JERSEY: Witches flock to Grafton

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

By Cory Davenport

The quaint river town of Grafton more than tripled in size over the last weekend with its annual fly-in of hundreds of witches.

Witches on the Water, which was conceived in 2017, has grown from 80 witches at the Grafton American Legion to an estimated 2,000 across the entirety of Grafton a mere six years later. Festival organizer, Desiree Hardwick, said witches flew into Grafton from across the country.

“We sold wristbands from Colorado to Florida,” Hardwick said Saturday afternoon. “We had people come in from Indiana last night.”

Hardwick is one of four committee members who have worked together to continuously make Witches on the Water a thriving event for the community. The three other committee members are Jessica Hayes, Trebe Bradfisch, and Christine Walsh. The $13 cost of a participation wristband went directly toward the National Museum of Military Ascent.

When asked why folks from across the country would flock to a Halloween Party in a town with a population under 1,000 people, Hardwick gestured toward the hills full of trees in transition to beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows and the awe-inspiring ancient Illinois River flowing right across the street of Mason Hollow Park

“People come from across the country because of Grafton,” she said. “Grafton is a beautiful town and it’s for a great cause. When you’ve been to one, you will come back every year.”

The event kicked off Saturday morning with free mystical yoga at Mason Hollow Park and went through the afternoon and night. Most local businesses were participating in various contests, such as “Best Cackle” at Abigail’s, “Sexiest Witch” at the Hawg Pit, and several best hat contests across Grafton’s main strip. The climax of the event was the cash prize costume contest Saturday night at 9 p.m. Best witch won $150, second place was awarded $100, and third place was $75. Winners of best warlock and best Halloween costume also were given $75.

During the day at Mason Hollow, witches could peruse the wares of dozens of vendors and even throw axes. Because of its massive success and attendance, Witches on the Water will most likely continue being a massive part of this area’s Halloween holiday season.