Welcome to the first blog written on my new site, from my new site, for the first time under my own name - can you tell I'm excited about that - it's The Sarky Traveller. Whoop!
It feels like months since I told you about the wonder of Salem Massachusetts and the joys of a daytime jaunt. So now it's time to explore Salem by night and not just any night. It's the Saturday before Halloween and that can mean only one thing, the annual Halloween Ball at The Hawthorn Hotel.
Now for any Halloween freaks out there, this really is the place to go and not only for the ball. There are ghost walks and wicker group meetings and trick or treating and so much more: check it out at www.hauntedhappenings.org. This years month of Halloween festivities will be up on the site within the next couple of weeks, usually first week in August and you can plan your trip from there. There are plenty of free events as well as ticketed events. Book well in advance to avoid a major hissy fit if those tickets are gone.
The ball at Hawthorn Hotel is renowned and as I can vouch, people come from around the world to attend. Early bird ticket specials are available now. Here is a link to the website and ticketing:
http://www.hawthornehotel.com/Halloween
For 2013 the ball will be held on Saturday 26th October and it sounds like a great theme: Nightmare on Hawthorn Boulevard. (I'm already thinking of costume ideas, despite the fact that I won't be there. *cries in the corner*
Get your early bird tickets now for $78.00 (normally $90.00). It's completely worth it for a night of unlimited food, complimentary photo session, entry to three floors of bedlam and mayhem and of course your complimentary souvenir t-shirt on leaving. (Great to sleep in ladies as they are huge!) And I might add, the price is the same as last year, so no increase and extremely good value!
There are hotel packages available but I just checked and most of this years are sold out. Check out air b'n'b for lodging in the close vicinity and there are plenty of bed and breakfasts and hotels in the centre if you have a higher budget. We stayed around twenty minute walk from the centre which was great actually, as taxi's weren't going into the centre anyway. Too much macabre craziness for their liking. Besides walking there covered in white make-up is much more fun.
Costumes are of course essential and being America, people go all out! So prepare to really think about it. This is not a cobbled-together-at-the-last-minute costume, this is a we've-been-planning-this-for-months themed costume ball with cash prizes for winners of the fancy dress competition. Need inspiration? Check out the Hawthorn Hotel archive, for photos from the last four balls. (You may recognise me - or not - from photos 111 and 112 with a crazy leprechaun, from 2012: Solstice of Souls.)
Oh, I must mention of course that you must be over 21. They I.D everyone on the door! Bars serve pretty much anything - including local beers - and there are several bars spread out over the three floors. Bars only take cash so make sure you have plenty on you. Psychics are there at an additional price and the band HUSH will take you through the night with a mixture of spooky classics and recent/cheesy pop and dance. The band are in the main ballroom, with other rooms having separate DJ's, spinning all manner of tunes. There are plenty of chill out places for those moments where you can't dance another step and the food (included in your ticket) is available all night (perfect for those midnight munchies) and is frequently replaced and added to. It's sort of like a hot buffet, lots of mini things, nibbly things and plenty of vegetarian stuff as well as meaty stuff. I was shocked how good the food was and it was great that you could just go back as and when you pleased, but they also had people coming around with plates too.
All the rooms are decorated and there is usually big competition between the decorators, as to whose room will be the spookiest. My advice is to stay in character because I did and people were literally videoing me. I was a doll and so I was dancing in this really wooden way, a vacant stare in my eyes. It definitely drew attention. You have to feel it. Be your character. There were some amazing costumes that night and sadly I never made it up on that stage for a costume prize, which I think I was quite annoyed about at the time, being slightly drunk, but I think you've read enough now, it's time for some photographs.
In the ballroom
Looking down on the ballroom
The band: HUSH
Chilling area
Even the bookshelves get in the spirit.
Making friends with the props.
Chill zone.
Awesome costumes.
Obligatory creepy pumpkins
Electric fun.
An interesting walk home.
There is such a great vibe in Salem. It's a lot like Camden. (Camden, UK, not Camden ME, which I will get to in a later blog.) Anything goes.
If, like me, you have no idea if or when you will be there again, you have to do the ball. It is fantastic! I mean, to be around all those dressed up people and to not see one hen party or stag party (bachelor or bachelorette party) is, well 1) it's incredible because in Britain the moment you see a group in fancy dress you instantly know there will be some sort of blow up doll or huge penis shaped balloon or something. And 2) It's refreshing. Everyone there for the same reason, enjoying the festivities and being someone else for a night! Just people watching and enjoying other people's costumes can take up half your night. And the age range as well; because it's 21 plus, you're not partying with kids. This is definitely one for the adults, enjoying the night and showing off some truly amazing costumes.
It's just a great vibe, a wonderful setting (if I ever return and have the money I would love to stay at The Hawthorn Hotel) and I give a big shout out to the organisers and staff that made it a truly memorable night. We might have been two Brits from over the pond but that night we belonged.
Thank you Hawthorn Hotel. Thank you Salem.
Planning a trip on the East Coast this Autumn (Fall), check out Salem Massachusetts and hauntedhappenings.org.
The Sarky Traveller
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