Before it Begins - How Do You Avoid Haunted Happenings Traffic in Salem?

Haunted Happenings 2013 kicks off Thursday with this year's Grand Parade through Salem - which means city residents should prepare for swarms of seasonal tourists and the usual downtown traffic tie-ups. 

So, before the madness officially begins, we want to know - what are your tips for getting around Salem this time of year? 

Do you recommend a specific route through the city? Is the secret simply getting on the road early enough to avoid traffic?

Let us know in the comments section below and we will add any suggested routes to the interactive map above.

We've pinpointed some known problem areas in red.