Best Halloween Costumes Spotted in Salem for 400th Anniversary
Thousands of visitors descended on Salem to celebrate the city’s 400th anniversary with an elaborate display of costumes. The annual Halloween festivities drew revelers from across the country, showcasing a mix of historical, cinematic, and homemade creations that transformed the streets into a sea of costumes.
Character-Inspired Displays
Attendees traveled from as far as Texas, Michigan, and New York to participate in the milestone event. Cinematic references were prominent throughout the city, with groups and individuals paying homage to popular films:
- A quartet of friends portrayed characters from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” including Ursula, Prince Eric, Ariel, and Sebastian.
- Zeke Mohammed and Mehak Wadhwa appeared as Coraline and Wybie.
- Joseph Langley, Connor Berry, and Joseph Carro dressed as Alucard, Wolverine, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Ali Peccei attended as Wonder Woman, accompanied by her labrador dressed as Super Girl.
Historical and Creative Interpretations
The anniversary celebration also featured a variety of historical and inventive costumes. James and Elaine Barbosa engaged with crowds as Victorian ghosts, while Inez and Joshua McGraw, visiting from Houston, appeared as Marie Antoinette and King Louis. Other notable sights included a person dressed as Rapunzel lowering hair from an Essex Street window and Helen Budz, who wore a vintage camera costume to provide visitors with printed portraits styled like a vintage Salem newspaper.
The festivities extended to the city’s four-legged visitors as well, with a corgi spotted in a stroller during a Witch’s Circle gathering on Salem Common and a dog named Rocky dressed as a pumpkin. For some, the visit marked a long-standing tradition; Connecticut resident Michael Ruggiero celebrated his 15th year attending the festivities by dressing as Uncle Sam.