Disney has just announced a release date for its sequel to its beloved Halloween classic: Hocus Pocus 2 will officially stream on Disney+ starting September 30!
It’s been a long 25 years since the spooky flick starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy debuted, but luckily we don’t have to wait much longer for a follow-up!
Now that a new group of teens are set to light the black-flamed candle and unleash the witches on modern-day Salem, there’s no better time to revisit the original film.
If you’re a Hocus Pocus mega fan, you may even be tempted to visit the original filming locations to stoke your nostalgia to the max before the new installment.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a guide to where the first Hocus Pocus was filmed.
Note: International Hocus Pocus fans should be aware that the majority of these locations are in the northeast United States, so they might need a visa or travel authorization to visit. Check here for further information.
Hocus Pocus Filming Location Guide in Anticipation of the New Movie
Where Was Hocus Pocus Filmed?
The filmmakers behind the original Hocus Pocus went all-in for authenticity and most of the exterior scenes were shot on location in the setting for the story: Salem, Massachusetts.
For those not in the know, the original film told the story of the wicked Sanderson sisters (Milder, Parker, and Najimy), three kooky witches in colonial Salem who were burned at the stake for attempting to steal the souls of local children.
Before they went up in flames, they vowed to return for revenge if a virgin ever lit their enchanted black-flamed candle.
Unfortunately for Salem, 90’s teen Max decided to do just that for a prank, leading to the resurrection of the witchy sisters.
Max then had to team up with his crush Allison to stop the cackling hags from sucking the soul out of his little sister Dani.
While the plot sounds pretty dark for kids in hindsight, the movie has become beloved for its campy comedy and endearing characters.
But a large part of the film’s success came from the spooky production design and authentic New England locations, many of which you can still visit in real-life, historic Salem.
Need a history lesson? Salem, Massachusetts has a long history of witchcraft. Most notably, the Salem Witch Trials occurred here from 1692 and 1693.
Hundreds of people were accused of witchcraft and ultimately more than a handful were executed because of it. The whole town is witch-themed, for the local high school athletic team is called the Witches.
All of the Hocus Pocus daytime scenes were shot in Salem! As you can see, there are a lot of ties between the witches of Hocus Pocus and Salem, Massachusetts. 
Hocus Pocus: Salem Location Guide
Hocus Pocus was filmed in the fall of 1992. The crew made use of many locations in the real Salem around Halloween time, meaning far less work for the set dressers!
Several iconic scenes in the movie were shot right in the middle of historic Salem, such as Max and Allison’s after-school meet-cute in Salem Common, also known as Washington Square.
The nearby abandoned Phillips Elementary School was used as a stand-in for the film’s Jacob Bailey High School.
While the building has since been converted into an apartment complex and is not readily accessible, several other historic sites used in the movie are freely open to the public.