Thirty years after its release on July 16, 1993, Hocus Pocus remains a beloved cult classic, enchanting audiences with the comedic brilliance of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters. The film’s narrative, centered around the resurrected witches who initially cursed Thackery Binx into feline immortality and are brought back to life by teenager Max Dennison, unfolds against the atmospheric backdrop of Salem. As fans eagerly seek to immerse themselves in the movie’s magic, many wonder: Where Was Hocus Pocus Filmed? The answer lies in Salem, Massachusetts, and the neighboring town of Marblehead, offering fans a chance to walk in the footsteps of Max, Dani, Allison, and the infamous Sanderson sisters themselves.
Plan your bewitching pilgrimage to Salem and explore these key Hocus Pocus filming locations:
Pioneer Village / Salem Village: Thackery Binx’s 17th Century Home
Pioneer Village Hocus Pocus Filming Location
Located at 310 West Ave, PioneerVillageSalem.org, Pioneer Village served as the setting for the opening scenes of Hocus Pocus. This living history museum, established in 1930 as America’s first, vividly recreates a 17th-century Puritan village. It’s here that audiences first meet Thackery Binx as a human before he encounters the Sanderson Sisters and their curse. Pioneer Village provides a historical glimpse into the era depicted at the film’s outset. Open seasonally from June to September, with special October events, check their events calendar to align your visit with tours or spooky season activities.
Phillips Elementary School on Salem Common / Max & Allison’s School Exterior
Phillips Elementary School Salem Common Hocus Pocus Filming Location
Facing Salem Common, the now-closed Phillips Elementary School, which ceased operating as a school in 1992, provided the exterior shots for Max and Allison’s school in Hocus Pocus. While inaccessible inside, the building’s facade remains viewable from Salem Common, allowing fans to picture Max’s initial days in Salem and the unfolding Halloween night chaos. This location is a simple exterior view, evoking nostalgic schoolyard scenes from the movie.
The Ropes Mansion / Allison’s House: Halloween Party Grandeur
Ropes Mansion Salem Hocus Pocus Allison's House Filming Location
Situated at 318 Essex Street, PEM.org, the Ropes Mansion, owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, represents Allison’s grand residence. This stunning 18th-century home is famed for hosting the memorable Halloween party scene in Hocus Pocus. While the interiors were filmed elsewhere, the exterior and particularly its gardens, which are open and free to the public at the rear of the property, offer a tangible connection to the movie’s social scenes. Explore the gardens and imagine Max’s first foray into Salem’s high society, and his encounters with Allison.
Old Town Hall / Halloween Party: “I Put a Spell on You” Stage
Old Town Hall Salem MA Hocus Pocus Halloween Party Filming Location
Photo by Teresa Nevic Stavner
Located at 161 Essex Street, Salem.com, Old Town Hall in Derby Square is another iconic Hocus Pocus location. Though only exterior shots were captured here, this site is celebrated as the setting for the Halloween party where Bette Midler’s Winifred Sanderson famously performs “I Put a Spell on You.” Old Town Hall, open seasonally, also houses the Salem Museum and performances of Cry Innocent, offering a blend of historical and theatrical experiences. Picture the lively Halloween night and the Sanderson sisters’ captivating performance against this historic backdrop.
Salem Common: Outdoor Scenes and Salem’s Heart
Salem Common Hocus Pocus Outdoor Scenes Filming Location
Salem Common, central to numerous outdoor sequences in Hocus Pocus, is a must-visit. Close to other Salem attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum and the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem Common hosts various events, from the Salem Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival to the Salem Witches’ Magic Circle. Stroll through the Common and recognize settings from various scenes, feeling the pulse of Salem’s community and its cinematic history.
Old Burial Hill, Marblehead / Cemetery Scenes: Spooky Schoolyard
Old Burial Hill Marblehead Hocus Pocus Cemetery Filming Location
Located on Orne Street, Marblehead, MA, OldBurialHill.org, Old Burial Hill in Marblehead served as the daytime cemetery for Hocus Pocus, where Max encounters some unwelcoming classmates. Distinct from Salem’s Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery near the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Old Burial Hill’s historic gravestones and hilltop setting provided the eerie daytime cemetery atmosphere seen in the film. A short trip from Salem, it offers a quieter, yet equally atmospheric, Hocus Pocus site.
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery: Winifred Sanderson Immortalized
Old Burial Hill Marblehead Hocus Pocus Cemetery Filming Location
At 217 Essex Street, NightmareGallery.com, while not a filming location, Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery hosts a remarkable life-size figure of Winifred Sanderson. This cinematic monster museum, featuring creations from Hollywood SPFX artists, offers Hocus Pocus fans a chance to see Winifred up close. Find this museum in its new Essex Street Pedestrian Mall location and encounter movie magic beyond filming locations.
Visiting these sites allows Hocus Pocus enthusiasts to connect with the film on a deeper level, experiencing the real-world settings that brought the spooky tale to life. Explore Salem and Marblehead, relive your favorite movie moments, and maybe, just maybe, feel a little bit of movie magic in the air. Remember, while enjoying your Hocus Pocus tour, be respectful of these locations and don’t “run amok”!
