Halloween is a week from Saturday, and this is the run-up. Saturday night, Bit Bar puts four bands and a costume contest on one bill, and on Sunday the same bar runs a drag show where the cover is a bag of groceries for The Salem Pantry. Below is the whole week, Thursday October 22 through Thursday October 29, with times and links for every pick.
IF YOU DO ONE THING
Wear a costume to Bit Bar on Saturday night.
Southie Heights presents Live at the Bit Bar: Vices Inc, Stella Starfox, Wisterio and Melted Chapstixs, four bands on one bill. There is a costume contest with prizes, the arcade games are on, and the kitchen and bar are open all night. One cover gets you the whole lineup.
Saturday, October 24 · Doors 7:30 PM · Bit Bar, 278 Derby Street · Ten dollar cover · 21+
If you go, tell them you heard it from From Witch City.
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Thursday, October 22
Start the Night Salem at Bernadette. 5 to 6:30 PM, Bernadette, 65 Washington Street. A free 90-minute welcome with a seasonal nonalcoholic sipper and warm cheese gougères. Details
Rock Cauldron Cabaret. 6 PM family show, 8:30 PM 18 plus, Creative Collective Studios, 35 Congress Street, Building 2. Details
The Shadows of the Seven Gables. 7 PM, The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street. Candlelit, after hours, the house as Hawthorne wrote it. Fifty dollars. Details
Open Mic at Village Tavern. 7 PM, 168 Essex Street. Details
Friday, October 23
Witch City Comedy Festival. 7 PM, The Satanic Temple, 64 Bridge Street. Year two, multiple stages, Josh Day and Christopher Leedham with host Allie Del Franco. Details
Hamlet, free, by Elsewhere Shakespeare. 7 PM, Far From The Tree. Details
National Theatre Live: Frankenstein. 7:30 PM, The House of the Seven Gables. Danny Boyle directs, Benedict Cumberbatch plays the Creature. Details
Frostbite B.C. with Rage T. Stitcher. 9 PM, Koto, 90 Washington Street. Plus a freakshow act. Ten dollars, 21 plus. Details
Salem Night Faire. From 5 PM Friday and Saturday, Salem 1630: Pioneer Village. The last weekend. Details
Saturday, October 24
PEM Presents: Nosferatu with Live Orchestra. 1 PM, Peabody Essex Museum. The Arpeggione Ensemble plays the score live. Details
Haunted Happenings Marketplace at Salem Common. From 10 AM, Salem Common. Free outdoor market of independent makers. Details
Hawthorne Hotel Halloween Ball: Phobia. 7:30 PM, Hawthorne Hotel. Live band, two DJs, costume contest, cash bars on three floors. Details
Wicked Night on the Wharf: Untamed. 7:30 PM, Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites, 225 Derby Street. A jungle-themed costume party. Details
Sunday, October 25
Vixens and Villains Burlesque and Drag Show. Doors 8 PM, show 9 PM, Bit Bar, 278 Derby Street. Touring drag, burlesque and tribute acts. No ticket: bring non-perishable food, hygiene or household items for The Salem Pantry, plus cash to tip the performers. 21 plus. Details
Salem 400+ Film Screening: The Witch. 1 PM, Peabody Essex Museum. Robert Eggers' film, with Anya Taylor-Joy. Details
Emma Lou's Bakery Brunch Pop-Up. Noon, Far From The Tree. Details
Stitching on the Wharf. 2 to 4 PM, Derby Wharf, 160 Derby Street. Details
Lee Harvery Music. 2 PM, Far From The Tree. Details
Diamond's Dine In with DJ Maxine Harrison. 2 to 4 PM, Gulu-Gulu Cafe, 247 Essex Street. Details
Monday, October 26
Drag Speed Puzzling with Geya Jenda. 6 to 8 PM, Couch Dog Brewing, 76 Lafayette Street. Details
Big Gay Night Out. 9 to 11 PM, Koto, 90 Washington Street. Details
Clown Day. 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Witch City Hibachi, 94 Lafayette Street. Costume contest at 6:30, no ticket. Details
Pocus Party. 3 PM, Far From The Tree. Details
Open Mic Night. Sign-ups 6:30, music 7 to 9 PM, East Regiment Beer Company, 30 Church Street. Details
Tuesday, October 27
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Trivia. 8 PM, Bit Bar. For diehard fans. Details
Incessant Pipe: Poetry Salon. 7 PM, upstairs at the Salem Athenaeum. Bring a poem, yours or anyone's. Details
Movie Night with Victoria Price. 6 PM, The House of the Seven Gables. Sold out, so do not drive over for it. Details
Karaoke with Maxine Harrison. 7 to 9 PM, Gulu-Gulu Cafe. Details
Tuesday Trivia at East Regiment. 7 PM, 30 Church Street. Details
Wednesday, October 28
Grave Rave Drag Show. 6 PM, Die With Your Boots On, 9 Church Street. Free and all ages, hosted by Miz Diamond Wigfall with DJ Maxine Harrison. Tip the performers. Details
Whispers from the Veil: The Seance That Defied Science. 5 PM, The House of the Seven Gables. A 1920s parlor seance built around the medium Margery. Details
Comedy Open Mic. 6:30 PM, Hallowed Ground, 87 Washington Street. Details
Weirdo Wednesdays. 7:30 PM, CinemaSalem. Details
Thursday, October 29
Slasher Day. 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Witch City Hibachi, 94 Lafayette Street. Costume contest at 6:30, no ticket. Details
Salem's Comedy Coven: Haunted Comedy Show. 7 PM, The Lost Library, 282 Derby Street. Details
The Haunted Hall: Ames Hall Gothic Series. 6 PM and 8 PM, Ames Memorial Hall, 290 Essex Street. Details
Sips and Myths: Dare to Indulge. 5:30 PM, Salem Wine Imports, 32 Church Street. Details
Trivia at Dire Wolf Tavern. 7 PM, 87 Washington Street. Details
On the horizon
Judes and The Hutch's Halloween Spooktacular Set. Friday October 30, 6 to 9 PM, East Regiment Beer Company. No cover, all ages. Details
Party On! Band Halloween Party at the AOH. Saturday October 31, 7 PM, 104 Boston Street. Back entrance on Beaver Street, downstairs. Costumes encouraged. Details
Rock Cauldron Cabaret (18+) Live Show at The Cove Hotel. Saturday October 31, 5:30 PM, 40 Bridge Street. Details
Halloween is a Saturday this year. Before you plan a drive in next week, check the city's road closure list on hauntedhappenings.org or salemma.gov. Halloween itself lands in next Thursday's issue.
All 200+ events for the week, with times and venues, are on the events page.
THE DINNER CLUB
Dinner Club is a week from Tuesday.
Six people, one table, a good meal and real conversation. You take a short quiz, we match you with five compatible locals and pick the restaurant, and you find out where the morning of. After dinner every table meets up somewhere for a drink.
Every single person who has booked a seat so far gave the same reason for coming: they are looking for new friends.
Tuesday, November 3 · 6:30 PM · Salem · Dinner on your own tab
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From Witch City, a local's guide to Salem, MA. Reply and tell us what we missed.