The Springfield Museums Announces a Season of Spells and Spectacle: Witch Panic!, Spellbound, Moonlight Magic & Halloween at the Museums

SPRINGFIELD, MA — This fall, the Springfield Museums invites visitors to explore the intersection of history, folklore, science, and family fun with a slate of programs designed to enchant audiences of all ages. Inspired by the special exhibition Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem, the season includes hands-on activities, a Halloween celebration, an original planetarium show, and docent-led tours.

“We are looking forward to celebrating the fall season with our visitors,” says Larissa Murray, Director of Education. “Whether it’s digging deeper into local Springfield history, understanding the night sky in a new way, or celebrating Halloween in a fun and engaging environment, October will be memorable at the Museums!”

Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem
On view through November 2
Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History
Before the infamous Salem Witch Trials, fear gripped the small settlement of Springfield. This exhibition, the largest ever mounted since the museum opened in 2009, uncovers the story of Mary Lewis Parsons and Hugh Parsons, accused of witchcraft in 1651. Visitors step into a 17th-century courtroom, examine testimony, and weigh the evidence themselves. Younger visitors can explore the folklore surrounding witches, like their association with broomsticks, black cats, and cauldrons, and the evolution of witches in popular culture.

• Docent-Led Tours: Offered Saturdays in October from 12-2 pm. Guides provide deeper insights into the Parsons case, the community tensions at play, and the legacy of witchcraft accusations.

Moonlight Magic: Astronomy through a Witch’s Eye
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm; limited engagement through November 2
Seymour Planetarium, Springfield Science Museum

This live planetarium show bridges the mystical and the scientific. Astronomy staff guide audiences through the night sky, blending scientific explanations of moon phases, planetary movement, and celestial patterns with the symbolic interpretations used in witchcraft traditions. Additional fee.

Spellbound
Saturday, October 4, 10 am–5 pm
A daylong celebration of magic, history, and imagination, Spellbound transforms the Museums into a hands-on festival of witchy fun. Families can mix “potions,” craft grimoires, and test their knowledge with “Which Witch is Which?” trivia. Free with museum admission.

Halloween at the Museums
Saturday, October 25, 10 am–5 pm
Costumes are encouraged at this family-favorite celebration! Kids and families can enjoy trick-or-treating in the galleries, face painting, bubble magic on the Quadrangle, and seasonal crafts. Free with museum admission.

Witch Panic! is sponsored by New England Public Media and St. Germain Investment Management; and supported by Springfield Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.

MassMutual is the season sponsor of the Springfield Museums.

SpringfieldMuseums.org, One Admission/Five Museums, including the one and only Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.
Parking is always FREE

About The Springfield Museums
The SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in the heart of downtown Springfield, MA. Reaccredited in 2023 by the American Alliance of Museums (only 3% of the nation’s museums earn this distinction), the Smithsonian-affiliated consortium of museums includes the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, and the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the world’s only museum dedicated to the beloved children’s book author and Springfield native.

Hours
Monday-Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm

Advance tickets are strongly encouraged. Please visit the Tickets page.

The Hanmer Museum Store
Monday-Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm

Smoked BBQ @ the Blake House Café
Monday-Sunday 11am-3 pm.
Smoked, the 413’s BBQ food trailer, is now serving in The Blake House Café! In addition to the barbecue fare of the day, soups, salads, and sandwiches, coffee, tea, pastry, and muffins are also available. Check out the daily menu at the Café and in the Welcome Center.