The skies were overcast and there was a definite chill in the air, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of the hundred or so witches who arrived at Thetis Lake on Saturday (Oct. 5) to paddle or kayak across the water for an early Halloween celebration.

B次元官网网址淲e saw other similar events taking place in Vancouver and we love Halloween, so we thought it would be fun to host our own event here in Victoria,B次元官网网址� said Sarah Lavoie, one of the organizers of the B次元官网网址榃hatB次元官网网址檚 UpB次元官网网址� Witches Paddle. B次元官网网址淭wo years ago, we decided to host our own event and that first year we had more than a hundred people show up.B次元官网网址�

Lavoie, along with the eventB次元官网网址檚 co-founder Divya Kapila, were on hand to welcome all the witchy participants at this yearB次元官网网址檚 event but, sadly, had to admit that neither of them are actual practicing witches.

B次元官网网址淲e get asked that a lot,B次元官网网址� said Kapila. B次元官网网址淧eople come up to us and ask where our coven is, and we have to tell them that we run the event just because we love Halloween. I didnB次元官网网址檛 even know that there were real witches around.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e just love Halloween and we both love paddleboarding, so we thought B次元官网网址榳hy not combine the two?B次元官网网址�, said Lavoie. This is sort of the last paddle of the season, and itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�

And it seems that fun and a love of Halloween was the common theme for the dayB次元官网网址檚 festivities.

Maxine Blatz arrived at the event, with her costume and kayak, ready to participate despite having to admit that she was not a true witch.

B次元官网网址淚t looked like a fun thing to do so, yeah, I figured why not start early,B次元官网网址� she said.

When the witches all arrived and took to the water, more than a hundred similarly minded participants, all dressed in their witchiest attire had registered. There was no official word on how many were practicing witches, but Lavoie suspects that a few may have been in the group.

The event managed to have one decidedly non-witchy aspect. Kapila and Lavoie had hats for sale for any witches who forgot to bring theirs along. Proceeds are being sent on to the Goldstream Food Bank, in time for Thanksgiving.

That donation will be in cash, so no poison apples a la Snow White will be involved.