Annual Witches Ride returns to Ocean Springs

Diana Odom is in studio to tell us about the annual Witches Ride coming up in October.

The Witches Ride of Ocean Springs invites you to join them on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 5:30 PM as hundreds of witches and wizards fly through downtown Ocean Springs, tossing treats to tall and small for the 7th Annual Witches Ride of Ocean Springs.

Want to fly with the witches? Registration (for ages 18+) is now open but fewer than 100 spots remain! The cost to participate is $50 per person, and if you would like to fly in your golf cart, a few spots are available and the cost is $100 per golf cart (all golf carts must be registered with the City of Ocean Springs). The theme this year is “Under the Spell of the Sea”. The ride will begin at Government Street and Pershing Avenue, heading west, and then turn onto Washington Avenue heading south, dispersing near the Ocean Springs Community Center.

The Witches Ride of Ocean Springs is a fundraiser that started flying in 2018, with the goal of helping better the lives of local animals by donating the ride’s proceeds to local animal welfare organizations. In 2019, the Witches Ride of Ocean Springs became an official 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and since the start of the Witches Ride, they have donated over $63,000 to local animal welfare groups and agencies. In 2023, more than 5,000 people lined the streets of Ocean Springs, MS to see the 450 witches take “flight” on foot, bicycle, tricycle, and golf cart down the streets of downtown Ocean Springs!

The entire family is invited to dress up and spend some time in Ocean Springs on Saturday, October 26. Witches Ride participants delight the crowds in their creative costumes, decorated bicycles, tricycles, wagons, and golf carts. Spectators of all ages are encouraged to attend this free, family-friendly event, and be sure to bring a bag to carry home all of your treats! This year, the Witches Ride route will be barricaded to ensure spectator and participant safety.

In addition to the Witches Ride, adults aged 18+ are invited to participate in a Halloween Pub Crawl hosted by the Witches Ride of Ocean Springs that will begin at 4:00 PM and end at 10:00 PM on Saturday, October 26 at participating restaurants and bars in downtown Ocean Springs. Costumes are encouraged. Pub Crawl cards can be purchased for $10 online. Food and drink purchases over $5 at participating locations will count towards pub crawl participation. Cash prizes will be awarded on October 31, 2024.

If you would like to purchase tickets, become a sponsor, sign up to volunteer, or find more information on the event, visit the website at www.oswitchesride.com. To contact organizers of the Witches Ride, please email info@oswitchesride.com, or call 601-345-4089.