-School Halloween”! As we celebrate Salem400+ this year, we're looking back at the evolution of Halloween through the ages. From the ancient traditions of Samhain to classic trick-or-treating, homemade costumes, and even the nostalgia of '90s Halloween movies, we can't wait to see your interpretation. There's no wrong way to celebrate Halloween! Join us as we light up the night with spooky spirit and community pride!
This time-honored kick off of the Halloween season is full of color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college and so many of our local businesses. Their participation is what makes this a highly successful, cherished event for our community.
Important Parade Information:
- Safety Barriers: Safety barriers will continue to line the entire parade route to help ensure the safety of audience and parade participants. Spectators are required to remain behind the barriers at all times.
- Volunteers Needed: We need ~50 volunteers along the parade route who will keep the audience from entering the parade route
To help ensure the success of this event, we are asking for businesses’ financial support to defray the expenses of police, safety barriers, security, advertising, and staging. All sponsorships include the opportunity to provide a float or march in the parade. In return for sponsors’ generosity, we are committed to providing the following:
- Parade Banner Sponsor ($1,000)
- Your individual sponsor banner carried in the Parade
- Your Company Name & Logo added to the list of sponsors on the Salem Chamber’s website and in all Social Media
- Your participation in the parade
- Friend of the Parade Sponsor ($500)
- Your Company Name added to the list of sponsors on the Salem Chamber’s website and in all Social Media
- Your participation in the parade
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Participant Info:
When? The parade will be on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and will start promptly at 6:30 PM.
Where? The parade will follow the traditional route starting at Shetland Properties on Congress Street turning left onto Derby Street, right onto Central Street, left onto Front Street, right on Washington Street, right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finishing on the Salem Common.
Line up time! All marchers and floats should arrive no later than 5:30 PM. Line-up diagrams and parking area maps will be sent to you around September 24, designating your Division Number, position in the line-up and designated parking areas. Attendees will be able to park in the front parking areas of Shetland Park. No parking will be allowed in the back of Shetland Park (near the water) where the parade lines up.
A Route Map, Parade Division List, and Line-Up Chart will be provided shortly before the event for your convenience. Please note your Division Number for line-up purposes and inform all member of your group. If you have any questions, please email Amanda Larson at amanda@salem-chamber.org -
Volunteer Info:
Want to be a part of the celebration but aren’t looking to dress up or march? Able to help us run one of Salem’s most beloved community events? Volunteer for the Parade!! We are looking for ~50 volunteers to assist us.
- Volunteers will help coordinate the lineup at Shetland Park, attend the pedestrian crossings along the route before it starts, and keep the audience from going beyond the safety barriers while the parade is underway.
- Attend a Volunteer Coordination Meeting at the Salem Police Station on Tuesday, September 24th at 10AM.
- Volunteers will be provided an orange T-Shirt to wear while volunteering (and to keep afterwards!)
- Email Amanda@salem-chamber.org with any questions or to learn more before registering.
- Lastly – THANK YOU for your help and time in supporting us to host the traditional kickoff of Haunted Happenings!
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