What they do: City leadership, policy direction, citywide coordination and community engagement.

Contacts: Mayor Dominick Pangallo — mayor@salem.com. Chief of Staff: Lisa Peterson. City Hall:
978-745-9595. Use the City staff directory for current office contacts.

Support: Policy and community concerns that require City leadership. For an immediate operational issue, start with the responsible department below; emergency response is through 911.

What they do: Coordinate City event logistics, road-closure planning and special-event requirements with Police and other departments.

Contact: Jeremy Fiske — jfiske@salem.com.

Support: Questions about City event coordination, planned closures, portable-restroom coordination and event-related public-space concerns. On-site Police control immediate vehicle access; an email inquiry does not authorize entry through a closure. Kylie’s September 18 notes identify Fire as the operator of light towers; send routine placement or lighting concerns to Jeremy Fiske at jfiske@salem.com. Use emergency reporting for immediate danger.

Contact: James F. Wellock — 978-619-5633, ext. 41501. For email, use the City’s online contact form.

What they do: Provide legal guidance and representation for the City. The City Solicitor is the City’s attorney and does not provide private legal counsel to individual businesses, vendors or members of the public. Beth Rennard’s interim Licensing role is listed separately below.

What they do: Business licensing, applicable permits, compliance and licensing questions about vendors and street activity.

Current contact: Beth Rennard — brennard@salem.com;
978-619-5631. Beth confirmed her interim primary Licensing role on September 12. This replaces last year’s contact for the present guide.

Support: Clarify which license or rule applies, report routine compliance concerns and check approved activity boundaries. Use Police reporting channels for immediate safety or enforcement needs. Kylie’s September 18 notes say Licensing phones are not usually answered outside City Hall hours. Use Police reporting channels for timely enforcement needs; routine licensing questions can wait for office hours.

What they do: City transportation planning, parking services, and travel options for people walking, cycling, taking transit or driving.

Team: David Kucharsky, Director; Christina Hodge, Assistant Transportation Director; Alan Sullaway, Assistant Parking Director. Parking/Transportation:
978-745-8120, 1 New Liberty Street. Department contacts and services.

Support: Employee parking arrangements, City garage and lot questions, resident parking programs, meter-payment issues, bicycle resources and local transportation information. Resident permits, seasonal visitor permits, employee passes and resident meter discounts are different programs; ask about the one that applies to your situation.

What they do: Provide commuter-rail information and resources for the Salem Station parking facility. The Salem Station garage is an MBTA facility, separate from the City’s garages.

Resources: Newburyport/Rockport timetable, service alerts and Salem travel information. Use MBTA’s current contact information for fare, service, accessibility and station questions.

Halloween reminder: The City’s published 2026 plan says the Salem MBTA garage has no vehicle entry or exit from 6 p.m. October 31 until 1 a.m. November 1. Plan vehicle retrieval before deciding where to park.

Contact: Captain William McHugh, Harbormaster / Port Director —
978-741-0098. Harbormaster directory.

Support: Harbor and port questions, including ferry-terminal and landside access coordination. Confirm sailing times, fares, booking and cancellations with the ferry operator. Terminal access and parking questions are distinct from buying a ferry ticket.

What they do: Public safety, traffic control, road closures, incident response and enforcement.

Contacts: Emergency or crime in progress: 911. Non-emergency assistance:
978-744-1212. General business line:
978-744-0171. Chief Lucas Miller: lmiller@salempd.net. Traffic questions can be directed through Police to Lieutenant David Tucker.

Community Impact Unit: Sgt. Tom Pelletier — tpelletier@salempd.net. Chief Miller confirmed this change September 15. The CIU supports quality-of-life and business concerns, including coordination around no-trespass issues. Use the reporting number for timely assistance; email does not replace a call when an incident is happening.

What they do: Fire safety, emergency response, prevention, inspections and crowd-safety guidance.

Contacts: Emergency: 911. Fire non-emergency:
978-744-1235. Chief Alan Dionne — adionne@salem.com; Deputy Chief Peter Schaeublin. Fire Prevention / Fire Marshal Captain Jerry Frechette:
978-745-7777.

Support: Fire Prevention permits and inspections, occupancy questions and premises-specific crowd-manager requirements. Use your certificate of inspection and consult Fire/Building about applicability.

What they do: Produce the Haunted Happenings Marketplace, coordinate participating vendors and entertainment, and manage associated on-site programming. The Marketplace is one part of the citywide Haunted Happenings festival.

Contact: John Andrews — john@creativecollectivema.com; 978-224-8856, text preferred.

Support and coverage: Marketplace coordination across Salem Common, Derby Square, Front Street and Old Town Hall, with the 2026 scope also including the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Charlotte Forten Park. Check current venue schedules rather than assuming identical hours or dates at every location. The former Anthem Group Forten listing is replaced by Creative Collective’s current role.

Street activity: Contact John about Marketplace coordination and the developing designated-space busker pilot. Licensing and Police retain their respective permitting and enforcement roles. Final pilot dates, boundaries and participation terms are still being completed.

What they do: Salem’s official tourism marketing and visitor-information organization.

Contacts: Executive Director Ashley Judge — ajudge@salem.org;
978-741-3252. Team contacts include Bridie O’Connell and Jess Shada.

Resources: Visitor guides and maps, Salem.org, HauntedHappenings.org, the Destination Salem app and Visitor Information Center. Ask the team about visitor data, media/PR opportunities, visitor materials, staff familiarization resources and available marketing programs; eligibility and availability vary.

Business use: Keep your hours and visitor-facing information accurate, request current maps and brochures, and use the event-submission form for applicable events. Consult current advertising opportunities for terms and deadlines. The current print campaign is for 2027; this guide does not promise an available 2026 print placement.

What they do: Downtown business support, resident engagement, community events and visitor assistance.

Contacts: Executive Director Kylie Sullivan and Elise Towle Snow — kylie@salemmainstreets.org;
978-224-5551.

Support: Business information and connections, seasonal coordination and visitor information booths on Salem Common and on Washington Street next to Ledger, toward Front Street. Regular booth hours starting September 26 (Salem Main Streets, Sept. 19): Washington Street booth Friday noon–6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Salem Common booth Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Hours are added on holidays and expand toward the end of the month, so check before directing visitors.

2026 event: Howl-o-ween Pet Parade, Saturday, October 10, 10:30 a.m., Derby Wharf. The September 18 forum also announced a business census to update business/contact and employment information. The FY27 Downtown Business Census form is now live. Salem Main Streets officially launched it on September 19, 2026, and asks every downtown business to complete it; responses keep business lists accurate and help gauge the health of the downtown. Not sure your business is in the downtown district? Ask Salem Main Streets or check their district map.

What they do: Business advocacy, networking, special events and business-program coordination.

Contacts: Jeff Swartz and Amanda Larson — jeff@salem-chamber.org;
978-744-0004.

Events: Grand Parade, Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m.; Haunted Biz Baz on Salem Common, Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, October 4, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. See the parade section below for the published participant arrival and parking instructions.

Programs: The One-Strike / No Trespass program with Salem Police. The Chamber is the starting point for participation questions; see the current protocol and preparation steps below.

What they do: Operate historic sites, visitor services and interpretive programs.

Public contact:
978-740-1650; Salem Maritime. The Salem Armory Visitor Center is at 2 New Liberty Street; maritime sites are on the waterfront. Check current operating information before directing visitors.

Confirm any special October evening or restroom opening directly with NPS. Regular visitor-center hours are listed below.

The City’s Salem Economic Development resource directory connects businesses with technical assistance, financing resources, marketing, networking and peer support. Enterprise Center offers business workshops and development resources; North Shore CDC provides business planning, coaching and connections, including support for immigrant entrepreneurs. Use this starting point for service, appointment-based and neighborhood businesses as well as visitor-facing shops. Confirm current eligibility, availability and terms with the provider before relying on a program.

• Friday, September 25 — Mayor’s Night Out: City activities start at 5:30 p.m. near the Pedestrian Mall fountain. Essex Street between Hawthorne Boulevard and New Liberty Street is scheduled closed 4–8 p.m.; any additional closures that evening will be set in real time and are weather dependent; follow posted signs and Police direction that night.
  
• September 26–27; October 3–4, 10–12, 17–18, 24–25; October 31–November 1: the written notice identifies these weekends and Indigenous Peoples Day. Friday restrictions and hard barricades also affect access. Sunday, November 1 closures will be set in real time and are weather dependent; check the City notice and posted signs that morning.
  
• October 3 — Witch City 5K: starts 9 a.m. at Salem Willows. The City anticipates race traffic impacts on Memorial Drive, Essex Street, Routes 1A/114, Hawthorne Boulevard, Derby Street and Fort Avenue. Separate weekend closures still apply.
  
• October 17 — Devil’s Chase: starts 8 a.m. at the Willows soccer field; traffic impacts expected until 11 a.m. The route connects the Willows, Common, Essex/Derby, Winter Island and surrounding streets; use the full City route for delivery planning.
  
• October 24–25 and Friday, October 30: prepare for major congestion and likely closures. The forum emphasized planning for a particularly busy October 30; exact access remains subject to Police directions.
  
• October 31: downtown vehicle closures begin no later than noon and may start earlier. The full Halloween section below includes garage and Bridge Street restrictions.
  

Barton Square / Essex Street to Washington Street: plan for the hard-barricade closure from Friday noon through Sunday midnight. Jeremy Fiske clarified that the chart’s weekend time is 10 a.m.; the Friday-noon start in the written notice remains the business-planning rule. Do not assume vehicle access on Saturday morning. Separately, the written notice lists Essex Street from Hawthorne Boulevard to New Liberty Street as closed 9 a.m.–10 p.m. on weekends, with Friday restrictions starting at noon. Deliveries and essential vehicle access must be arranged in advance; Police directions and posted restrictions control. City staff clarification relayed September 20, 2026.

Mall Street at Washington Square North, Oliver Street at Washington Square North, and Williams Street at Bridge Street appear as resident-only soft closures in the chart. That label does not establish general business/delivery access. Check your street and obtain Police direction before arranging vehicle passage.

• Give suppliers the specific street restriction and a delivery window, not simply the time your business opens. Include the time the vehicle must leave.
  
• Plan recurring food, stock, repair and waste-service visits before the busiest periods. Coordinate access needs early with the appropriate City contact.
  
• Tell customers and appointment clients how to reach your entrance on foot when vehicle access is restricted. Do not promise an unverified accessible detour or loading exception.
  
• Keep entrances, exits and pedestrian routes clear. A queue must not become a delivery or emergency-access obstruction.
  
• For October 1, Essex Street between Washington Street and Hawthorne Boulevard has a specific 10 a.m. delivery cutoff with no exceptions. Do not substitute the later parade road-closure time.
  

Use the maintained restroom locator for locations and current information. Portable facilities and building access can change during the season. The September 18 forum advised businesses to replace old signs listing fixed locations and hours with the current Destination Salem QR sign.

Before displaying a sign, test the actual QR destination on a phone and provide a readable link as an alternative. Brief staff on how to check the locator rather than relying on last year’s hours. Confirm the route, opening status and accessibility before directing someone to a particular facility.

2026 RESOURCE CONFIRMED: Destination Salem’s QR-only restroom poster is available. Its QR code was checked September 18 and opens the live restroom locator at salem.org/restrooms/. Replace older signs that print fixed locations or dates, and test the printed QR before displaying it.

• Destination Salem Visitor Information Center — 245 Derby Street: in South Harbor Garage; maps, brochures, visitor advice and restrooms. Published hours: daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., checked September 18. Check the live listing for holiday or special changes.
  
• Salem Armory / NPS Visitor Center — 2 New Liberty Street: visitor resources and Park Service information. NPS’s September 18 operating-hours page lists daily, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., spring through fall. This is the authority for NPS hours where other directories differ. These hours do not establish any special late-evening restroom opening.
  
• Salem Main Streets information booths: Salem Common; and Washington Street next to Ledger, toward Front Street. Regular hours from Sept. 26: Washington Street booth Fri. noon–6 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Salem Common booth Sat.–Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., with added holiday and late-October hours. Check hours before directing visitors.
  
• Portable restrooms: use the live locator. Refer event-related placement concerns to Special Events; report urgent safety concerns through the proper emergency or Police route.
  

Do not reproduce the old shutdown-era lists of Artist Row, waterfront-property, Old Town Hall or NPS restroom hours as a current schedule. Likewise, a visitor information point is not a promise of an open public restroom. If one location is unavailable, check the current locator for an alternative.

Plan the journey in both directions. Allow extra travel time, discuss late departures before scheduling a shift, and choose parking with the eventual route home in mind. There is no guaranteed space or universal commute-time estimate on busy weekends.

The City’s parking information and interactive map distinguish locations, rates and restrictions. On-street spaces have location-specific time limits; garages and some off-street lots provide longer-term options. Monthly, annual and employee-pass arrangements may be available through Parking, but passes do not reserve a space. Ask about current availability and eligibility.

Salem residents should confirm that Passport recognizes their vehicle before October. The City uses excise-tax information to determine eligibility. If a discount is missing, contact residentparking@salem.com or 978-745-8120, or visit the Parking Office at 1 New Liberty Street. Check office availability before visiting; the published Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday noon–6 p.m. schedule describes enforcement hours.

Kylie’s September 18 employee-parking handout identifies Church Street, Crombie Street, Front Street/Klopp Alley and Old Salem Jail lots, plus designated Washington and Federal Street spaces, as places to check for resident discounts or free weekend parking. Verify the exact zone, date, eligibility and rate in the current City map and Passport before leaving your car.

Start a Passport session even when the resident parking charge is free. The handout lists a $0.15 processing fee; check the amount shown in the app. Follow the posted time limit for your space: the City lists both two- and four-hour on-street zones, so a four-hour allowance is not universal. October weekend and holiday charges for nonresidents can increase or become flat fees.

Seasonal resident restrictions run September 15–November 1 on designated streets, 5 p.m.–7 a.m. Monday–Friday and noon–7 a.m. Saturday–Sunday. Posted signs and other restrictions still apply. Eligible resident seasonal permits are free; existing 2025 permits are renewed subject to updating changed information. One seasonal visitor permit per residence costs $10 and is not automatically renewed. Business/nonresident arrangements require contacting Parking.

These seasonal permits are separate from year-round resident permits, employee parking passes and resident meter discounts. Paying through an app does not override a resident-only restriction or time limit.

The Port Authority now charges for parking at the Salem Ferry Terminal lot. Its current page lists paid hours of 7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily during the May–November season, with October rates of $4 per hour for nonresidents and $3.20 for eligible Salem-registered vehicles, also listed in Kylie’s September 18 handout. This lot is reserved for vehicles supporting water-dependent industrial and related port uses; do not present it as unrestricted employee overflow parking. Confirm eligibility, posted terms and the November 1 transition with the Port Authority at
978-741-0098. Port Authority parking information.

Watch the real-time parking signs on your approach and have an alternative plan. A private-lot arrangement must be authorized by its operator. The City’s October Parking Overlay allows nonresidential properties citywide to apply for a permit, subject to City approval; this eligibility expansion began in 2025. A commercial lot cannot simply start charging without the applicable approval. City October parking rules and permit application.

The City identifies limited free parking at 108 Jefferson Avenue on October weekends and Indigenous Peoples Day. There is no City-provided October shuttle. Plan the onward journey; do not promise a space, overnight parking, a fixed walking time or an accessible connection that has not been checked. Daily hours, overnight conditions and accessible onward travel remain open questions.

The Salem Station garage is separate from City parking. Check its current rates, access and availability through MBTA. For Halloween, the City’s written plan prohibits vehicle entry and exit 6 p.m.–1 a.m.; staff finishing during that period need another retrieval plan.

The separate $10 commuter-rail weekend/holiday pass covers all commuter-rail zones and includes October 10–12. It does not cover subway, bus or ferry travel. Check the Newburyport/Rockport timetable and alerts for the actual travel date.

Qualifying monthly rail passes are 50% off through November 30, 2026 for Zones 1–10 and Interzones 1–10; Zone 1A and individual tickets are excluded. Monthly passholders can purchase a $1-each-way weekend companion ticket for covered travel, subject to the program’s purchase rules. Free Summer Fridays and expanded all-zone monthly-pass validity ended August 30.

Check the current dated October timetable, last return train and any event-specific bike or scooter restrictions before travelling. Last year’s special schedule does not establish 2026 service.

The Boston–Salem ferry operator publishes a 2026 season through October 31. Check the specific date, ticket availability and return sailing before recommending the trip. Do not apply MBTA ferry discounts to the separately operated Salem service.

Confirm 2026 operating dates, Halloween return sailings and accessibility directly with the Hingham ferry operator before booking. Ask Harbormaster/Parking about terminal access.

The current Salem Skipper notice describes additional funding. As of September 19, October service is not yet confirmed: John Andrews’s follow-up with the city confirms that the operating RFP has not yet been awarded. Plan alternative employee transportation until the city confirms service for your travel dates. Use the City bikeshare page for current options; no October 2026 free-ride offer has been verified.

Customer messaging: encourage rail or ferry travel where practical and link directly to current schedules. Anyone parking outside Salem to take the train must also check that station’s parking rules and return service.

New for 2026: commercial tour buses need a City permit for designated City-owned bus spaces. The City defines these as vehicles designed for 15 or more passengers and hired for group travel or sightseeing. The fee is $100 per visit in October and $50 November–September; the permit is valid only for its purchase day. Purchase through Passport before parking. Spaces are first-come, first-served; a permit is not a reservation. School buses transporting students and trolleys/shuttles operating within city limits are exempt. City tour-bus rules and permit instructions.

For group bookings, agree on a permitted drop-off, the walk to your entrance, an accessible arrival plan and a pickup location that will still be reachable when the visit ends. Send the operator the current closure notice and Destination Salem’s motorcoach resources; the map is reproduced in the resource appendix. Posted restrictions and Police directions govern access. Confirm the PDF/web parking differences with Parking before assigning a specific location.

Emergency or crime in progress: 911. Non-emergency Police assistance:
978-744-1212. Give the location, observable conduct, description and direction of travel when relevant. Email and social media are not appropriate ways to request an immediate response.

At the September 18 forum, Police advised businesses dealing with shoplifting to be good witnesses, report useful details such as clothing, height, hair and direction of travel, preserve available shop video and avoid physically stopping or chasing a person. Brief staff on the business’s emergency plan and who is in charge of the shift. Have a closing buddy plan; no Police escort or fixed staffed street post is guaranteed by this guide.

Report threats, attempted forced access, dangerous obstruction, barrier tampering or other immediate concerns through the appropriate reporting channel. Do not turn ordinary photography, unfamiliarity or appearance into a staff enforcement test. Follow dispatcher and responding-official instructions.

Contact Licensing for permit and rule questions, Police for immediate enforcement/safety concerns, and Creative Collective for Marketplace coordination. Describe the actual activity and location. A vendor’s location alone does not establish that they are unlicensed.

The forum described a voluntary designated-space busker pilot for selected weekend operations. Final boundaries, dates, reservation hours, fees, identification and participation terms are still being completed. Participation in the pilot should not be described as a general City permit, or as a rule excluding every nonparticipant from the entire Mall.

Verified legislative history: the September 25, 2025 Council minutes, pages 24–26, record adoption of the noise amendment, including a conditional ambient-noise provision determined by designated officials. It is not an unconditional permission to exceed a limit. The 2026 walkway amendment and controlling map remain provisional; consult Licensing for current rules.

Salem’s standing portable-sign ordinance prohibits portable signs in the public right-of-way on October 31. See section 4-60(f)(3). Any broader 2026 seasonal order must be checked separately; last year’s weekend dates and removal procedures have not simply been shifted forward.

For sign applications and review, contact Senior Planner Stephanie Owens — sowens@salem.com;
978-619-5685. Use the City’s sign-permit information. A-frames, merchandise, dining furniture and temporary window art are different questions; do not assume one approval covers them all.

Keep accessible routes and entrances clear. Ask Planning about any additional seasonal restrictions or guidance for your particular display.

The Chamber and Salem Police are continuing the program in 2026. The 2026 participation protocol is written for participating restaurants; other businesses should check eligibility with the Chamber.

• Participating establishments sign on to the program and display its signage.
  
• Train managers, bartenders, wait staff and door/security staff in the process, and designate the contacts who receive program notices.
  
• The manager contacts Police when problems develop. Police issue and enforce the orders; staff should not physically remove the person themselves.
  
• The protocol describes exclusion for at least six months and coordination across participating establishments. Follow the Police process for an additional order at your own establishment; do not improvise a blanket ban.
  
• Contact the Chamber at
  
• 978-744-0004 about enrollment.
  

View and print the yellow One Strike sign →

Prepare staff to respond calmly, avoid arguments or physical confrontation, and call Police about threats, blocked access or other conduct requiring assistance. Give factual descriptions of what is happening and where. Refer questions about public-space rights, private-property boundaries and no-trespass enforcement to the appropriate officials; staff should not be asked to make legal determinations from this guide.

Keep emergency exits usable and follow the premises’ approved safety plan. Do not repeat last year’s categorical claims about filming, protests, loitering or weapons as current legal instructions.

The City’s September 17 notice identifies weapons bans among planned safety measures. Use the City/Police’s current approved safety notice for the full scope and enforcement guidance.

The September 22 restaurant meeting is scheduled for 10–11 a.m. at Salem Police Station, 95 Margin Street. Salem restaurant, café and brewery owners/managers are invited; send a manager or supervisor if the owner cannot attend. This is the next source for detailed October instructions. Prepare a plan for stopping new queues, communicating with waiting customers, ending patio service and securing furniture without blocking routes.

Use the final written Police/Licensing instructions for applicable queue, service and patio deadlines. Provisional forum times and the 2025 police letter are not a final 2026 operating directive.

• Regroup emergency alerts — use Salem’s current enrollment instructions. This replaces the old CodeRED reference.
  
• My Salem MA — the City’s app for news and updates. Download for iPhone / iPad or Android. Enable notifications; confirm the app is allowed to display them on your phone.
  
• Destination Salem app — visitor information, parking updates, restrooms, events, shops and restaurants. Available for iOS and Android.
  
• SeeClickFix / Report an Issue — non-emergency City service and infrastructure reports. It is not an emergency dispatch channel or a substitute for a time-sensitive call.
  
• Passport Parking — payment and session reminders at participating City parking locations. Check the zone, license plate, time limit and posted restrictions before paying.
  

Check notification settings before October, especially if you did not receive recent alerts. Keep the City notice and department contacts bookmarked. The guide does not claim push notifications are the only channel the City will use.

HauntedHappenings.org • Salem.org • City of Salem • October parking • parking map and rates • rail timetable • restroom locator • Marketplace visitor information.

• Replace outdated restroom signs with Destination Salem’s QR-only restroom poster. Keep a readable link beside it and test the printed QR before displaying it.
  
• Ensure staff can access alerts, the current guide, the closure notice and visitor resources. Post emergency and routine reporting numbers where staff can find them.
  
• Review evacuation procedures, entrances/exits, accessible paths and the designated shift lead. Check crowd-manager coverage if your premises falls within the state requirements.
  
• Confirm staff parking and return travel. Include relief staff, late shifts and the October 31 garage lockout.
  
• Plan stock, food, maintenance and waste collections around closures. Do not assume your normal delivery driver can reach the door.
  
• Coordinate queues and outdoor furniture with neighboring businesses and the applicable City instructions.
  
• Keep customers informed about hours, reservations, entrance access and travel options. Correct outdated listings and links before sharing them.
  

Emergency/crime in progress: 911. Non-emergency Police assistance:
978-744-1212. Routine licensing: Beth Rennard / Licensing. Marketplace coordination: John Andrews. Nonurgent infrastructure: SeeClickFix. Ongoing quality-of-life concerns: Community Impact Unit.

Tell staff which channel to use and who will follow up. A sent email or online report is not confirmation that an urgent concern has been addressed.

At each shift change, share common visitor questions and any confirmed changes to access, facilities or availability. Keep the source and time with the update, and recheck information that can change during the day.

• Brief staff on the current October 24–25, October 30 and October 31 notices; prepare for closures to begin earlier than expected.
  
• Arrange staffing with extra travel time and a workable closing/return plan. Use a buddy system where practical.
  
• Review the final restaurant/queue instructions when issued and communicate any change at every shift handoff.
  
• Secure outdoor furniture and displays according to the applicable instructions; avoid placing stored items in exits or pedestrian routes.
  
• Check the weather and your business’s contingency arrangements. Keep current customer messages ready if access or operating hours change.
  
• Coordinate with neighboring businesses, while checking that shared information comes from the current official notice.
  

Open the live restroom locator or Destination Salem app and check the current location and availability. Help the visitor identify a usable route; do not direct them solely from an old printed sign.

Keep a short list of nearby options suited to different needs and budgets, using current Salem.org/app listings. Check hours, reservations and kitchen service before promising availability. Explain that queues and access may change on the busiest evenings.

Use the City parking map and MBTA timetable. Explain that spaces are limited, resident-only restrictions apply and no City October shuttle is operating. On October 31, the Salem MBTA garage cannot be entered or exited 6 p.m.–1 a.m. Check return service before suggesting a trip.

Mark nearby options on a current map or pull up the Destination Salem app. Confirm the business is open and describe an accessible route when needed.

Use official visitor information for publicly accessible locations. Respect residential privacy: do not direct crowds to Max and Dani’s private house or onto private property. Explain that access to buildings and grounds may be limited.

Refer visitors to Destination Salem’s Information Center at 245 Derby Street or a staffed information booth when operating. Ask what assistance is needed rather than assuming. Check current entrance, restroom and route information; event barricades can change an otherwise familiar route. For immediate safety or medical needs, call 911.

Show visitors Destination Salem’s free-activities guide. Ask about their available time and mobility needs before suggesting a route. Check access and hours; a stop along a free walking route may still require admission.

Check the actual date in current calendars and confirm availability with the operator. Offer more than one option, including food, performances and activities around Derby Street and the waterfront where appropriate. Do not promise walk-up tickets or shorter waits.

Ask what visitors want to do and how much time they have. Give a landmark along with the street name; mark their current location and known parking spot on the map. Check routes and accessibility rather than assuming every destination is a short walk. Offer several suitable businesses and distinguish personal experience from information you have not checked.

Congress Street at Shetland Park → left onto Derby Street → right onto Central Street → left onto Front Street → right onto Washington Street → right onto Essex Street Pedestrian Mall → left onto Washington Square → Salem Common.

The notice gives approximately 4–9:30 p.m. for road closures and warns of earlier parking enforcement and barricade staging. Affected corridors include Congress, Derby, Washington, Essex, Central, Front and Washington Square. Route 1A through the parade area is affected; the notice’s two paragraphs describe different limits, so consult the live notice and Police for the approach you intend to use.

The detailed list includes Congress between Harbor and Derby; Derby between Congress and Lafayette; Front Street; Essex between North and Hawthorne; and Washington between New Derby and Bridge. These do not create authorized detours. Allow for traffic on Routes 114 and 1A and nearby streets.

• Congress, both sides, Derby–Harbor: barricade staging may begin several days earlier; follow posted restrictions.
  
• Essex, Hawthorne–New Liberty: parking ban begins noon.
  
• Essex, Washington–Hawthorne: no deliveries after 10 a.m.; the City states no exceptions.
  
• Central, both sides, Charter–Derby: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  
• Derby, both sides, Congress–Lafayette: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  
• Front, both sides, Washington–Lafayette: parking ban begins 7 a.m.
  
• Washington Square, both sides, Essex–Brown: parking ban begins 2 p.m.
  
• Metered spaces at Charter/Front/Central: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  
• Washington, both sides, Lynde–Front: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  
• Front Street lot: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  
• Essex, Barton–Washington: parking ban begins 10 a.m.
  

The source’s Front Street segment is reproduced as written. Use posted limits and the current notice rather than interpreting this list as permission to park elsewhere on the route.

South Harbor Garage: the notice says vehicles cannot exit until approximately 9:30 p.m., with no exceptions. Confirm the start of this restriction before parking.

Museum Place Garage: entrance only from Church or St. Peter; exiting vehicles turn left onto Brown and right onto St. Peter, according to the City notice.

At the September 18 forum, Police described a clearly marked pedestrian crossing gap planned for use during the parade. The location and accessible approach are not yet confirmed. Follow the designated crossing and staff directions; do not move or climb barriers. Do not reuse last year’s categorical “no crossing” instruction.

Published 2026 participant guidance: the Chamber’s parade page instructs marchers and floats to arrive by 5:30 p.m. Parking is allowed in front of Shetland Park; the rear/waterfront is reserved for parade assembly. Division positions and parking assignments will be sent to participants; diagrams are expected around September 24. Use the final Chamber assignments and current Police crossing instructions before travel.

• Complete deliveries within your street’s actual cutoff; the Essex 10 a.m. rule is earlier than the general road closures.
  
• Tell employees about parking bans, restricted garage exits and pedestrian crossing changes before they travel.
  
• Prepare for changes in customer circulation during staging and as the parade finishes. Published finish estimates vary; none guarantees street reopening. Follow Police directions and the current closure notice.
  
• Coordinate entrances, queues and outdoor displays with neighbors and the applicable instructions.
  
• Keep emergency contacts at hand and use 911 for emergencies. Consult the Chamber for final participant and volunteer guidance.
  

• No later than noon: downtown closes to vehicles; Police may close streets earlier.
  
• 6 p.m. October 31–1 a.m. November 1: no vehicle entry to or exit from Salem MBTA garage.
  
• 9:15–11:30 p.m.: Bridge Street closes between the westerly overpass ramps and Sgt. James Ayube Memorial Drive.
  
• 10:15 p.m.: planned closing drone show, replacing fireworks.
  

These are the City’s September 17 published planning times, not guarantees of access or reopening. A completed shift or closed register does not mean roads have reopened.

The City narrative lists Essex from Crombie to Union; Washington from New Derby to Bridge; Federal from St. Peter to North; Washington Square North and West from Essex to Williams; Brown from New Liberty to Washington Square North; Hawthorne Boulevard; Derby from Lafayette to Congress; Charter, Central and Front; and Lafayette from New Derby to Front.

The map and written notice disagree on some street coverage. Confirm the intended route with Police before arranging access.

Published Halloween plan: downtown live music is listed for noon–8 p.m. on October 31. The 2026 finale listing asks visitors to plan to leave by 10:30 p.m. as streets are cleared. Its 10–10:30 p.m. event window includes the City’s planned 10:15 p.m. drone show. Check current event notices for stage locations, accessible viewing and departure instructions.

The final restaurant directive will supply the applicable last-service, patio and queue deadlines. Prepare for changes based on crowd conditions and communicate the approved version to every shift.

Check the actual last train or return sailing before beginning the evening. Do not use 2025 departures. Encourage visitors to plan travel before crowds peak, dress for the weather and respect residents and neighboring businesses. Keep entrances and emergency routes clear as people leave.

Ready-to-use artwork: Destination Salem’s undated QR-only poster, supplied again in Kylie’s September 18 forum packet and identical to the copy already included here. The QR was verified September 18 and opens salem.org/restrooms/. Test a printed copy before posting; the live locator supplies changing locations and availability.

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PROVISIONAL REFERENCE: City chart 10062, checked September 18. Source conflicts remain; this does not establish delivery or vehicle access. Confirm current restrictions with Police. Open full-size City chart.

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PROVISIONAL REFERENCE: City map 10061, checked September 18. Source conflicts remain; do not use the numbered circles alone to assign closure times. Resident-only soft closures do not establish business access. Open full-size weekend map.

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PROVISIONAL REFERENCE: City map 10060, checked September 18. Source conflicts remain; confirm the intended route with Police before arranging access. Open full-size Halloween map.

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PROVISIONAL REFERENCE: Noise map supplied with the proposed 2026 walkway amendment. Final adoption, effective date and the controlling 2026 map remain unverified. Consult Licensing/Police for current guidance.

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Published reference: map page from Destination Salem’s currently linked Motorcoach Guide PDF, page 5, checked September 18. This is a group-transport map, not a guarantee of October access. Use it with the City’s current tour-bus permit rules, daily closure notice and posted signs. The PDF predates the new permit guidance. Confirm current parking and drop-off locations with Parking/Destination Salem; the PDF and web guidance differ.

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City interactive downtown parking map — use with current rates and restrictions. A static map does not establish space availability or event-day access.

Destination Salem visitor materials — current guides and maps are available through the information center at 245 Derby Street. The 2026 visitor-guide request page also offers a digital guide; check its current form and mailing terms.