Witches Walk in Old Town

10/1/2018

Talk of the Town - October 2018

The historic charms of Bay St. Louis provide the perfect backdrop for Halloween events, like the annual Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour. This year, a growing coven of colorful costumers takes to the streets of Old Town in a Witches Walk for charity.
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson

Several of the participants from the 2017 Witches Walk

Editor's note: As of October 20, 170 "witches" have registered for the 4th annual Witches Walk through Old Town on Saturday, Oct. 27th!

Registration is closed, but wanna-be witches who didn't register in time can still costume and come down to Old Town independently to be part of the fun - they simply can't take part in the official contests.

And of course, donations to make this benefit event even more successful are welcome too (look for the green pumpkin at the Mockingbird Café).

See the full Witches Walk schedule at the bottom of this page!

Halloween is a huge holiday, with millions of people spending billions of dollars on candy, costumes, decorations and whatever else to scare up a good time.

Locally, celebrating Halloween fits right into our community’s nonstop celebration of history, family get-togethers and fundraising for a cause, all with an emphasis on fun.

And since Oct. 31 falls on Wednesday, this year’s festivities will get under way on the weekend before Halloween. There are several traditional local events on the calendar, along with a hot new one that’s been added to the cauldron.

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On Saturday, Oct. 27, the Fourth Annual Witches Walk will cast a fun spell over Old Town as dazzling witches explore the shops, restaurants and galleries from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The gathering kicks off at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street) and meanders in downtown for shopping, eating and socializing. 27 merchants will be participating with specials and refreshments, including Lulu's on Main (126 Main Street) and Bodega/Parrot Head Bar & Grill (111 Court Street). Registered costumers will get numbers from participating businesses to play Witches Wingo – a holiday themed Bingo game.

One of the Witches Walk organizers, Karen West, center in purple.

After lunch, at around 1:30 p.m., the registered witches will meet outside of Lulu’s on Main (126 Main Street) to start their parade to Cuz’s restaurant (108 S. Beach Blvd.), led by the Bay Ratz Marching Battery (see the full expanded schedule at the bottom of this page!)

To cap off the day, there will be a dance around the cauldron at Cuz’s restaurant, where prizes donated by Old Town Merchants will be awarded for best hat, shoes and brooms and the winning Wingo card.

Bay St. Louis resident and costumer extraordinaire, Karen West, is one of the event organizers. West says it all started when she and a few friends dressed up for a Halloween birthday luncheon in 2012. Last year, 36 women participated.

This year, organizers originally hoped to double that number. But after 75 tickets sold out immediately and people clamored for more, the event was expanded to encompass more Old Town venues. When registration closed for a second time this year, 170 witches had registered - and organizers had to turn away dozens more. The $10 registration fee will benefit the Hancock County Food Pantry and the Bay Ratz Marching Battery. Witches will pay for their own libations and food along the way.

But wanna-be witches who didn't register in time can still costume and come down to Old Town independently to be part of the fun - they simply can't take part in the official contests.

And of course, donations to make this benefit event even more successful are welcome too (look for the green pumpkin at the Mockingbird Café).

“It’ll be a day of fun and frivolity, for sure!” West declared.

More Local Halloween Events

Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour

The 24th annual Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour, which traditionally was held on Halloween evening, will take place on Friday, Oct. 26. The 45-minute tours will begin every 10 minutes, starting at 5 p.m.

The historic cemetery is the resting place of many interesting residents, and each year the Hancock County Historical Society members and volunteers portray some of the more notable ones.

This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of World War I’s end, eight “ethereal residents” will represent Doughboys and sailors, Buffalo Soldiers, nurses and others who will share their wartime experiences and contributions. Admission is free but donations to the Historical Society are encouraged.

Cedar Rest is located at 200 South Second Street. For more information call 228-467-4090.

Halloween at McLeod Park

Also on Saturday, Oct. 27, McLeod Park Campground will host its annual Halloween event from 5 to 10 p.m. Kids can enjoy a costume contest, various games and trick or treating.

McLeod Park Campground is located at 8100 Texas Flat Road in Kiln. for more info, call 228-467-1894 or visit the Facebook page.

Halloween Bash on Coleman Ave.

Waveland is hosting its annual Halloween Bash on Coleman Avenue this year on Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31st. From 5:30 - 7:30, there'll be tricks, treats, face-painting and a haunted house. Residents and businesses are invited to set up for the evening on Coleman Avenue to pass out candy. For more information, call the Waveland City Hall at 228-467-4134.

Complete Witches Walk Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 27

10:30am - Check-in/Wingo Card Pick up at the Mockingbird Café (110 South Second Street) where individual photos will be taken for costume contest judging (participation optional). There will be prizes for Best Hat, Best Shoes and Best Broom.

11:00am - Group Photo at the Cemetery

11:30am – 1:30pm - Collect Witch Wingo numbers (at participating Old Town Merchants)

Participating Merchants

Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street)– Bloody Mary & Biscuit Breakfast Special
The Porch (112 S. Second Street, inside Century Hall)
Bay Life Gifts and Gallery (112 S. Second Street, inside Century Hall)
Smith & Lens Gallery (106 S. Second Street) -Witches receive 10% off
Magnolia Antiques (200 Main Street)
Social Chair (201 Main Street) – Witches receive 25% off
PJ’s (207 Main Street)
Sycamore House (210 Main Street) – The Bay Witch $5, Blackberry Vodka Cocktail, Prix Fixe Lunch Special
California Drawstrings (216 Main Street)– Build your own Bloody Mary Bar, compliments of Witch Linda
The French Potager (213 Main Street)
Bodega Liquor (111 Court Street) – FREE mini bottle of Tito’s
Parrot Head Bar & Grill (111 Court Street) - Prix Fixe Lunch Wicked Chicken Sandwich with a Killer Tomato Soup & Witches Brew Drink $20 CASH, includes tax & tip
Daquiri Shak (112 Court Street) – 20 oz Daquiri for $5.00
Alice Moseley Museum (1928 Depot Way)
Twin Light Creations (136 Main Street)
Fashion Express (126 Main Street)
The Shoe Boutique (126 Main Street)
Bijoubel (126 Main Street)
Joan Vass (126 Main Street)
Lulu’s on Main (126 Main Street) – Prix Fixe Lunch: Chicken Salad & Crawfish Quesadilla with Sriracha cheese sauce, tea, OJ, Bloody Mary Mix (Welcome to BYOB) $20 CASH, includes tax & tip
Serious Bread (131 Main Street)
Wild Gypsy Boutique (131 Main Street) – Witches receive 15% off
Pop Brothers (111 Main Street)
Bizzee Bee (111 Main Street)
Cuz’s (108 S. Beach Blvd)– Prix Fixe Drink & Lunch Special
Green Canyon Outfitters (108 S. Beach Blvd)
Trapani’s (116 N. Beach Blvd) – Calypso Martini Special

2:30pm - Witches meet at side door (parking lot) by Lulu’s (126 Main Street). Bay Ratz Marching Battery parades with witches to post-lunch Cauldron Dance at Cuz’s (108 S. Beach Blvd).

3:00pm - Winners Announced/Cauldron Dance at Cuz’s (108 S. Beach Blvd)

3:30pm - Get on your broomsticks and head back home!