A scene from the 10th Annual Morro Bay Witches Paddle in October 2023. Photo by Neil Farrell
Double, double toil and trouble… Fire burn and caldron bubble… the day when something wicked this way paddles is upon us.
The 11th Annual Witches & Warlocks Paddle is set for 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in Morro Bay Harbor.
Some 500 witches, warlocks and all manner of mythical creature, will take to the water in kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards and more to celebrate Halloween, raise a little mischief and have some fun.
The paddle starts at Coleman Beach, where the majority of paddlers will gather for the paddle south down the harbor. Low tide (-2 feet) is at 1:51 p.m. so the tide will be coming back in during the paddle.
An anticipated 1,500 people will line the waterfront Harborwalk to take in the spectacle, which is one of the better events to photograph all year.
There is no fee to participate, just as there wasn’t much of a plan when this all started in 2013. That’s when the late waterfront business owner, Tracy Shewchuck (née Neal), and two other members of the Survivoars paddle team decided to dress up for Halloween and scare the straights by paddling down the bay.
Within two years the paddle grew into an amazing, fun event with hundreds of every kind of witch imaginable from Glenda the Good Witch of the North, to Maleficent and Gandolf, with a few ogres and pint-sized, “Tabathas” along for the ride on mom’s board (though we’ve never seen Witchiepoo).
One note of warning, this is an “unsanctioned” event, meaning it’s off the books, unofficial, the City isn’t responsible, however, the Harbor Patrol will be out amongst the paddlers to keep everyone safe (lifejackets required for minors). Paddle at your own risk.