Finding the perfect way to celebrate Halloween is no easy task, especially in a city like Boston that offers everything from costume contests to haunted houses. From finding the perfect costume to getting in just the right mood for this most haunting of holidays, we at the Daily have uncovered the best of the best to meet all your Halloween needs.
Finding a costume is undoubtedly the first step to having an unforgettable Halloween. If you're more into the hands-on approach to costume design, your ultimate destination is the Garment District. Located conveniently off the Kendall Square T-stop, you'll find all sorts of secondhand vintages wares. You can find all the supplies you will need to transform yourself into a 1920s flapper girl or Madonna from the '80s. Even better than the selection is the price - of all your costuming options, the Garment District is the least likely to take a big bite out of your savings.
Venture into Chinatown and you'll discover Boston Costume, a boutique devoted to transforming you into a space alien, a fuzzy monster, or Dracula. Whether you're looking to go traditional ? la evil witch or something more sweet than spooky, Boston Costume will help you figure out what you want to be, because - let's face it - some of us still don't know what we want to be for Halloween even though the holiday is less than a week away. Once you've been inspired, you'll find everything you need to help you to achieve your vision. You can take the easy route and rent one of the shop's ready-to-go costumes like a belly dancer or Zorro, or you start from scratch and hunt through the massive offering of costume trimmings like face paint, bunny tails, and jeweled crowns. At Boston Costume, it's all about whatever floats your boat.
While their costume selection may not be as impressive as Boston Costume's, Dorothy's Boutique definitely wins first prize when it comes to accessories. This downtown shop has everything from wigs to fake eyelashes to gold platform shoes. Your imagination (and your wallet) is the limit here. You can spend upwards of $40 on vinyl boots, or save your cash and buy smaller but necessary accessories like feather boas and fangs.
Now that you've found the perfect costume, it's time to get in the Halloween spirit. Unless you live under a rock (or don't watch television), you know that Spooky World is the biggest and spookiest Halloween attraction in the Boston area. Located at Foxboro Stadium, this haunted theme park has six haunted houses, three Halloween museums, and a historical Chamber of Horrors among its chilling offerings, all of which are designed to basically scare the pants off anyone who dares venture into the realm of Spooky World. The theme park is a combination of indoor and outdoor attractions, so the weather is always a factor. But as their website points out, " 'other' rains add to the atmosphere!" Nothing like a little drizzle to up the spook factor.
To experience Halloween past and present, a quick trip to Salem will prove to be more than worth your while. With so many stops to make in this historically spooky town, you can start off with the intriguing and work your way up to the seriously scary. Salem's Haunted Village is made up of several attractions. Start your exploration at The House of Seven Gables, the oldest mansion in New England that inspired author Nathaniel Hawthorne. While it may not be Salem's scariest spot, it will get you acquainted with the town's haunting history. Of equal historical value but somewhat more spooky is the Salem Wax Museum, where prominent figures from the Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692 such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and those accused of witchcraft themselves are brought to life through striking wax replicas. After you've become acquainted with the town's spooky past, make your way to the museum's basement and get your first taste of fright in Salem. Visitors can venture through the dark twists and turns of the basement, where ghosts and ghouls of every variety are likely to lurk.
Hot apple cinnamon buns, the Haunted Village's prized treat, are the perfect way to recover from your adventures in the museum's basement. But don't let them slow you down. When your heart rate slows down and your breathing returns to normal, head over to The Salem Witch Village for a guided (and not haunted) tour by a practicing witch through the history of witchcraft. It should now be the perfect time for the Ghostly Candlelit Walking Tour through the haunted streets of Salem. Now Salem comes to life - everyone knows that the true ghouls come out after dark. The Haunted Witch Village is only for the bravest souls. The welcoming village you encountered upon your arrival is no more, having succumbed to the evil spirits and their wicked tricks.
After all your preparing and getting in the true Halloween spirit, it's finally Halloween. Time to don your costume and head over to Faneuil Hall to the annual Halloween Fun Run benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The run takes you around the Boston Common and over to The Rack for one of the wildest Halloween parties around. Costume prizes, raffles, and alcohol (of course) will make it quite a night for those of you who are uninhibited enough to travel on the T in your perfect costume.
Of course, you could always just be a kid, get your Halloween gear on, and go to door to door - trick-or-treating is the tradition of Halloween traditions. Everyone knows it just isn't Halloween without the candy.
