A Beacon Hill Halloween
Strolling the neighborhood to get into the Halloween spirit
by Angelica Vivas
As the leaves turn to gradients of red and orange, and the sweet smell of cinnamon circulates the air, Beacon Hill transforms into a magical realm—especially on Halloween. The Halloween season has crept up on Bostonians, with a chill and gusts of wind as a reminder of the spooky traditions we grew up with.
Aside from going through the Netflix roulette of horror movies, it’s difficult to embrace the holiday in its entirety. The charm of Beacon Hill’s cobblestone streets, historic brownstones, and gas lanterns cast an enchanting ambiance over the neighborhood, making it a worthy destination to get into the Halloween spirit.
Once the sun goes down, the picturesque streets of Beacon Hill are adorned with seasonal decorations that make the streets come alive. Orange and purple lights gleam in private alleys, illuminating the decked outdoor fronts of ghost blow-ups, hanging bats, and jack-o’-lanterns. Life-sized skeletons hunch over, smoke machines fog up the street, and suspenseful music subtly reaches ears.
On Halloween, the Beacon Hill Civic Association closes several streets from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., creating a safe atmosphere for locals to trick-or-treat.
Halloween night is flooded with people—and furry friends—going all out in their creative costumes. Homeowners sit at their stoops handing out sweet treats, sometimes full-sized, to people of all ages.
Some residents take a more whimsical route by delivering candy to locals from elevated floors with a pulley system, pulling and letting down a rope with a plastic cauldron attached to the end. Don’t be too surprised when you’re met with a fake spider attached to the end of the rope instead—it’s not always sweet treats.
The spooky yet friendly atmosphere is not limited to the residential streets of Beacon Hill. Storefronts also celebrate the holiday with cobweb decorations hanging on their signs, black cats in witch hats, and skeletons holding a pumpkin bowl filled with candy.
Halloween in Beacon Hill is a place you won’t regret visiting, tapping into the spooky magic of the holiday. Whether it be the days leading up to the holiday or the night itself, strolling through Beacon Hill is a new Halloween tradition you must try.
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