10/31/2026
🎃🍺 Halloween in Roanoke looked a little different 110 years ago…
On October 31, 1916, Roanoke officially went “dry”, three years before national Prohibition.
At the time, the city had 28 saloons, many clustered around Salem Avenue and Second Street — just around the corner from our office at Salem Ave & 6th! 👀
Police increased patrols, Norfolk & Western reportedly gave employees their paychecks early so they could make their final purchases, and parents were encouraged to keep Halloween celebrations short and children indoors after dark.
So the next time you're on Salem Avenue, remember: our neighborhood once had a pretty wild Halloween history. 🍻🎃