Press

11/1/2016 0 Comments

By Kayla Gaskins | Posted: Tue 7:54 AM, Nov 01, 2016

Witches of South Walton - 5PM

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - If you woke to the sound of witches cackling Monday, don't be alarmed. They were good witches brewing up trouble for a cause.
The Witches of South Walton flew into 30A on Halloween morning, cackling, casting spells, and flying around on their bicycles turned broomsticks.
"So what brought me out here is all the fun and excitement on Halloween," Tonya Kilpatrick, one of the witches, said. "You just you feel the spirit of the joy of celebrating Halloween."
All this wicked fun is for a good cause.
"And mainly it's a way of giving back to Children's Volunteer Health Network," Kilpatrick said.
"The spirit is of course giving," Erin Chekaoui, another one of the witches, said. "It is for the charity. All these women are local women, mothers, wives, business women that are participating."
"It really takes the full community to support that effort, because we don't rely on government funding," Director of the Children's Volunteer Health Network Zach Billingsley said. "And this event will raise several thousand dollars that will go towards those efforts."
The event began 13 years ago, with three friends who just decided to wear witches hats for a bike ride.
"I can remember just having a plain hat on, our tennis shoes on, and all we did was put our hat on, and we rode from Grayton Beach to maybe here at Gulf Place, no we ended up at the school," Carol Stafford, one of the original three witches, said.
Every year more witches join the ride; this year with more than 200 in tow.
"It's been really cool because we try to put smiles on kids faces, to take away the pain and the self esteem issues that they deal with," Billingsley said. "And when you can get a group together out here just cackling and having fun, this and all for a good cause, that's just what it's all about."
Children's Volunteer Health Network is an organization that provides immediate medical, dental and vision care for uninsured or under-insured children in Walton and Okaloosa Counties.

0 Comments

10/26/2016 1 Comment

Witches of South Walton Have Something Brewing

ORGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 30A.COM

The Witches of South Walton — an organization devoted to assisting the Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) — will host their 13th annual Witch Ride down Scenic Highway 30-A on Monday, October 31, 2016, at 6:30 a.m.
Last year, nearly 240 Witches participated in the event and raised over $6,200 for Children’s Volunteer Health Network.

Here are a few of the event’s highlights:

The Witches BrewWhen: Thursday, October 27
Where: La Playa at Gulf Place
Pre-registered packet pickup and in-person registration at La Playa in Gulf Place from 5 – 8 p.m. Drink specials will be offered for all participants and Forrest Williams Bandwill play live. Raffle tickets will be sold only at Witches Brew to win a Custom Designed Witch Hat. The participants must be present to win at 8 p.m.

Halloween Masquerade PartyWhen: Saturday, October 29
Where: Trebeaché at Red Fish Village
Trebeaché and Grayton Beach Catering are hosting the Halloween Masquerade Party with 10% of the ticket sales being donated to Children’s Volunteer Health Network in the name of the Witches of South Walton. The event will feature music by Randall Bramblett Band, The Steenos with Franko Washboard Jackson. There is also a costume contest with prizes for 1st, 2nd& 3rd places. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $50.00 or at the door for $60.00.

Wake-Up Witches!When: Monday, October 31
Where: The Green at Gulf Place
Paris Janos will be on the Green at Gulf Place reporting live for News Channel 7 from 5 – 7 a.m. 30A Radio will also cover the event again this year. All witches are encouraged get up early to be seen on T.V.

13th Annual Witch RideWhen: Monday, October 31
Where: The Green at Gulf Place
Information and final announcements will be made at 6:30 a.m. At this time all Witches must be with their bike prepared to ride. The charity bike ride starts at 7 a.m. sharp where all Witches will promptly leave Gulf Place as a group.
Resting StopThe Witches ride to Stinky’s Fish Camp and Bait Shack to line up on 30A and greet spectators. Stinky’s will provide FREE water and $3.00 Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and a special Witches Brew.

Gathering BrunchWhen: Monday, October 31
Where: La Playa at Gulf Place
The Witches ride back to Gulf Place at 8:30 a.m. to enjoy the Gathering Brunch, contests, and raffle ticket drawings on the patio at LaPlaya. The Gathering Brunch includes a selection of pastries, fruit, bacon and eggs accompanied with Mimosas (limited to 3) and a cash bar. $50 prizes will be given to the Witch with the ‘Best Decorated Bike’, ‘Best Witch Costume’ and ‘Best Witch Cackle’. Raffle items graciously donated by local businesses.
This year, Witches of South Walton will have online registration and payment. The online registration can be completed at www.WitchRide.com.
Ticket cost is $30 and includes a charity bike ride from Gulf Place to Stinky’s Fish Camp complete with a Gathering Brunch at LaPlaya. Tickets can be purchased online at www.witchride.com.

1 Comment

9/25/2016 2 Comments

Our new website is live

As the 2016 Witch Ride quickly approaches The Coven has been hard at work to make this year just as great as the previous years. Part of our preparation is a updating our website which features the great photographs by Chandler Williams, of Modus Photography.

The new site will allow us to do more and make it easier for everyone that rides with us. We are still building portions of the site and will be bringing all of the photos from our past events to the new site.

As we started last year, be sure to use the Official hashtag: #WitchRide2016 on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to become the 2016 Miss Congeniality.

We look forward to seeing everyone at this years event.