Salem, MA — Wicked New England, the Halfway to Halloween festival held at Old Town Hall in Salem, Massachusetts, returns for its second year on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is expanding beyond the hall for the first time, adding outdoor programming in Derby Square alongside the indoor vendor market and stage presentations. Tickets are on sale now at WickedNewEngland.info.
What's New for 2026
The inaugural 2025 event filled both floors of Old Town Hall with a vendor marketplace, stage panels from regional haunted attractions, and a photo op built by Barrett’s Haunted Mansion. For 2026, the footprint grows with the Derby Square addition, and the programming slate is noticeably larger. New additions include kids trick-or-treating from participating vendors (free for any child attending, with children four and under admitted free with a paid adult), a traveling museum from Heirloom Hallowe’en showcasing antique Halloween artifacts, and photo ops with BORAH! The Witch, who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” and the cast of “Hocus Pocus Live: An All New Parody Musical” from Summer Orlando Productions. Old Town Hall itself was used for exterior shooting in the original Disney film.
Stage Presentations
The stage lineup includes a DIY demonstration from Barrett’s Haunted Mansion (Returning), a discussion of family-friendly Halloween offerings from Halloween New England (Returning), tales from Wicked Ghost Hunters, a behind-the-scenes look at “Hocus Pocus Live,” and a mass wedding vow renewal hosted by Salem’s Black Hat Society.
“With the success of the first Wicked New England event in 2025, I want to continue to grow, celebrate, and shine a light on what New England has to offer during the Halloween season,” said founder and producer Jeff DePaoli. DePaoli produces the event under his depaolEVENTS label. The event is sponsored by Witch City Walking Tours and Witch City Broom Co.
Tickets and Event Details
General Admission includes access to all indoor festival activities. A VIP tier, new for 2026, adds a gift bag, event souvenir, and the option to take part in a future ghost hunting experience with Wicked Ghost Hunters. Derby Square offerings are open to anyone visiting Salem, with or without a ticket.
- What: Wicked New England Halfway to Halloween Festival
- When: Sunday, April 19, 2026, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Where: Old Town Hall and Derby Square, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970
- Tickets: WickedNewEngland.info
About Jeff DePaoli
DePaoli has produced and hosted “That Halloween Podcast” since 2020, interviewing celebrities and professionals from the Halloween and horror industries. He is a freelance writer and Southern California correspondent for Attractions Magazine, a segment producer for Midsummer Scream, and a contributing creative producer with Creep It Real OC. His credits also include co-producing the Spooky Kids Club exhibition at SugarMynt Gallery in South Pasadena, CA. DePaoli grew up in Woburn, Massachusetts, and produces Wicked New England under his depaolEVENTS label.
