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Holiday Crafts & Witch Workshops | The Witchery – Salem, MA
Create magical holiday gifts at The Witchery, Salem’s premier folk arts studio on historic Pickering Wharf. Founded in 2016 by Gret McGilvray, this woman-owned, queer-friendly workshop space offers hands-on crafting experiences blending traditional folk arts with magical elements. Located at 86 Wharf Street in downtown Salem, Massachusetts, The Witchery welcomes crafters of all skill levels for broom making, leather bookbinding, spell jars, wreath making, and more—perfect for unique holiday shopping and memorable experience gifts.
Holiday Workshops & Magical Crafting
Salem’s original broom making and bookbinding studio offers workshops where visitors create one-of-a-kind gifts rather than simply purchasing souvenirs. Expert instructors guide participants through traditional techniques using high-quality materials with endless customization options.
Broom Making Workshops let participants craft rustic witch’s brooms from natural sorghum and wooden handles. Each workshop includes materials—straw, stick, twine, three charms—with optional add-ons like dried flowers, bones, crystals, and blessing bottles. Available in small, medium, and large sizes for holiday décor or meaningful gifts.
Leather Bookbinding Workshops teach traditional techniques for creating personalized grimoires and journals. Crafters etch custom designs into leather covers and add charms, bones, or crystals. Perfect holiday gifts for writers, artists, or anyone appreciating handcrafted books.
Spell Jar Workshops guide participants in creating intention-filled jars using crystals, herbs, and natural ingredients focused on love, protection, prosperity, or abundance—thoughtful gifts carrying wishes for recipients.
Seasonal Workshops include pentacle wreath making, charm casting, and other magical crafts. Craft Witch DIY Sessions at 102 Wharf Street offer drop-in, self-guided crafting. Kits-to-Go ship nationwide with complete instructions and materials for at-home crafting.
Visit The Witchery in Downtown Salem
Primary Workshop Location: 86 Wharf Street, Salem, MA 01970 Daily workshops for broom making and bookbinding
Additional Locations: 61 Wharf Street: Private events, tarot readings, Tarot Cabaret performances 102 Wharf Street: Craft Witch self-guided DIY sessions
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed: Mondays & Wednesdays
All workshops require advance registration at thewitcherysalem.com. Located on Salem’s scenic Pickering Wharf waterfront with free two-hour parking (limited) and additional metered parking throughout downtown. Walking distance from commuter rail and major attractions.
The Witchery Story & Community Impact
Founded in 2016 as a performance space by Gret McGilvray (performer Gretchen Wylder) and partner Bruce Malley, The Witchery evolved from intimate theatrical shows into Salem’s comprehensive folk arts program. Gretchen, fresh off winning the Spookies Award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 for her one-woman show “2025 Salem Witch Trial,” combines professional acting, tarot reading, and performance artistry with traditional craft instruction.
The studio expanded internationally with Wheel of Fate, a sister shop in Edinburgh, Scotland, offering broom making, bookbinding, and fiber arts. This woman-owned, queer-friendly space supports LGBTQ+ youth through NAGLY, environmental conservation via Salem Sound Coastwatch, animal welfare through Northeast Animal Shelter and North American Wolf Foundation, and The Salem Pantry. The studio sponsors Massachusetts Poetry Festival and donates 100% of “leather by the pound” proceeds to charitable causes.
Beyond workshops, The Witchery offers professional tarot readings and Tarot Cabaret—live multimedia performances exploring tarot through music, dance, theatre, and poetry, concluding with group readings. Performance spaces accommodate private events for up to 28 people.
Planning Your Holiday Visit
Gift Certificates: Available online at thewitcherysalem.com—perfect for last-minute gifts allowing recipients to choose workshops.
Private Events: Groups of 8+ can book workshops for parties, celebrations, or team building.
Workshop Duration: Most run 1.5-2 hours with ample instruction and customization time.
Booking: Initial payment reserves spots; upgrade sizes or add accessories during workshops.
Contact Information: 📍 86 Wharf Street, Salem, MA 01970 📞 (339) 203-1307 📧 gret@thewitcherysalem.com 🌐 thewitcherysalem.com 📱 @thewitcherysalem
Don’t just buy holiday gifts—make them at The Witchery, where workshops create treasured memories and magical keepsakes.
About Holiday Happenings Salem
The Witchery is proud to be an I ❤️ Holidays sponsor of Holiday Happenings, Salem’s premier holiday shopping and events guide. This initiative brings together the best of Salem’s local businesses, holiday events, and seasonal experiences in one comprehensive platform to help residents and visitors celebrate the season in historic downtown Salem.
Holiday Happenings is supported by Website Sponsors Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry and Witch City Walking Tours, along with Social Media Sponsors Salem Wax/The Lost Library and Salem Night Tour/Wynott’s Wands, and our Holiday Helper, Supporting, and I ❤️ Holidays Sponsors who make this community initiative possible.
This initiative is co-organized by Creative Collective—Salem’s premier event production and marketing agency—and Salem Main Streets, a nonprofit dedicated to downtown revitalization. Together, we’re creating the cohesive holiday marketing platform that Salem’s business community has been asking for.
Holiday Happenings is produced in partnership with Destination Salem and the City of Salem, ensuring that locals and visitors alike can easily discover all that Salem has to offer during the most magical time of year.
Explore More Holiday Happenings:
Supporting local businesses and community celebrations.
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