Halloween is the special time of year when the shades of the dead whisper from forgotten places and spirits walk among us. The Witches of Salem honor this time with Festival of the Dead, an annual event series that explores death’s macabre customs, heretical histories, and strange rituals. Presented by Salem Warlocks Christian Day and Brian Cain hosted by the foremost authorities on the spirit world, Festival of the Dead beckons guests to step through the veil into a realm where spirits await.

Schedule of Events:

11:00 am - 1:30 pm: The Mourning Tea: Remembering the Dead

Salem Witch Angel Griffin for a 3-course High Tea in grand Victorian tradition. Don your finest mourning attire and celebrate the lives of your dearly departed as you share stories of your loved ones who have passed, add photos and mementos to our Salem Witches' Book of the Dead, enjoy live music and poetry, and receive messages in the tea leaves!

Hearken back to the lush and extravagant mourning traditions of the Victorian era, when widows wore black dresses for years and the hair of the dead was carried in cherished mourning lockets when music filled the air with sweet sorrow as the resident bards of the long black veil recited odes to the somber beauty of Death's final waltz. This venerable ritual comes to life at the Mourning Tea in Salem.

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6:30 pm - 9:00 pm: The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead

Join the Salem Witches in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Hawthorne Hotel as we honor the dead with a dinner observed in utter silence. Salem Warlocks Christian Day and Brian Cain invite you to a banquet of sumptuous cuisine where the only sound heard is music chosen in memory of the departed. Bring photos and mementos to summon the souls of your loved ones on the other side as you partake in the most solemn of all the ceremonies of Witchcraft. The Dumb Supper is an ancient tradition where the dead attend the living for a magical night of communion!

The evening opens with a blessing where each attendee is guided through the veil between the worlds to the realms of the dead where no one living may speak. Participants place their photos and mementos on an elaborate altar, at which time they are then seated and the feast is served.

Each year, the spirits have manifested in a variety of ways. Guests have recalled a ghostly touch, the scent of perfume, whispered messages, and even physical manifestations. This is a solemn event where respect for the dead is crucial. By remaining slient, you open your heart and mind to those who have crossed over. Menu for the Evening In keeping with tradition, the courses of The Dumb Supper are served backwards and the placement of everything down to the silverware is reversed as a means of weaving participants into the shadowy world of spirit. This menu is subject to change.

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