Witches Walk returns for monthlong celebration

Editor's note: This year marks the 15th anniversary of Sandusky Witches Walk, which will begin a monthlong celebration on Thursday. SANDUSKY — In October 2025, Sandusky — this lakeside city of brick storefronts and roller-coaster skylines — did something no place on Earth had done before: 970 in witch costumes gathered for a single costume contest, and 727 of them moved in unison in the Largest Witches' Dance ever recorded. By the end of the day, Sandusky possessed two Guinness World Records. The hats were the spectacle. But the point was what came after: • A graduation fee quietly paid so a teenager could walk across the stage • A ferry ticket for a seventh-grader • A hot meal and a familiar face for a senior who might otherwise have eaten alone This year, the Sandusky Witches Walk turns 15, and it is celebrating the way it always has: by asking an entire region to put on a costume and do some good. The festivities stretch across all of October in Sandusky, now known as the Halloween Capital of Ohio, and the invitation is open to anyone with a broom, a sense of humor or simply a soft spot for their neighbors. From a pub crawl to a civic institution It started small. In 2009, a group of local businesswomen organized a grassroots gathering at James A. Bertsch Jeweler and operated the event as a pub crawl to support downtown businesses during the offseason. Two years later, the event found its purpose: In 2011, it pivoted to a charity-centric mission, naming the Lung Cancer Association as its first beneficiary in honor of a friend lost to non-smoking lung cancer. In 2022, it became a formal nonprofit and a civic institution. Today it is one of the most recognized Halloween events in the U.S. Last year, the Greater Sandusky Partnership counted more than 15,000 attendees downtown, coming from five countries, 26 states and 83 Ohio cities. Combined with Cedar Point HalloWeekends and other activity along the coast, the day reaches more than 300,000 people, making it Erie County's highest single-day visitation event two years running and Sandusky's second-highest-grossing sales event, behind only Ohio Bike Week. The accolades have followed: • Best of Best Review named it the Best Halloween Festival in Ohio of 2026, citing its contributions to tourism, community engagement, charitable fundraising and event innovation. • The organization was also named a Top 5 BusinessRate Award Winner among Sandusky nonprofits, powered by Google Reviews. • And those two Guinness World Records — Largest Witch Costume Contest, 970 participants; and Largest Witches' Dance, 727 participants —now belong to the whole community: They were formally transferred to the city of Sandusky, the Greater Sandusky Partnership and Shores & Islands Ohio as permanent civic assets. Organizers describe the event as community infrastructure, returning tens of thousands of dollars every year to Erie County's youth and seniors while putting Sandusky on the national map every October. What the hats pay for Sandusky Witches Walk works toward an Erie County where every kid can read, every student gets to finish what they started and no senior has to eat alone. Every dollar raised stays here at home. A diploma, not a dilemma This year, the organization pledged $10,000 to Sandusky Schools' bridge graduation initiatives. The money is aimed at the students who are easiest to overlook: not the scholarship winners or the star athletes but kids carrying real challenges at home. For some families, a $200 graduation fee means choosing between the ceremony and food on the table. Witches Walk support covers that cost so every eligible student can walk across the stage and feel proud of what they earned. Beyond the classroom Sandusky Witches Walk funding has: • Closed a ferry funding gap so every seventh-grader can join the Kelleys Island Green Devil for a Day visit • Helped send Sandusky High School seniors who are on track to graduate to a Cleveland Guardians game and Urban Air • Provided 2,000 after-school meals for kids whose refrigerators may be empty when they get home • Supported the Erie County CASA program, whose volunteers make sure foster children have an advocate in their corner • Backed the Kiwanis Terrific Kids program, which tells elementary schoolers they matter • Ensured, through the Erie County Senior Center, that seniors received a hot meal and a familiar face across the table; Loneliness is one of the quiet hardships of aging, and a shared meal is one of the simplest ways to answer it. 2026 beneficiaries The 2026 beneficiaries are the Kiwanis Club, Sandusky Schools bridge graduation rate initiatives, the Erie County Senior Center, the Sandusky recreation department, the Campbell Christian Community Center, the Erie County CASA program and Shoreline Pride Sandusky. October at a glance For its 15th anniversary, Sandusky Witches Walk is not one day but a full month: a Hollywood horror evening, a paranormal convention, the main event, a family parade and a Halloween finale, stitched together by a citywide passport game with cash prizes. People can view the full schedule and purchase tickets by visiting sanduskywitcheswalk.com/event-list. Among some notable events (All require tickets except otherwise noted): • All October — Cauldron Circuit Witch Passport • Oct. 16 — An Evening with "The Blair Witch Project" • Oct. 16-18 — Firelands Paracon • Oct. 17, day — Witchy Village and community parade, free and open to all • Oct. 17, night — Witches' Dance, costume contest • Oct. 24 — Little Witches Walk, free and open to all • Oct. 31 — Award ceremony and amateur strongman, free and open to all Oct. 17: The night the city transforms The main event begins at 11 a.m. when the Witchy Village opens on the Lake Erie waterfront at Jackson Street Pier with 80 vendors serving throughout the day. At 4 p.m., the community parade steps off from Washington Row and Columbus Avenue with a river of black hats flowing through downtown to Jackson Street Pier where the celebration continues until 10 p.m. Much of the day costs nothing. The parade, the Witchy Village, the Owl Experience photo ops on Oct. 17 and unicorn pony photo ops on all three event weekends are free and open to all. Fees do apply for photo ops. Then night falls, and the celebration moves to the stage inside the ticketed VIP area. It opens with a symbolic performance by original founder Michelle Bertschl-Herold, known as the eternal witch, marking 15 years of charitable magic. Then comes the moment that set a world record: the Witches' Dance, led by the Sisters, the 2024 costume contest winners. The lineup that follows includes: • A Broadway-style musical starring Sandusky native Tim Murray, currently on tour worldwide • A live appearance by psychic-medium Patti Negri, the "Good Witch of Hollywood" of "Ghost Adventures" and "MasterChef" fame • A 90-minute Stevie Nicks Experience tribute concert • And, to close the night, A Witchy Diva Dance party by The Ladies Night Some guests will get something rarer than a show. During her appearance, Negri will give 15 lucky guests a free gallery mediumship session on stage, a chance to connect with loved ones from beyond. A VIP ticket is required. And then there are the costumes. VIP guests are eligible for three $500 prizes for: • Best overall • Most creative costume • Best pair Contestants are showcased on stage, and winners are chosen by online vote from the organization's 43,000-plus social media followers. At 10 p.m., the night ends with the first $2,500 cash raffle drawing. Get a VIP ticket A VIP ticket includes the following: • Front-of-stage access and a guaranteed view of the evening program • A spot in the Witches' Dance • Eligibility for the gallery mediumship session with Negri • Eligibility for three $500 costume contest prizes • One Cauldron Circuit passport for the $5,000 cash raffles • Free admission to Firelands Paracon plus $20 off Blair Witch Project tickets • A charitable gift to Erie County's youth and seniors VIP is the only ticket that guarantees a view of the stage and a place in the dance. People can get VIP tickets by visiting sanduskywitcheswalk.com. Before the big night: Hollywood horror and the paranormal An Evening with "The Blair Witch Project" In 1999, a micro-budget film shot in the woods of Maryland changed horror forever. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 at The Emporium, its co-creator and director, Daniel Myrick, and his wife, Julia Myrick, the film's historical fabricator and prop and set designer, come to Sandusky for a one-of-a-kind evening: a screening of "The Blair Witch Project," an exclusive live question-and-answer session on the true story behind it, a first look at new projects they are executive producing and fan autograph and photo sessions. Tickets begin at $65 and include admission to the session. VIP ticket holders can save $20. A "Blair Witch Project" ticket also earns all seven Cauldron Circuit stamps at once, which means a raffle entry comes with your movie night. A silent auction running all weekend will send three winners to an exclusive private brunch with Daniel and Julia Myrick at the Sandusky Yacht Club on Sunday, Oct. 18. Firelands Paracon For those who prefer their spirits unbottled, Firelands Paracon, organized by Eclipse Paranormal, pairs a love of the supernatural with fundraising for Care & Share of Erie County. It opens at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 with a ghost hunt at the Merry-Go-Round Museum and the Sandusky Register building. The main convention opens Saturday, Oct. 17 at The Emporium. Vendor doors open at 8 a.m. with general admission beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a Dream Interpretation Gallery with Christopher Brown and talks and meet-and-greets with Negri, Vince Kelien and Ron Murphy. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit Care & Share of Erie County, and a $150 spend earns a full Cauldron Circuit passport. Admission is free for VIP ticket holders. More at firelandsparacon.com. The Cauldron Circuit: a month-long treasure hunt New this year, the Cauldron Circuit Witch Passport turns all of Sandusky into a game board. Instead of one busy Saturday, it invites visitors to wander the city all month, stepping into restaurants, shops, attractions and community venues, collecting stamps and supporting the local businesses that make the season possible. Every participating stop is on the interactive map at sanduskywitcheswalk.com/cauldroncircuit, including merchants across the city and community organizations such as the Humane Society of Erie County, Care & Share of Erie County, the Follett House Museum and the Sandusky Library. Here's how to play: • Pick up your passport — Passports are now available at The Emporium, 314 W. Market St., and at the pavilion at Jackson Street Pier on Oct. 17. One passport is included with every VIP ticket. A physical pass is required for the VIP area. • Shop, sip and stamp — At participating merchants, the suggested spend is $5 per stamp, and each merchant can award up to three stamps per visit per day. Come back the next day for more or try somewhere new. That is the whole idea. • Stamp your way through the Witchy Village — On Oct. 17, purchases from Witchy Village vendors earn Sandusky Witches Walk chips, redeemable at stamp stations throughout Jackson Street Pier. • Do good, get stamped — At community locations — such as the Humane Society of Erie County, Care & Share of Erie County, the Sandusky Library and the Follett House Museum — showing up earns your first stamp, a $5 donation earns a second and tagging the location and Sandusky Witches Walk on social media earns a third. • Fill your card, win cash — Seven stamps complete a passport and earn your first entry into the $5,000 cash raffle at no additional cost. After that, additional raffle tickets are $20 each, up to five entries total, and are available at The Emporium throughout October. • Take the shortcut — A "Blair Witch Project" ticket or a $150 spend at Firelands Paracon earns all seven stamps at once, completing a passport for one raffle entry. People also have two chances to win $2,500: • 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 — The first drawing will happen at the close of the main event at Jackson Street Pier. • 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 — The final drawing will happen at the Sandusky Witches Walk award ceremony. Winners don't need to be present to win but must answer their phone when called. People can start collecting by visiting sanduskywitcheswalk.com/cauldroncircuit. Little witches and a Halloween finale Little Witches Walk on Oct. 24 The youngest witches get their own day. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the family-focused Little Witches Walk begins at 9 a.m. with Halloween crafts at the Sandusky Library, followed by a community parade down Columbus Avenue at 11 a.m. to The Emporium, 314 W. Market St. Kids' witch dance practice starts at noon with the big performance at 2 p.m. alongside kids' yoga and more family activities. It is free and open to all, and it captures what has made the Witches Walk endure: several generations, side by side, in the same pointed hats. Award ceremony and amateur strongman competition on Oct. 31 On Halloween, the season closes with the Sandusky Witches Walk's award ceremony, honoring the participants, volunteers, community partners and supporters behind the 15th anniversary. The costume contest winners are presented, the final $2,500 cash raffle is drawn at 2 p.m. and an amateur strongman competition brings the month to a close. It is free and open to all. The story on film This anniversary is also being captured for the screen. "Folklore and the Power of Community," a feature-length documentary of about 80 minutes from Puzzle World Studios, follows the Witches Walk through its 15th year, tracing its path from a grassroots, women-led pub crawl in 2009 to a nationally recognized civic institution and two-time Guinness World Records holder. Told in five acts — "Setting the Spell," "The Making of a Modern Ritual," "Witches Without Borders," "Origins of the Witch" and "The Night the City Transforms" — the film weaves local stories with global folklore, interviews with witchcraft scholars from The Ohio State University and Ohio University and field shoots in Ohio, Salem, Massachusetts and eastern Europe. It is being pursued for streaming and broadcast distribution with public media, cultural broadcasters and documentary festivals in view. Anyone in costume this October may well end up in it. Plan Your Visit Twice named USA Today's Best Coastal Small Town in America, in 2019 and 2023, Sandusky pairs a historic downtown and waterfront views with local dining, entertainment and seasonal attractions — and, in October, the whole place leans into the season. With events spread across the month and a passport that rewards coming back, a weekend getaway can easily become two. October is one of the busiest tourism periods in the region, so book accommodations early. A heartfelt thank you For organizers, volunteers, sponsors and participants, the 15th anniversary is a chance to look back on 15 years of growth while holding on to the event's original purpose: bringing people together for a good cause. None of it happens alone. Community partners and civic leaders — including the city of Sandusky, the Greater Sandusky Partnership and Shores & Islands Ohio — continue to work alongside the organization. "We are so grateful for the support that makes this season possible," said Mimi Chicotel, executive director of Sandusky Witches Walk. "Thank you to our board members, whose leadership and dedication guide this organization all year long; to our sponsors, whose generosity makes every event possible; to our volunteers, who give countless hours behind the scenes and make every event run; to the beloved charities whose missions we are proud to serve; to our participating merchants on the Cauldron Circuit; to the vendors of the Witchy Village; and to every community organization that stands with us," Chicotel said. "Most of all, thank you to the entire community for showing up, year after year, and making October in Sandusky something truly magical." Sandusky Witches Walk extends special thanks to this year's title sponsors: Shores & Islands Ohio and The Emporium on West Market Street and to its moonlight sponsors: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Sandusky Library, Tuffman Equipment Rental & Supply, Sora & Oak Sushi & Whiskey Bar and Wake up and Waffle. Bio blast Sandusky Witches Walk is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009, which pivoted to a charity-centric mission in 2011 and was formally established as a nonprofit in 2022. Based in Sandusky, Halloween Capital of Ohio, the organization hosts annual community events and fundraising initiatives supporting youth and senior programs throughout Erie County. It possesses two Guinness World Records and continues to expand its cultural, educational and charitable programming. Tickets, events and visitor information can be found at sanduskywitcheswalk.com. People can find the cauldron circuit map at sanduskywitcheswalk.com/cauldroncircuit. People can also follow along social media by searching for Sandusky Witches Walk on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.