Meet Salem’s Busker Community

Salem’s buskers and roaming performers bring creativity, personality and memorable moments to October. We’re helping visitors get to know the people behind those characters.

Creative Collective’s Haunted Happenings Marketplace performer program is a voluntary community initiative. The program requires agreement to a shared Code of Conduct built around respectful interactions, consent and keeping public access clear. Tips for roaming performers are always optional.

This initiative is run by Creative Collective and is not an official City of Salem program. Roaming participation does not reserve a performance spot or provide a fixed schedule. These community profiles introduce the performers; program participation and any bookings are confirmed separately.

Read about the program and shared Code of Conduct.

Get to know the performers

Tickles the Clown

Tickles the Clown is a Maine performer with more than 40 years of experience bringing magic, juggling and balloons to family audiences. Tickles has performed at fairs, festivals and private events, as well as educational programs for libraries and schools. Magic, juggling and balloon work are all part of this family-friendly clown act.

Salem Ghostface

Salem Ghostface has been busking in Salem since 2023, bringing the familiar horror character to life with an iconic 1990s-style phone and authentic Ghostface lines. The act combines character encounters, visitor photos and humor, with Billy Loomis as its inspiration.

Persephone of Salem

Persephone of Salem is a ghoul of many faces, bringing mythology, horror and glamour together through costumes and characters. The Queen of the Underworld is at the heart of an act built around transformation and shared character encounters.

Shared creativity. Shared respect.

  • Ask before photos or interactions, and respect a no.
  • Keep sidewalks, entrances and accessible routes clear.
  • Tips are voluntary. Enjoying an interaction never requires a payment.

This is a starting point for discovering the community, not a complete list of Salem’s performers. Participation in this initiative is voluntary.

Thank you to Salem Night Tour for supporting our busker program.