A massive group of witchy women flocked to the streets of Coldwater on Friday evening.
Local women and tourists alike, undaunted by rain and a chill in the air, put on their costumes, pointy hats, and rode their brooms into the 17th annual Coldwater Witches Walk last night.
Mark Missen, the chair of the Coldwater Business Improvement Area (BIA) management board and owner of Puzzles & Pastimes Hobby Shop, says the event started as a ladies’ night out.
"It is still encouraged to be a ladies' night out," he said. "It's a night out filled with shopping, costumes, fun, dancing, food, and vendors."
Missen says the event seems to grow larger every year and brings a party-like atmosphere to the downtown.
"We add more and more to it," he said. "This year we have the vendor markets and last year we introduced the live music with the band, which was a big hit."
It is estimated that more than 2,000 people attended the Witches Walk this year.
"We get groups of women here from Orillia, Elmvale, and even London," he said. "I think we have one of the first witches walks, which has triggered our success."
Lisa Sallows, the events coordinator for the BIA and owner of The Red Shed Handmade Goods & Home Decor, says the atmosphere at the Witch’s Walk is like no other.
"There are a lot of women here having a good time," she said. "Everybody is pumped up and excited."
Sallows says the event puts women into the Halloween spirit.
"We don't often get a chance to dress up, have fun, and let our hair down a little bit," she said. "It definitely puts everybody in the spirit."
Sallows hopes those who participate in the Witches Walk will continue to visit Coldwater all year long.
"For weeks afterwards people come in and say they were in during the Witches Walk and they saw something that night that brought them back," she said.
"I hope that it is good for all of the businesses who are seeing people for the first time and they are seeing us for the first time."
Coldwater is hosting its Trick-or-Treat Main Street family event today.
"The kids get costumed up and there is a whole bunch of free stuff, crafts, and lunch," Missen explained. "We have a costume parade, a pet costume contest, and trick-or-treat stations."
The event begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m.
Missen says the Halloween events do several positive things for local businesses.
"People who participate get to see the uniqueness of all the stores in Coldwater," he said. "We do several events throughout the year and always have something going on to bring people in and, generally, it’s all free."
For more information about upcoming events in Coldwater, click here.
