Nation’s Witch Capital Rallies In Face of Government Shutdown During Spooky Season

Jennifer Bowers Bahney Oct 25th, 2025, 3:55 pm

The nation’s “witch capital,” Salem, Massachusetts, is rallying to keep Halloween celebrations going for an expected one million visitors in light of the government shutdown .

Salem is the historic site of the infamous witch trials of the late 1600s that saw 19 people hanged, one man pressed to death, and at least five others sent to perish in jail.

“The recent government shutdown forced the closure of a Salem National Park Service Visitor Center and its bathrooms,” reported CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield , “and that’s when city leaders rallied to reopen the visitor center, with the community covering the costs.”

Whitfield spoke with Annie Harris , CEO

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