Witch City Broom Making Workshop in Salem

Salem has no shortage of witch-themed souvenirs, but this workshop lets you make your own broom, rather than grab one from a shelf. You choose the handle, broomcorn, colors, ribbons, feathers, charms, and other small decorations, then learn how to wrap and finish the broom with help from the instructors.

I like the calm, creative pace, and I like that the materials are included rather than parceled out as paid extras. The small maximum of 12 people also means instructors such as Shelly, Ashley, Stacy, Justin, and others can give hands-on help. The main thing to watch is timing: the advertised 90 minutes can stretch closer to two and a half hours when everyone is finishing and wrapping a broom.

Key details before you book

• You build a real take-home souvenir: Choose the handle, broomcorn, colors, and decorations, then leave with a broom you made yourself.
• The materials are included: Charms, ribbons, florals, feathers, and colorful broomcorn can be added without an extra charge.
• The setting is small and personal: The class has a maximum of 12 participants, with instructors helping you through each stage.
• The meeting point matters: Start at 32 Derby Square, not the retail store on Essex Street.
• Plan extra time: The stated duration is about one hour and 30 minutes, but finishing and wrapping can take longer.
• Your broom may be awkward to carry: The staff wraps finished brooms for easier transport, but there is no workshop shipping option.

Making a Salem souvenir with your own hands

The appeal here is simple. You are not just buying a witch’s broom in Salem. You are making a decorative object with your own choices built into it.

That changes the souvenir from a piece of merchandise into a small craft project. You decide if your broom feels dark and witchy, bright and playful, seasonal and autumnal, or more like a personal altar decoration. The available colors and adornments give you room to make something that fits your home instead of looking like every other Salem purchase.

The workshop also works well as a break from Salem’s busy downtown streets. You get a seat, a work surface, and time to focus on one task. This is especially useful during a packed day of museums, historic sites, shops, and Halloween-themed attractions. The broom becomes both an activity and a souvenir.

The class is not built around a long lecture. Its heart is the making. Instructors explain how to assemble and wrap the broom, then help you as you work. If you are not naturally crafty, that support matters. You can arrive with only a rough idea and develop the design as you look through the materials.

Choosing the handle, broomcorn, and color

The first creative decision is the broom handle. You choose your own rather than receiving a standard piece selected in advance. The handle gives the broom its basic shape and character, so take a moment before settling on one.

Next comes the broomcorn, the bundle of natural material that forms the sweeping end. Colorful broomcorn is available if you want something less traditional. This is where your broom can move away from the familiar Halloween look and become more decorative or seasonal.

You also gather the other materials you plan to use. The included selection can contain ribbons, feathers, florals, charms, trinkets, and other small adornments. Some pieces lean toward classic witchcraft imagery, while others can support a fall-colored or more general decorative design.

I like that the supplies let each person work at a different level. You can keep the broom fairly simple, or spend time building up layers of color and decoration. The class does not force every broom into the same pattern. That freedom is a big part of the value.

One practical point: the arrangement of the smaller charms and accessories may not always feel perfectly organized. If you have a particular color or symbol in mind, ask the instructor what is available before you commit to the rest of your design. Stock and selection can change.

Wrapping the broom and adding its meaning

After choosing the main materials, you learn how to wrap the broom securely and attach the decorative pieces. This is the part where instructor help is most useful. Ribbons and broomcorn need to be held in place while you work, and the final wrap gives the broom a finished look.

The workshop also presents charms and earthly elements through traditional magical meanings. You can choose items intended to represent protection, good luck, good fortune, or defense against unwanted spells. You do not need to treat the process as a formal spiritual practice. You can approach it as folklore, personal symbolism, or simply a fun Salem craft.

That flexibility makes the class suitable for a mixed group. One person may create a broom for an altar, another may want a Halloween decoration, and someone else may just want an unusual wall hanging. The instructors can help you turn those ideas into a finished object.

The work is hands-on, but you are not left to figure out every step alone. Past sessions have included instructors named Shelly, Ashley, Stacy, Hilary, Mykaela, Justin, Diane, Emily, and Amy. The most consistent strength of the teaching is patience. You have time to ask for help, fix a loose section, or reconsider a decoration without being pushed through the process.

A small class with room to make your own choices

The maximum group size is 12. That is large enough to create a friendly class atmosphere, but small enough for the staff to move around and help people individually.

This matters more than it might sound. Broom making involves several small decisions, and you may want advice on balance, color, or how to attach an adornment. A crowded class with little instructor access would weaken the experience. Here, the format is designed for personal attention.

The pace is another strong point. You are not expected to rush through the decorations. The class allows time for browsing supplies, building the broom, and making changes. That relaxed rhythm is part of why the activity suits families, friends, couples, solo visitors, and creative teenagers.

There is limited seating for one or two people in the waiting area. Parents should take the waiting rule seriously: children cannot be left unattended there, and the workshop asks that the space remain quiet and pleasant for people who are crafting. If your group includes children who are not taking part, plan accordingly.

How long the workshop really takes

The official duration is approximately one hour and 30 minutes. That is a reasonable target for the teaching and construction itself, but you should not book a tight appointment immediately afterward.

One session reportedly took close to two and a half hours once everyone had finished and the brooms had been wrapped. That longer time is not necessarily a flaw. It suggests that people are given room to decorate carefully instead of being stopped at a fixed minute. Still, the difference matters if you have dinner reservations, a train to catch, or another timed Salem activity.

I would allow at least two hours in your day, and more if your group tends to deliberate over colors and charms. You can enjoy the class more when you are not watching the clock. The broom is meant to be personal, so the final decorating stage may take longer than the basic instruction.

The finished brooms are wrapped to make them easier to carry around town. That is helpful if you plan to continue sightseeing after class. The workshop does not offer a shipping service, though, and one participant found that arranging shipment independently through UPS could cost nearly $200 once packing and postage were included. If you are flying home or traveling light, think about how you will transport the broom before booking.

What the $134.70 price includes

At $134.70 per person, this is not a bargain-bin souvenir stop. The price makes more sense if you value the activity as much as the finished broom.

Your fee includes the handle, broomcorn, adornments, color choices, ribbons, and the instruction needed to assemble the broom. There are no listed extra charges for the included charms and decorations. You are paying for materials, the guided craft time, the small-group format, and a finished object that you designed.

That compares favorably with buying a decorative broom and booking a separate Salem activity, especially if you enjoy making things. The value is weaker if you only want a ready-made prop and have no interest in the process. In that case, a shop purchase may be quicker and less expensive.

The strongest value comes for people who want a souvenir with a story. You can remember which handle you chose, how you built the colors, and which symbols you attached. That personal connection is hard to get from a mass-produced item.

Gratuity is not included. A tip is optional, but it can make sense if an instructor spends extra time helping you solve a tricky wrapping problem or shape a design.

Finding 32 Derby Square in Salem

The workshop begins and ends at 32 Derby Square, Salem, Massachusetts. Do not head to the retail store on Essex Street, since the class is held elsewhere.

This distinction is important in a compact city where several witch-themed businesses are close together. Check the address before you leave your hotel or arrive in Salem, and allow a few extra minutes to get oriented. One person had trouble finding the meeting point and needed help locating the correct spot.

The location is near public transportation, and parking is available nearby. The activity returns to the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup or navigate to another part of Salem afterward.

The experience uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. English is the offered language.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this workshop for:

• Craft-minded visitors who prefer making a keepsake to buying one.
• Friends and couples looking for a relaxed shared activity.
• Families with participating older children or teens who can focus on the project.
• Solo visitors who want a creative class with support from instructors.
• Salem fans who want a decorative object tied to the city’s witchcraft identity.
• Visitors taking a slower day between more demanding sightseeing stops.

Creative skill is not required. The instructors guide you through the process, and the materials give you plenty of ways to make the broom your own. You should enjoy it even if your design begins as a vague idea.

I would hesitate if you have very limited time, dislike crafts, or need to travel immediately after the activity. I would also think twice if you cannot comfortably carry a long decorative broom for the rest of your trip, since shipping is not arranged by the workshop.

What the strongest praise gets right

The best part of this experience is the staff. Names that come up repeatedly include Shelly, Ashley, Stacy, Justin, Hilary, Mykaela, Diane, Emily, and Amy. The important point is not any one instructor, since staff assignments can change. It is the pattern of patient, friendly help.

The teaching style appears especially useful when a group has different levels of confidence. A first-time crafter can ask for help with wrapping, while a more artistic person can make independent choices. Teens have also been able to take part with patient guidance.

The second major strength is the freedom to personalize. The brooms are not identical because people choose different handles, broomcorn colors, ribbons, florals, feathers, and charms. Even a fall-themed broom is possible if traditional Halloween colors are not your style.

The third is the lack of pressure. You have time to make decisions, and the staff does not treat the class like a fast assembly line. That said, this same relaxed pace explains why you should leave a generous block of time.

Is the Witch City Broom Making Workshop worth booking?

Yes, if you want an activity rather than just a souvenir. The workshop gives you a creative project, friendly instruction, included materials, and a finished broom with personal meaning. It is one of the more hands-on ways to connect with Salem’s witchcraft theme without spending the entire day in a shop.

Book it as a planned part of your schedule, not as a quick stop between timed attractions. Meet at 32 Derby Square, budget two hours or more, and have a plan for carrying the finished broom. If those details work for you, the $134.70 price can be justified by the instruction, materials, and one-of-a-kind result.

FAQ

Where does the broom-making workshop meet?

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

How long does the workshop last?

The stated duration is approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Some sessions may take closer to two and a half hours after decorating and wrapping are finished, so leave extra time.

What is included in the price?

The price includes your broom handle, broomcorn, adornments, color choices, materials, and instruction for crafting your own souvenir broom. Gratuity is not included.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum of 12 participants.

Can I customize my broom?

Yes. You can choose the handle and broomcorn, then add ribbons, charms, florals, feathers, trinkets, and other decorative elements. Colorful materials are available.

Is the workshop suitable for children?

Most participants can take part, but children should not be left unattended in the limited waiting area. The workshop asks that the space remain calm for people taking the class.

Can the finished broom be shipped?

The workshop does not offer an option to ship the broom. You will need to carry it with you or arrange shipping independently.