Hawthorne’s Halloween Bash
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT 7 P.M.
Nathaniel Hawthorne invites you to his Halloween Bash; an exclusive costume party to celebrate the spooky season. Dress up in your Halloween best as you wander the gardens of The House of the Seven Gables. This is more than just a party; it’s an immersive journey into the heart of Salem’s literary and haunted legacy. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night! Nothing is more magical than an October evening on The Gables’ seaside campus.
Tickets are $180 each for the public and $150 each for Gables members. Special tickets include access to Rappaccini’s Parlor, a VIP experience that includes special absinthe cocktails, exclusive opportunities, as well as a swag bag! Tickets for Rappaccini’s Parlor are $230 for the public and $200 for Gables members. Become a member to receive the discounted price and other great benefits!
Mr. Hawthorne awaits…
MEET THE HOST
Our host for the evening, Nathaniel Hawthorne (born July 4, 1804, Salem—died May 19, 1864, Plymouth, NH) is one of the greatest fiction writers of 19th-century American literature. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism A master of the allegorical and symbolic tale, he remains best known for the novels The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851).
MEET MISTRESS HIBBINS
In The Scarlet Letter, Mistress Hibbins is a widow who lives with her brother, Governor Bellingham, in a luxurious mansion. She is commonly known to be a witch who ventures into the forest at night to ride with the “Black Man.” Her appearances at public occasions remind the reader of the hypocrisy and hidden evil in Puritan society.
MEET FEATHERTOP
Feathertop is a seventeenth century New England scarecrow made by the witch Mother Rigby in a Hawthorne short story. She is so taken with her own handiwork that she decides to bring the scarecrow to life for a day. He is given a pipe lit with coals from Hell that Feathertop must puff to keep himself alive. He woos the daughter of a judge, but when he sees his true self in a mirror, he deliberately throws away his pipe and collapses in a lifeless heap.
MEET HOLGRAVE
Holgrave is a mysterious young man who boards in one of the Pyncheon house’s seven gables. He is secretly a descendant of Matthew Maule, who had been hanged as a wizard. He works as a daguerreotypist, using an early photographic process. You will find Holgrave indulging in his interest in photography in the gardens of The Gables – stop by and have your picture taken!
MEET HESTER PRYNNE
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne gives birth to an illegitimate child and refuses to identity the father of the child. Hester’s refusal creates conflict between her and the community of Boston, who treat her as a sinner and an outcast. She is marked with a red letter A to symbolize her adultery.
MEET THE MAIDEN OF MERRY MOUNT
In The May-Pole of Merry Mount, Edith celebrates her marriage to Edgar. They dance around a may-pole and are described as resembling forest creatures. Their festivities are interrupted by the arrival of John Endicott and his Puritan followers. Endicott cuts down the may-pole and orders that the people of Merry Mount be whipped, but spares the newlyweds.
MEET THE BAND
Do you dislike the flavor of wax lips? Throat sore from cackling like a phantom? Well… don’t lose your head! Haunting can be daunting… and to be frank; a pain in the neck! This season leave all the ghoulishness to that maniacal minstrel… Doctor Gasp! Beneath the mask of this phantom is a New England folk musician Dan Blakeslee with his unique bag of all original songs of Halloween oozing with vampires and ghastly creeps.
Blakeslee’s songs are a throwback to old-time cult horror themes, giving nods to Bobby Pickett (Monster Mash), Alfred Hitchcock, John Zacherle and the cavernous voice of Paul Frees. Each October the unexpected spectacle Doctor Gasp rises from the shadows delivering an earful of eerie for the young, old and immortal!
DRESS CODE AND INSPIRATION
This is a costume party! You may wish to come as someone from Hawthorne’s world or choose to select a costume completely unrelated. It’s part of the fun and coming together in full costume makes it an unforgettable evening. There will be a costume contest!
Other costume guidelines:
- There is a dance floor, but there are also grassy areas so we recommend not wearing heels.
- No real or fake weapons
- For safety and security reasons, masks and face paint that cover the entire face are not permitted. However, small face masks for health purposes or small costume masks that leave the eyes, nose, and mouth visible are acceptable.
- Please avoid attire that is excessively revealing, politically charged, or features offensive language, symbols, or graphics. No culturally insensitive costumes. Costumes or clothing that can be interpreted as offensive or inappropriate are not allowed.
Gallery
The Hawthorne Museum
The Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, built in 1750 and occupied by Hawthorne’s immediate family from 1801-1808, recalls the early days of Hawthorne’s life. Hawthorne lived in this house from his birth until after his father died at seas when he was four, after which his family moved in with relatives. In 1958, the house was moved from nearby Union Street to its present location on the House of the Seven Gables National Historic District campus. Hawthorne’s Birthplace rests just across from the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, the house made famous as the setting for one of his most enduring works, The House of the Seven Gables.
The House of the Seven Gables is raising funds to create a new exhibit in the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace that will inspire new generations of readers to discover this classic American author. The exhibit will feature original Hawthorne artifacts from our collections and archives, as well as interactive multimedia experiences. We will explore how Hawthorne’s hometown of Salem influenced his work; how he helped shape American horror and science fiction writing; and how his themes still resonate in the present day. Attending Hawthorne’s Halloween Bash is just one way you can bring this project to life! Proceeds of the event benefit the re-imagining of the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace.
2025 Event Photos by Jacquie Valatka and Aidan Cheetah • Promotional Art by Julia Wacker