Witch City Broom Making Workshop in Salem

Salem sells plenty of ready-made witch souvenirs, but this workshop lets you make your own broom from the handle up. You choose the broomstick, broomcorn, colors, ribbons, charms, feathers, and other decorations, then learn how to wrap everything into a finished piece for your home or altar. I like the creative freedom and the calm, hands-on format. The main caution is timing: the scheduled 90 minutes may stretch much longer when the room is busy.

I also like that the price includes the basic materials and decorations, so you can personalize your broom without watching every charm turn into an extra charge. Instructors such as Shelly, Ashley, Stacy, Justin, and Hilary have earned praise for patient help. The workshop can feel less peaceful if children wait noisily nearby, and you need to find the workshop at 32 Derby Square, not the retail shop on Essex Street.

Key points to know before you book

• Choose nearly every visible part: Pick your own handle, broomcorn, color, ribbons, charms, feathers, and other adornments.
• Small groups help: The maximum group size is 12, with local instructors available to guide you through the wrapping and decorating.
• Budget $134.70 per person: The fee includes the broom materials and craft session, but not gratuity.
• Allow extra time: The advertised duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes, though one session took close to 2.5 hours from start to finish.
• Find the right address: Meet at 32 Derby Square. This is not the Witch City retail store on Essex Street.
• Plan your trip around the finished broom: The workshop wraps your broom for easier carrying, but shipping is not provided.

Making a Salem souvenir instead of buying one

The heart of this experience is simple: you do not walk into a shop, point at a broom, and pay for somebody else’s design. You build your own.

That difference matters in Salem, where witch-themed merchandise fills much of the downtown shopping scene. A handmade broom gives you a souvenir tied to your own choices. It can be playful, autumnal, Halloween-like, or more personal and symbolic, depending on the colors and decorations you select.

The workshop presents the broom as a craft item for your home or altar. You can attach charms and earthly elements with ideas connected to protection, good fortune, warding off evil, or turning away unwanted spells. You are free to treat that as spiritual practice, creative expression, or simply a fun Salem keepsake.

I especially like the fact that the basic decorating choices are part of the experience. You choose a handle, broomcorn, adornments, and color without being pushed toward one fixed design. That gives you room to make something that looks like yours rather than a standard souvenir.

Choosing the handle, broomcorn, and color

The first stage is selecting the materials that set the broom’s shape and mood. You choose the broom handle, then pick the broomcorn that forms the sweeping end. The available materials can lead your design in different directions before you even add a ribbon or charm.

The handles have been described as good quality, and the broomcorn comes in colorful options. That is useful if you want something brighter than the usual natural straw. You might choose a traditional brown and neutral arrangement, or build a broom with a clear Halloween, fall, or fantasy look.

The color selection is one of the workshop’s strongest features because it gives you control over the finished object. A guest can make a dark, dramatic broom, while another person at the same table can create something soft and seasonal. The finished pieces do not need to match.

This is also where a little patience helps. The workshop is not a paint-by-numbers project with one correct result. You are making design decisions as you go, and you may change your mind after seeing the handle and broomcorn together.

Adding ribbons, charms, feathers, and personal meaning

Once the main materials are gathered, you decorate. Ribbons, feathers, flowers, charms, trinkets, and other small elements can change the broom from a simple craft into a personal display piece.

The decorations support several styles. You can make an overtly witchy broom with charms and dark colors, create a fall-themed piece, or use lighter colors and florals for something that works all year. One especially useful detail is that different people in the same group can follow completely different ideas.

The instructors help with both the practical and symbolic sides of the process. They show you how to attach charms and earthly elements, and they can explain how people use those items for protection, luck, good fortune, or repelling unwanted spells. You do not need to arrive with a firm spiritual plan. The activity is designed for creativity as much as intention.

Supplies may not always feel perfectly organized. One person found the selection of charms, ribbons, and other add-ons a little limited and untidy. That does not appear to spoil the activity, but if you have a very specific design in mind, keep an open mind and use the available materials as part of the creative challenge.

Learning the wrap from Shelly, Ashley, Justin, and the team

Wrapping the broom is the practical skill at the center of the class. The instructor guides you through gathering the broomcorn and securing it to the handle, then helps you attach your decorations so the finished piece holds together.

This is where the small group size earns its keep. With no more than 12 people, instructors can check your work and help when the wrapping becomes awkward. Names that have come up in connection with strong instruction include Shelly, Ashley, Stacy, Justin, Hilary, Amy, Emily, Diane, Mykaela, and Samantha. Staff can change, but the pattern is clear: the teaching team is central to the experience.

You do not need advanced craft skills. The instructors explain each stage, offer practical help, and let you work at your own pace. Several sessions have been described as unrushed, with staff stepping in when someone hit a snag.

That said, do not assume every class will finish in exactly 90 minutes. The official duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, but one session lasted nearly 2.5 hours after everyone completed and wrapped their brooms. If you have a Salem walking tour, dinner reservation, or train to catch, leave a generous buffer.

What the 12-person group size means

A maximum of 12 participants keeps this from feeling like a large demonstration. You sit with other people making their own designs, while the instructors move around the room to answer questions and show techniques.

That format works well for solo visitors, couples, family groups, and friends. Solo participants can work independently while still having help close by. Couples and friends can compare designs without needing to make matching brooms. Families with creative teenagers may find the activity especially rewarding because the instructors can offer hands-on guidance without taking over.

The atmosphere depends partly on the people sharing the room. The workshop is intended to be relaxed, and the staff try to preserve that setting. A limited seating area is available for one or two people, but children cannot be left unattended in the waiting area. One comment also raised concern about children playing and yelling nearby during a session.

That is worth taking seriously if you want to focus on intention, quiet crafting, or detailed decoration. Parents should plan to stay with children, and everyone should understand that the workshop space is not a general waiting room.

Is $134.70 a fair price?

At $134.70 per person, this is not a bargain souvenir stop. You are paying for more than a broom. The fee covers the instructor-led class, your selected handle and broomcorn, adornments, color choices, material gathering, wrapping instruction, and the finished piece you take home.

I think the price makes the most sense if you value the process as much as the object. A ready-made broom may cost less, but it does not give you 90 minutes or more of creative work, personal choices, and instruction. The result also carries a memory of your Salem visit that a shelf item may not.

The value is stronger for people who enjoy making things. If you dislike crafts or mainly want a quick photo and a finished souvenir, the cost may feel high. If you want a distinctive activity that breaks up Salem’s sightseeing and shopping, the workshop offers more substance than another retail purchase.

Gratuity is not included. You should also account for transportation or shipping if you cannot carry the broom home. The workshop wraps completed brooms to make them easier to handle, but it does not offer a shipping option. One person reported that taking a broom to UPS led to almost $200 in packaging and shipping costs. If you are flying or have limited luggage space, think about that before booking.

Finding 32 Derby Square without a wrong turn

The meeting point is 32 Derby Square, Salem, Massachusetts 01970. This is important because the workshop is not held at the retail store on Essex Street.

The activity begins and ends at the same meeting point. It is near public transportation, and one family found parking nearby. Another person had trouble locating the correct place and needed help from Viator by phone, so arrive early enough to get your bearings.

Do not rely only on the shop name when walking through Salem. Use the Derby Square address and confirm that you are heading to the workshop location. This small bit of planning can prevent a rushed start, especially during Salem’s busy tourism periods.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and the experience is listed as suitable for most participants.

When to schedule the workshop in your Salem day

The broom class works well as a mid-day pause between Salem’s major sights. You can spend the morning exploring the historic center, take a break for the workshop, then continue with museums, shops, or dinner.

Still, the timing needs care. The average booking is made 59 days ahead, which suggests that popular dates can fill well before arrival. This is particularly important if you are visiting during Salem’s busiest autumn period.

Book the workshop early in your planning, but do not place a tight activity immediately afterward. Use the stated 90 minutes as a minimum planning point rather than a firm end time. A 2.5-hour session is not guaranteed, but it has happened, and each person may spend a different amount of time selecting and attaching decorations.

If your group includes serious crafters, expect them to take their time. The relaxed pace is part of the appeal, but it can make the schedule less predictable.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the workshop most strongly to:

• People who want a handmade Salem souvenir
• Visitors who enjoy crafts and design choices
• Couples and friends looking for a shared activity
• Families with creative older children or teenagers who can participate properly
• Solo visitors who like small-group classes
• Anyone interested in witchcraft symbolism, charms, or personal intention

It is also a good choice for a girls’ trip or a birthday outing. Each person can make a different broom, and the finished pieces provide a natural reminder of the day.

I would be more cautious if you have very limited time, dislike hands-on activities, or need the broom shipped home. The workshop is not a quick retail purchase, and transporting a large craft item can become expensive.

The finished broom and getting it home

At the end, you have a custom broom decorated according to your choices. Staff wrap it so you can carry it more easily around Salem. That is a thoughtful practical touch, especially if you plan to continue sightseeing afterward.

The broom is still an unusual item to pack. The workshop does not provide shipping, so you need to carry it yourself or arrange shipping through another company. The reported UPS cost was nearly $200 once packaging and postage were included, so ask yourself how the broom will get home before you commit.

If you live nearby or are driving, this is less of a problem. If you are traveling by air, measure your luggage plan in advance and keep the packaging issue in mind.

Cancellation and booking details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. The class accepts mobile tickets and is offered in English.

The group maximum is 12 people. There is limited seating for one or two people, but children cannot be left unattended in the waiting area. Most participants can take part, and the meeting point is close to public transportation.

My verdict: book it for the making, not just the broom

The Witch City Broom Making Workshop is one of Salem’s better choices when you want to do something rather than simply buy something. Its best qualities are the hands-on design, the wide range of decorations, the patient instruction, and the chance to leave with a souvenir that reflects your own taste.

Book it if you can spare at least 90 minutes, preferably more, and if you enjoy creative work. Schedule it early during a busy Salem visit, use the Derby Square address, and plan how you will transport the broom afterward.

Skip it if you need a tightly timed itinerary or a simple shipped souvenir. For everyone else, the workshop offers a playful, personal way to take a little of Salem’s witchy spirit home.

FAQ

Where does the Witch City Broom Making Workshop meet?

The workshop begins and ends at 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970. It is not held at the retail store on Essex Street.

How long does the broom-making activity last?

The listed duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Plan for extra time because one session took nearly 2.5 hours, including finishing and wrapping the brooms.

How much does the workshop cost?

The price is $134.70 per person. Gratuity is not included.

What materials can I choose?

You can choose your own broom handle, broomcorn, adornments, and color. Decorations include options such as ribbons, charms, feathers, florals, and other trinkets.

How many people can join the workshop?

The activity has a maximum group size of 12 participants.

Is the workshop suitable for children?

Most participants can take part, and creative teenagers have received help from the instructors. Children cannot be left unattended in the waiting area, and the workshop asks participants to preserve a relaxing atmosphere.

Is shipping included for the finished broom?

No shipping service is included. The finished broom is wrapped for easier carrying, but you must take it home yourself or arrange shipping separately.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.