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It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus! Visiting Salem in Massachusetts is a pilgrimage for anyone who grew up loving Hocus Pocus. If you’re a big fan of this Halloween classic, you probably know that many of the most iconic exterior shots were filmed right in Salem. Luckily, Salem is super easy to visit on a day trip from Boston. All this ’90s childhood nostalgia is just a train ride away! Take yourself on a self-guided tour with this list of Hocus Pocus filming locations in Salem.
This is your guide to all the quintessential Hocus Pocus filming locations in Salem.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations in Salem
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Thackery Binx’s Village
In the opening scenes of colonial Salem, the witches creep through the village where Thackery Binx sleeps to steal away his sister, Emily. These scenes were filmed at the Salem Pioneer Village, a living history museum built to represent Salem in the 1630s. You can tour the village on weekend afternoons, but if they’re closed you can still catch a glimpse of Thackery Binx’s home through the gate.
Location: Salem Pioneer Village, 98 West Avenue, Salem, MA
Town Hall
In perhaps the most iconic scene of the film, Winifred Sanderson puts the adults in a trance with her rendition of I Put a Spell on You. While the interior scenes of the party were filmed on a set in LA, the exterior shots are of Old Town Hall in Salem. This is one of the easiest sets to visit – you’re almost guaranteed to walk past it whether you’re looking for it or not. It’s right in downtown Salem near Essex Street.
Location: Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA
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Max & Allison’s School
“Welcome to High School Hell!” In the film, this was Jacob Bailey High School. This is where Max and Allison first meet in class and where they trap the witches in the kiln. Formerly an elementary school, Phillips Elementary, the building is now home to condominiums. But Hocus Pocus fans rejoice – the exterior still looks the same as it did in the film! This building is so strongly associated with Hocus Pocus that you’ll actually find it labeled on Google Maps as “Max Dennison School”.
Bonus: across the street is Washington Square (also known as Salem Common), which was also featured in the film. This is the spot where Max tried to flirt with Allison after school, and she very cunningly gave his own phone number back to him.
Location: 22-98 S Washington Square, Salem, MA
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Allison’s House
“Rich people. They’ll probably make us drink cider and bob for apples.” While trick-or-treating, Max and Dani are stunned when they come across this mansion that turns out to be the home of Max’s crush, Allison. In Salem, this is the Ropes Mansion, located in the Historic District downtown.
Sadly, when we visited in October the mansion didn’t have any fall decorations outside (seems like a missed opportunity, Ropes Mansion). So while you won’t get quite the same experience that Max and Dani did, you can still be “wowed” by the impressive exterior. Heads up – while you can tour the inside of the mansion, only the exterior was used for the film. The inside is beautiful, but it doesn’t resemble anything you saw in Hocus Pocus.
Location: Ropes Mansion, 318 Essex St, Salem, MA
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Max & Dani’s House
Is there an ’80s or ’90s kid alive who didn’t want that awesome tower in their bedroom like Max? I know I certainly did. To me, the Dennison house is one of the most recognizable and iconic representations of Hocus Pocus. So when I found out it’s a real house that’s actually in Salem, seeing this house in person went straight to the top of my bucket list. Much to my glee, it looks exactly the same as when Max lived there.
Please be extremely respectful when visiting. This is a residential home – not a tourist attraction. Keep your visit short, and be respectful of the property, homeowners, and neighbors.
Location: 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA
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Come, little children…
Just like the movie, the house on Ocean Ave is right across from Salem Bay. You might recognize this from the scene where Sarah flies over the bay, enchanting all the children in Salem. The Sanderson Sisters are also depicted flying over the bay up to the Dennison house to reclaim their book.
Bonus: The cemetery Max bikes through
Remember when Max rode his bike through the cemetery like a total legend before he was halted by bullies Jay and Ernie (I mean…Ice)? That took place at Old Burial Hill Cemetery in nearby Marblehead. While it’s not technically in Salem, it’s just a short 17-minute drive from downtown. Note, this is not the same cemetery where Max, Dani, and Allison go to hide from the witches and meet Billy Butcherson. Unfortunately, that cemetery was a set, so it cannot be visited.
Location: Old Burial Hill Cemetery, Marblehead, MA
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Day Trip Guide to Salem in October
No one does Spooky Season like Salem! Whether you’re visiting for the witchy history, the Halloween festivities, or because you’re a lifelong Hocus Pocus fan (or all of the above), October in Salem is a bucket list experience.
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A trip to Salem is exciting for a lot of reasons, but it’s particularly special for fans of Hocus Pocus. It’s so irrevocably tied with childhood Halloween nostalgia. You’ll find details all over town that remind you of the film (like the witch patches that Salem police officers really have sewn onto their uniforms).
Have any questions about Hocus Pocus filming locations that I didn’t answer here? Let me know in the comments below.
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