5th Annual Witches Paddle for a Purpose to be held on Oct. 25
Press release from the Melrose Witches Paddle
MELROSE, Fla. – On a mystical October Saturday, the folks of Melrose (and beyond) will celebrate the spooky season with their annual Witches Paddle for a Purpose!
Organized by Melrose Makes, with the assistance of The Melrose Center, The Melrose Volunteer Fire Department, and Melrose Music, this year’s event will be the 5th annual gathering! The “paddle portion” of the event is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Lake Santa Fe, with the launch at Trout Street Boat Ramp in Historic Downtown Melrose. Onlookers can watch the paddle parade from the adjacent Melrose Bay Park. The Fire Department and other Volunteers will be on the water keeping us safe. A wicked soundtrack can be heard as you do a lap around Little Lake Santa Fe, led by the “Head Witch” — Amy Webster.
Melrose Make’s gently used Kid’s Halloween Costume Drive will be both collecting and distributing at the launch site — where there will also be family-friendly activities set up. All paddlers must register either online or in-person at the Melrose Center during their open hours. The Melrose Volunteer Fire Department, alongside other volunteers, will be available to help assist with loading and unloading at the boat ramp — and there will be signs indicating where to park! Our MC for the after party is none other than internet sensation, “Regular Guy” from Hawthorne! Tommy McCoy will bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts!
The event continues from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., shifting over to the Melrose Center for the official after-party — complete with live music, festive food and drinks, costume contests, the famous “witch dance,” a kid’s area, a raffle, and more! A local music lineup featuring THE DEAL and GOLLY POTCH are sure to bring the night to a magical, musical crescendo — while the formidable costume contest will anoint champions donning the “Supreme Witch” and “Spellbinding Show Stopper” — with a $100 and $75 cash prizes up for grabs! Boo Ha Ha (funniest) and Terror of the Night (scariest) for $50 each. Trophies and “Honorable Mention” will also be awarded. A Little Spell Slinger (kids costume) can win a Boo-tastic Basket full of prizes!
A 50/50 raffle will raise funds for the cause, with the lucky winner taking home an equal amount. We are raffling off a Paddle Board as well! In total, the 2024 Melrose Witches Paddle raised over $2,000 in support for local organizations and businesses — a testament to the magic of the evening. If you’d like to donate towards the Witches Paddle for a Purpose to help us fund this awesome event, please visit this link. Remember, you don’t have to paddle to come to the party!
For more information, registration info, and updates about the Melrose Witches Paddle (for a Purpose)— please visit the Witches Paddle Facebook page or visit melrosemusicfl.com/witches-paddle.