Melrose hosts their 4th Annual Witches Paddle for a Purpose
Press release from Melrose Makes
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, Chiappini’s Gulf Station, and Melrose Music, this year’s event will be the 4th annual gathering!
The “paddle portion” of the October 26 event is from 3 p.m.-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. Lake Area Watersports will be on the water with a wicked soundtrack while participants meet and greet—then the paddlers 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!
The event continues from 5 p.m.-10 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 Noah Moses and The Flood is sure to bring the night to a magical, musical crescendo—while the formidable costume contest will anoint champions donning the “Best Costume” and “Best Homemade Witch”—with a $100 cash prize up for grabs! Trophies for “Most Creative,” “Most Amusing,” and “Honorable Mention” will also be awarded. A 50/50 raffle will raise funds for the cause, with the lucky winner taking home an equal amount. In total, the 2023 Melrose Witches Paddle raised $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.
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.