EASTON, Pa. — Downtown Easton was alive with magic, music and Halloween spirit this weekend during the city’s first-ever Witches Walk Festival, a two-day celebration that drew a few hundred costumed visitors.
Organized by Easton resident Sarah Sunshine, the event featured dozens of vendors, a costume contest, live music and activities for families.
“We’ve been blown away,” Sunshine said Saturday afternoon, as crowds filled Scott Park and the surrounding Farmers’ Market area. “At one point everyone was dancing in a circle, cheek to cheek, just celebrating. It was joyful and spirited and playful — all the good things.”
The festival, held Friday and Saturday, featured about 40 vendors selling everything from handcrafted jewelry and crystals to brooms and incense. Saturday’s schedule included a costume contest, live DJ performances and appearances by the Sanderson Sisters of Hocus Pocus fame.
Among the vendors was Jennifer DePalma, owner of Boho Alchemist, a New Jersey-based business specializing in crystal healing jewelry and incense blends.
“I found the event on Facebook,” DePalma said. “I do a lot of witchy events, and this one felt like a perfect fit for the weekend.”
Nearby, Cata May Fulton, founder of Feral Broomcraft, showed off her hand-tied brooms — a craft she’s been perfecting for about five years.
“I make brooms, so I had to be at the Witch Festival,” Fulton said, laughing. “My two audiences are kind of the witchy crowd and the people interested in traditional American crafts. There’s not a lot of overlap, but this event has been really fun — last night was a blast downtown.”
Music and entertainment carried through the day thanks to DJ Brad Scott, who volunteered his time to keep the mood festive.
“I do all the goth events in town,” Scott said. “Sarah asked me to come DJ, and I couldn’t say no. This is my scene — it’s fun, it’s spooky, it’s Easton thriving.”
The festival’s costume contest drew dozens of entrants, including winner Nicole Gadow, who created her own “Viking witch” costume from scratch.
“I love dressing up for Halloween,” Gadow said. “I made this costume for the Renaissance Fair a while ago — it took me about two months to make. I just thought, why not bring it back out? It’s all about self-expression and joy.”
2nd-place contest winners Reese Maddox and Jey Miller of Bethlehem, said they were drawn to the festival’s atmosphere of inclusion and fun.
“It’s the first annual Easton Witches Walk, and we just wanted to be with like-minded individuals having a good time,” Maddox said.
Miller added that Easton’s growing mix of people and events is what makes the city shine.
“It’s a combination of everyone’s culture, which I love. It’s great to see everyone enjoying the space equally.”
Sunshine, who comes from a background in hospitality and event coordination, said she’s already dreaming up what’s next — possibly a springtime event to complement the fall celebration.
But for now, she’s focused on savoring the success of Easton’s newest tradition.
“Everybody brought their witchy magic into this historic downtown we call home,” she said. “It couldn’t have been done without every single person here — the vendors, sponsors, and everyone who showed up to celebrate. I’m just so grateful.”
