Salem Haunted HappeningsSalem
all of October
Salem's whole month of Halloween with the witch museums, haunted houses and street performers, and it's the city's 400th birthday this year. Weekdays are way calmer than weekends.
Fall in Boston and Salem5 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Haunted Happenings Grand ParadeSalem
Thursday, October 1 at 6:30
The parade that kicks off the month, with floats, marching bands and hundreds of people in costume.
Halloween Night Drone ShowSalem
Halloween night
A 400 drone light show over the river for Salem's 400th anniversary.
Topsfield FairTopsfield
October 2 to 12
A big old fashioned country fair north of Boston.
King Richard's FaireCarver
weekends, September 5 to October 25
A renaissance faire on fall weekends, the kids can dress up for it.
The little stuff, by town2 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
Fall in Salem
Haunted Happenings Marketplace
weekends, September 26 to November 1
Vendor booths all over downtown on October weekends.
Howl-o-ween Pet Parade
Saturday, October 10
Dogs in Halloween costumes on the wharf, the kids will love it.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Boston and Salem2 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows. Edaville sells out on weekends, so get tickets early.
Boston Common Tree LightingBoston
the first Thursday in December, 6 to 8 (last year Dec 4) · check the date
The big tree is a gift from Nova Scotia every year, and when it lights up the whole Common and Public Garden light up with it.
Edaville Festival of LightsCarver
Friday to Sunday from the day after Thanksgiving through late December · check the date
One of New England's oldest Christmas traditions, with steam train rides, skating, carriage rides and Santa.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Boston
Martin's Park Ship Lighting
the Saturday after Thanksgiving at 4 · check the date
The wooden play ship gets lit up and Santa arrives by boat, made just for little kids.
Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting
the Saturday before Thanksgiving · check the date
A 30 foot tree between Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, and Santa comes.
Christmas in Canton
Winterlights at the Bradley Estate
select nights late November into early January · check the date
Lights and music outside among the trees, just south of the city.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Boston and Salem fall and Christmas questions
When is Salem Haunted Happenings in 2026?
All of October 2026, starting with the Grand Parade on Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 and ending with a drone show on Halloween night.
When is the Topsfield Fair in 2026?
October 2 to 12, 2026.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.