What are the BEST Magic Shows (in Boston) for 2024?

Posted: December 1, 2024

Boston is full of both history and mystery, and is chock-full of great magic including Paul Gertner, Four Handed Illusions and the Salem Haunted Magic Show for starters. From Paul Revere and the Freedom Trail, to the oddities of the Market Museum and the debunked seances of Margery the medium, Boston has a lot to offer to both history buffs and magic fans alike.

In Boston, you'll find all things pilgrim to prestidigitation, Harvard to Houdini, and clam chowder to card tricks. It is full of American history, swanky schools, good food, and magic. So if magic is what you are looking for in Boston, you've come to the right place for the list of the Best Magic Shows in Massachusetts.

ALL Boston Magic Shows TODAY

Conjuring the Spirit World - Art, Magic, and Mediums

Peabody Essex Museum, Salem MA
East India Square, 161 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970

Thursday through Monday

Explore the essential role art and objects played for mediums and magicians “communicating” with the dead during the 19th- and 20th-century Spiritualism movement in the U.S. and Europe — a time when people actively debated and wondered, "can spirits return?" See paintings, posters, photographs, stage apparatuses, costumes, film, publications and other objects that will transport visitors to the age of Harry Houdini, Margery the Medium, Howard Thurston, and the Fox Sisters, among others. Catch a magic show on Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm during the exhibition.

Age Restriction: All ages
Paul Gertner

Omni Parker House
60 School St
Boston, MA 02108

Select Saturday Nights

Paul is a world-champion sleight-of-hand expert who has been on Penn and Teller's Fool Us a record-breaking three times, fooling them twice! Paul has also won three first-place awards including two close-up magician of the year awards from the Magic Castle in Los Angeles. His 75-minute show Miracles and Other Deceptions is an evening of close-up magic that will have you shaking your head in amazement. Book one of 10 VIP seats at the front of the house and you will be given the opportunity to be part of the action. The seating is extremely limited to only 32 seats.

Show Duration: The performance is 75-minutes long.
Food and Drink: There is no food or drink during the show, but you can enjoy food and appetizers at the Parker Bar in the hotel before the show.
Age Restriction: Recommended for ages 13+, the show is designed for an adult audience.
Parking: Paid parking either at the hotel or nearby garage.
The Salem Haunted Magic Show

St. Peter's Church Hall Theater
24 St. Peter Street
Salem, MA 01970

September through November

Each year Salem Screams and the Salem Haunted Magic Show present a new show just in time to celebrate the spookiest time of year, right around Halloween. Each show is created around a hauntingly scary theme, such as asylums or phobias or the circus sideshow. Expect lots of audience participation as this is an interactive theatrical experience. This show is geared toward teens and adults and is not suitable for children due to the fright factor, these shows are rated PG13.

Show Duration: The performance is 75-80 minutes long with no intermission.
Food and Drink: No outside food or drink allowed. Concessions available at box office including popcorn, candy, water, Snapple and surprise goodies. No alcohol available in the venue, no outside alcoholic drinks may be brought in at any time.
Age Restriction: There are no age restrictions, however it is recommended for teens and adults only. Parental discretion is advised.
Parking: Nearby parking garages.

Four-Handed Illusions

Hampshire House
84 Beacon St
Boston, MA 02108

Select dates

Join illusionists Joel Acevedo and Steve Kradolfer as they present an intimate evening of magic and wonder. Arrive early for the pre-show reception in the Baker Bar for cocktails and drinks and then enter the library where you will be delighted by these two master magicians. Items will vanish, teleport and be transformed, minds will be read and general tom-foolery will be on hand. At 2 hours and 15 minutes, this show gives you a lot of entertainment value. You must be 21 years and older and cocktail attire is required.

Show Duration: The performance is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long, with a 15 minute intermission.
Food and Drink: The event starts with a pre-show reception in the Hampshire's House Baker Bar 30 mins before the advertised show time. There will be a vast selection of cocktails and beverages available for purchase.
Age Restriction: Ages 21+
Parking: Valet parking or nearby garage.
Boston Magic Lab

Rozzie Square Theater
5 Basile Street #2501
Boston, MA 02131

Monthly Shows

This 'pay what you want' open mic magic show is a great deal! Pay a little or pay a lot, you will get a different show each month, as local magicians come to try out their new stuff. Sometimes things don't always go as planned (or hoped), but you will have lots of fun regardless. Join the six talented artists and magic enthusiasts who created the magic lab, as they bring you a lab unlike any other. No stuffy science experiments here. Just fun, laughs and hopefully some magic!

Show Duration: The show is approximately 1.5 hours long.

Magic Shows in Boston: The Wicked and the Wayward

Boston and magic history — From left to right: W.D. Leroy, Houdini's publication debunking Margery the Medium, Jonathan Harrington

The United States really started in Boston, Massachusetts. A key location for the forming of America, Boston was founded by a group of religious-freedom seeking puritans looking for a land so far away England would stop bothering them. This group of uptight puritanical Puritans did important things to build up the city, but things of a mystic or magical nature were deemed unholy, satanic and just really bad; worthy of a proper shunning. This didn't stop the magic.

Sadly, the war on magic struck a homicidal fervor with the belief that witchcraft was running rampant among the female citizens of the city. While Salem was the epicenter of the witch trials and subsequent executions, Boston also joined in on the witch hunts. Women with too much knowledge, opinions, or who had the bad fortune of using bad grain for baking--causing quite the acid trip--found themselves on the tippy-top of a burning pile of wood. Magic wasn't just scandalous and forbidden but practicing anything resembling magic was a certain death sentence.

Thankfully, small-minded ideas were replaced by a more cosmopolitan view and the witch trials eventually ceased. As Boston grew into the early center of government and commerce, people from across the globe traveled to the city sharing ideas as well as money. Entertainment venues rose in prominence and the exotic illusions from far away lands filled audiences with awe and wonder. Replacing the hate for magic and the apparent evils it caused was the Market Museum. Ten parts oddity and one part mercantile, this unusual business combination appealed to the crowds who wanted to be wowed, scared and who needed to buy a little cement on the side. The exhibits ranged from the bizarre to the fanciful to the magical, with phantasmagorical performances, all surrounded by wax figures to really give people the creeps.

In the early 1800s Jonathan Harrington introduced his brand of illusion as well as ventriloquism to audiences around the Boston area. Described as comical, mysterious and magical, Harrington gave performances at notable theaters amusing and astounding as he went. In the late 1800s magic schools became popular in Boston among those trying to become illusionists. W.D. Leroy offered courses at his school teaching students how to escape handcuffs and other restraints. Leroy even had Harry Houdini as a customer, the latter wishing to buy several escape acts from Leroy. Leroy even created the Magic Mystic Fraternity for magicians, working to further the good name of reputable magicians.

As time marched on, so too did the entertainment value of magic shows in Boston. Smaller clubs feature talented performers who wow and make the audience laugh. Indeed, from a rocky beginning, Boston has truly come to embrace magic.

PAST Boston Magic Shows

Matt Roberts

Leather City Common
53 Lowell St.
Peabody, MA 01960

Matt presents Levitation, Mindreading and Comedy Magic, Direct from 42nd Street in New York. This all ages show has a little bit of everything for everyone. There's magic, sleight-of-hand, mentalism and even a twist on one of Houdini's famous tricks. These matinee shows are 80 minutes long and will have you both ooohing and aaahing and laughing out loud. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and his quick wit and spontaneous style have earned him accolades and entertainment opportunities.
Ivan Amodei

Boston Park Plaza
50 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116

Ivan's show Intimate Illusions takes you on a journey into life's greatest mysteries, accompanied by live cello music. The musical muse brings to life Ivan's quest to explore the human condition. Each artful vignette is thoughtfully created, weaving stories and magic throughout. This show has a blend of audience participation and storytelling. Ivan is bringing his spellbinding show to Boston for the holiday season. Don't miss this mood provoking show.
Champions of Magic 1

Emerson Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St.
Boston, IL 02116

Some of the UK's finest magicians have come together for a funtastic, spectoramic, super magical show. Forget Mary Poppins... this is eye-popping stuff and tons of fun for the whole family. The magic spectacle has toured the world and will be doing several US dates. You will see levitation, disappearances, mind-reading and more. Each of the acts brings their own unique style and skills to the experience, with plenty of grand illusions and special effects.
Asylum Magic

Improv Asylum
216 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113

You don't have to go crazy to see this Amazing Magic and Mind-Reading Show in the heart of Boston’s North End. Asylum Magic is presented by some of the country’s best magicians and mentalists. The evening starts with sleight of hand tricks performed up close at the bar by magician Peter Boie. It is followed by a full performance in the theater with mentalists Antonina & David. They perform an extraordinary show of mind reading and telepathy, described as “extremely interactive and mind-blowing”. So, come grab a drink at the bar and interact with the performers, and then sit down to enjoy the show. Pre-show starts at 7pm and the main event begins in the theatre at 8pm.
Mario The Maker Magician

The Cabot, Beverly MA
286 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915

Sure David Blaine calls Mario "the best kids magician in the world!!" but it's a magic show for both kids AND adults! Mario has appeared on Sesame Street, and NBC's Universal Kids. His show is chock-full of magic, punk rock fun, robots and zany antics. This show is quirky fun, maker movement inspiration and more. So, even if you don't have children, gather up your nieces, nephews, cousins and friend's kids and bring them to the show! You'll all have an amazing time.
Rick Thomas

Cary Memorial Hall
1605 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420

After years of traveling the world, doing countless Vegas shows and doing numerous television appearances, Rick is on tour with a spectacular show. His stage show is big, bold and beautiful. His years as a ballroom dancer add a grace and fluidity to his performances that few magicians can match. He has won numerous awards including Stage Magician of the Year given by The Academy of Magical Arts. His shows will keep the whole family enthralled from young to old. With over 600 shows a year under his belt, Rick's shows are polished, exciting and professional.
Smokus Pocus

Thomas Hooker Live, Hartford CT
1 Sequassen Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Ben Zabin has a passion for weed and weed inspired magic. Billed as the Dopest Show around, this cannabis themed magic show is for those straight and high alike, and even if you are not stoned during the show, you will leave on a magical high. So for a boatload of Dank Debauchery and a barrel of Trippy Tricks, join Ben (ex pot dealer and all around cool guy), at this 420-themed attraction.
Tape Face

Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02116

How can a guy that doesn't talk and has tape covering his mouth even entertain? The answer is... very well! Tape Face has taken Vegas a bit by storm with his impish sense of humor and Herculean abilities to engage audiences of all ages. Although not a magician in the traditional sense, Tape Face has a magical Vegas show that you'll find charming and touching.
Magic Fred Show

Boundary Farm
Dracut, MA

Magic Fred Specializes In Children’s Entertainment. Magic Fred engages his audience throughout the show. Whether it be shouting the magic words from the comfort of their seats or joining Magic Fred as his magician’s assistant. Magic Fred has appeared as a regular local magician at Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton, New Hampshire The Children’s Museum, Uno’s Pizzeria restaurant, schools, and private events all over New England. A must see! Action packed, high energy comedy magic show that includes an amazing portable set up.