Who wouldn’t want to spend all of October in Salem? That’s the first thing I thought when I ran across J.W. Ocker’s book, “A Season with the Witch: The Magic and Mayhem of Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts”.
Well, quite a few people, it turns out. That’s one of the bits of knowledge I took away from reading “A Season with the Witch.” Salem is much more than Witch City and the site of the trials of those accused of being a witch in 1692.
(For the record, it wasn’t even the site of the alleged witchcraft that caused the trials – that happened in present-day Danvers, among other neighboring townships, which is five miles north of Salem. Details I had since forgotten from high school U.S. history…or details I never learned. I’m not sure which.)
It’s a city trying to be many different things to many different people. Salem boasts a world-class art museum, the Peabody Essex Museum or PEM, despite being 30 minutes north of Boston. It has a rich maritime history, including appearances by pirates. It is home to present-day Witches. And for some, it’s simply home.
So how do all these elements come together to create a place Halloween-lovers around the world flock to every October?
Well, they do and they don’t to some extent. But now I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s take a step back for a moment.

I probably never would have picked up this book if it hadn’t been related to Halloween. A book just about Salem would have felt more like homework than something to pique my interest. And I wouldn’t have been interested in it had I not started a Halloween blog, an idea put off for at least two years before I made it a reality, oddly enough, two months before J.W. Ocker began his journey to write this book.
So discovering it in my favorite local bookstore and reading it feels like the most magical sort of happenstance.
The book itself is about Ocker’s stay in Salem during October 2015. He moved his family there to experience Halloween in a place that many consider the epicenter of Halloween in America.

Yes, there are plenty of Halloween hot spots namedropped, like Salem’s Haunted Happenings or the Witch History Museum, and the book serves as a guide on how to do October 31st in Salem. But for me, reading this book was a true glimpse into everyday life in a place many of us put on a pedestal and think of as magical.
Spoiler alert: it’s not. It’s just another American city with a lot of strange things happening there.
As the book opens, we naturally begin where anyone would with a trip to Salem: landmarks from the Witch Trials…or rather, what hints are left of them. We journey on to some of the cheesier “museums” and tourist attractions in the city celebrating the spooky side of life.
Ocker teaches us about pirates and the city’s rich maritime history. He pokes around at PEM, discussing the incredible exhibits the museum has put together, as well as traveling exhibits they manage to secure despite proximity to Boston’s own set of museums. He even asks a few questions about items allegedly in the museum’s possession, including Blackbeard’s skull (yes, really) which doesn’t thrill his interviewee.

The book also journeys through what it means to be a witch in modern Salem, the fictitious witches who have haunted the city over the years and what it’s like to work for the city side of Witch City. And American author Nathaniel Hawthorne makes constant appearances through the entire journey, given he was born in and then lived in Salem, on and off, for his entire life.
“A Season with the Witch” delves into so much more than just the Halloween activities that occur in the city during October that by the time I got to the penultimate chapter, aptly titled “H-Day”, I almost felt like I didn’t need to read it. I was sold. I wanted to go to this city full of American history iced with modern-day spookiness to experience it all, October 31st be damned.
If you are interested in Salem, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of “A Season with the Witch”. This iconic city is about so much more than witches, and you would be cheating yourself if you only went with the Witch Trials, Halloween or the spooky side of life in mind. Ocker will give you a treasure map to all the best spots, spooky and otherwise, to make sure you do it up right.
Buy the book
(That’s not an affiliate link, by the way.)
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What is your must-see in Salem?
I’d love to hear it – leave your spot in the comment…or tell me why you’re dying to visit!
Happy haunting,

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Ashley
My husband and I visited Salem in October of 2013 (early October, not Halloween) and we thought it was a very fascinating city. Lots of tourist-trap type witch attractions, but a lot of history and amazing sights as well. I loved looking for Hocus Pocus locations in and around Salem (including Danvers) and the House of the Seven Gables was also awesome.
We went to Massachusetts to visit Concord and Boston, but honestly stopped in Salem because of my love for Halloween. But it really was much more and we loved it.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Very cool, Ashley! Thanks for sharing. I’m hoping to visit in the next few years.
Stacey
Love your book review!! I am reading and loving it. I am so glad to hear you say that about Danvers! I have been trying to remember if I learned that in school or not. I have always wanted to visit Salem and this book makes me want to go, even more.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Glad you’re enjoying it too, Stacey!
Elizabeth
Thanks for the great book review! I grew up in Rhode Island and my mom and I (and sometimes other family members and friends) would travel to Salem every October. We did it for at least 7 years or so. There are some wonderful memories and I’ve visited a number of the landmarks you and the book mentioned several times. The last time I went, perhaps 4 years ago now, was a little bit sad. A lot of the cool original shops were gone and were replaced by cheesy, touristy shops. For example, there used to be a store that sold beautiful crushed velvet hooded capes and other unique clothing but when I went last it had turned in to a Harry Potter store! Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of people like Harry Potter, but it was such a shame. I also noticed that nearly EVERY shop was now advertising tarot reading and palmistry, which I think also speaks to how commercial everything was getting. It used to be a few specific spots would offer that and you really felt like they knew what they were doing and believed in it, but when everywhere you turned was offering it, it was hard to imagine they all felt that way. Hopefully Salem does not continue this progression and others have been since and had a wonderful time!
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
I love how passionate people are about Salem, like you Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing. Your comments on tarot and palm readings resonate the most for me – that’s definitely something Ocker picked up on during his stay and comments on in the book.
I’m interested in going opposite of Halloween so I get a more genuine experience of what the city is like. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ladyfair
I had considered checking out Salem for Halloween but when I looked into it I was disappointed by the cheese factor. Unless you’re heavily into fortune telling or you’re Wiccan, I found that there was little appeal in their Halloween events. I studied the philosophy of witchcraft in my undergrad and the Salem witch trials were like a fart in a wind storm compared to what took place in Europe, I have heard that there are better museums overseas, if you’re into that sort of thing. I’ve learned through other Halloween and Goth bloggers that Salem is super touristy, like Niagara falls grade touristy lol. It’s made me skeptical to visit Salem specifically, so if I ever do go it’ll be one of a few stops rather than a destination.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Thanks for sharing, Ladyfair! That’s kind of the vibe I got from reading this book which is why looking at a more complete picture of Salem appeals to me instead of just going with Halloween in mind. Totally hear you on Salem’s place in the greater history of witch hunts! That’s my next project: researching more spots around the world to visit related to that history.
Cat
Do you follow JW’s blog, OTIS (Odd Things I’ve Seen)? It’s one of my all-time faves.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
I do! His blog is how I discovered his books. He does great work!
Candace Jedrowicz
I just ordered it for my first e-read. So excited!
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Yay! Let me know what you think of it.