ABSTRACT
As an important part of tourism, festivals and events are often considered an effective tool for a host community that makes efforts to enhance local tourism, using historical or cultural themes to attract visitors and create an image in the community setting. This chapter discusses impacts of festivals and events on residents and visitors, focusing on a particular case, the Halloween-themed Haunted Happenings, a month-long city festival in Salem, Massachusetts. The City of Salem, also known for its rich maritime history, was once one of America’s most affluent and significant ports. Historic buildings and other evidence of the city’s affluent cultural heritage during the seventeenth century can still be seen. Adding this history onto Salem’s infamous witch trials in 1692 and linking it all to Halloween creates the total image of this witch city. In fact, the City of Salem has become the most popular place in the United States to celebrate the Halloween season. This chapter reviews the various impacts of the Haunted Happenings, such as economic benefits, social concerns, and efforts to maintain environmental sustainability, from the community stakeholders’ perspectives. This chapter also suggests considerations necessary when planning and organizing festivals in a local community.
