Madison Witches Ride to return for downtown antics on Oct. 19
MADISON – In a fun ride, roll and stroll, the Madison Witches Ride will feature festive local witches of all sorts spreading Halloween cheer & throwing candy to hundreds of onlooking children along Garner Street.
Madison Witches Ride involves a lighthearted parade through downtown Madison as the witches ride bicycles, walk or dance in their krewe or individually. The menagerie of witches – funny or wicked – will spread Halloween cheer as they throw candy to hundreds of onlooking children along Garner and Main streets.
MVP selects a deserving community project as beneficiary of event proceeds. For 2025, all proceeds will help Miracle League of Madison, a grassroots project that is a transformative, community-led effort to build a fully inclusive Miracle League field at Palmer Park. With this addition, children of all abilities could experience the joy of playing baseball in a safe, accessible environment.
Witches will check in from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and line up along the parade route. Lineup will continue from 2:45 to 3 p.m. Madison Witches Ride starts at 3 p.m. Most activity, especially the witch parade promenade, will center around Garner Street (which runs north/south from Main Street).
Spectators and witches can enjoy snacks from food trucks, groove to music and participate in witchy activities from 3:45 to 5 p.m. around Home Place Park.
To register for the parade, visit mvpmadison.org/madison-witches- ride. All witches are welcome good and bad, sweet or spooky, goofy or gorgeous!
“Get your friends together and form a witch squad with your favorite costumes or fly solo,” MVP Executive Director Christina Hearne said. “We welcome witches of all sorts.”
Only family-friendly costumes will be permitted. Any costume or decorations considered unsuitable or inappropriate for children will be asked to change or leave. Political signage will not be permitted.
All participants in the ride and parade must be 18 years old minimum.
In case of rain, the event will be canceled. MVP will donate registration fees to this year’s charity, Mira- cle League of Madison.
To make this event a huge success, volunteers are needed for the Boo Crew. Volunteers for Madison Witches Ride can sign up now for these roles:
• Block Party Setup – Two people to set up games, bubble machine and face painting stations for Block Party in Home Place Park to 2 p.m.
• Route Setup Volunteers – Six people to set up ride route along Garner Street south to carline at Journey Middle School. Noon to 2 p.m.
• Witch Lineup Setup – Help in arranging and organizing witches’ registration and check in area for witches and organizing lineup. Two people from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Candy Setup and Refill Stations – Help organize candy refill wagons, refill candy stations and assist with refills for witches. Two people from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Food Truck Setup Volunteer Help in directing food truck parking. One person from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Parking Monitor at Journey – Direct drop-off of witches at Journey School. Two people, 2 to 3 p.m.
• Parking Monitor at Stadium — Direct parking for attendees at Madison City Schools Stadium. Two people from 2 to 3 p.m.
• Route Monitor – 15 people to stand along parade route before/ during ride to confirm that candy catchers stay safe behind the caution tape and out of the street. 2 to 4 p.m.
• Block Party Floater – Walk around Home Place Park to monitor the activities. Two people from 3 to 5 p.m.
• Bubble Volunteer – One person to monitor the bubble machine and refill when needed. 3 to 5 pm.
• Face Painting – Nine people to paint faces. 3 to 5 p.m.
• Clean-Up Crew – 10 people to clean up route, witches’ lineup space and Home Place Park after event. Restring Journey’s carline. 5 to 6 p.m.
For more information about volunteering, visit signup.com/client/ invitation2/secure/86951610055/ false#/invitation. For more information, visit mvpmadison.org.
