Madison Witches Ride to conjure 4 hours of hocus-pocus

MADISON – Ushering in Halloween vibes, the second annual Madison Witches Ride, Roll & Stroll promises a treat (no tricks!) for children of Madison, pets on parade and even some Flying Monkeys.

“This premiere event brings together members of the community for a great cause. Organized by Madison Visionary Partners or MVP to benefit the Madison Splash Pad fund, there has never been a better way to showcase your Halloween spirit,” MVP Executive Director Melanie Thornton said.

“The splash pad is in the very early stages of planning by the city, and proper approvals need to take place before a timeline can be established. We are committed to working with the city to make this project a reality,” Thornton said.

Madison witches will fly off on their brooms (or bicycles as improvised transportation) for their one-mile route, starting at Journey Middle School at 217 Celtic Drive for sign-in at the south parking lot by the gym on Oct. 22 from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Witches will line up for their parade from 2:45 to 3 p.m. Then, they’ll take flight (hmmm . . . walk or ride) for their destination at Home Place Park, 130 Shorter St., east of Madison City Schools Stadium. The witches will throw candy to children along the route.

From 4 to 6 p.m., the Black Cat Block Party will entertain the crowd with children’s games and activities, music and concessions. The witches encourage anyone to dress up in costume (after all, Halloween will be only nine days away).

The Barks & Boos Pet Parade will start at 4:30 p.m. Registration fee is $25.

At 5:30 p.m., the devilish dogs will receive their awards for “Best Costume Overall,” “Best Group Costume,” “Best Cackle” and “Best Pet Costume.”

The Witches Ride activities will end at 6 p.m.

Individuals can sign up as a Flying Monkey, a route volunteer that assists the witches for setup, safety along the parade route and refills of candy. To volunteer, visit mvpmadison.org/madison-witches-ride and click the link after “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Flying Monkeys who need official receipts for volunteer hours will receive email after the event.

To register, witches should visit mvpmadison.org/madison-witches-ride, and click “Witches Ride Registration.” Registration will close at midnight on Oct. 20.

Registration fee is $50 through Oct. 9. Fee for late registration is $65 on Oct. 10-20.

Witches do melt when they get wet (remember “The Wizard of Oz?”), so a rain date is set for Oct. 29. Organizers will post weather updates with social media and email. No refunds will be issued in event of rain; all registration fees will be considered a donation for the splash pad.

For more information, visit mvpmadison.org/madison-witches-ride.