O’Fallon set for spooktacular good time with Witches & Wizards Festival in October
The Witches and Wizards Festival this year is expected to be the biggest one yet, with expanded activities, vendors, special guests, costume categories, and more.
Festivities will be from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, in O’Fallon’s Downtown District and at the O’Fallon Station, rain or shine. This will be a ticketed adults-only event for the first time, with no one under 21 allowed.
“We decided to go big,” said Whitney Leidner, event chair for the Downtown merchants. “We really wanted to make it more of an experience. This is shaping up to be our best one yet.”
The inaugural Witches and Wizards Night downtown in 2019 was so successful that, after canceling in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, merchants enthusiastically planned another spooktacular evening last year, but as the Delta variant was spreading, it was on a smaller scale.
“We are featuring fun and exciting (and wicked) things coming your way,” Leidner said. “The Headless Horseman will be on horseback, and we’ll have special guests — award-winning author Ellen Dugan, poet Ember Grant and Beth Saltz will return to read Tarot Cards.”
Dugan will share “The History and Magick of Halloween/Samhain” in the VFW Back Hall. She is the award-winning author of 42 books including the Legacy Of Magick, Hemlock Hollow, Daughters Of Midnight, and the Gypsy Chronicles series of novels.
A DJ will play music, there will be fire dancers from Ignite Artists, stilt walkers downtown and several Tarot Card readers.
“We will feature our biggest Witches Market to date, with vendors such as Everything’s Shiny Creations, art by Kat Martin, Koviak Kreations, Grave Marketings, The Extraordinary Witch and many more,” Leidner said.
Vine Street Market will have food and beverage vendors this year and there will be three food trucks at O’Fallon Station.
Leidner explained there are two different kinds of tickets this year, and only 3,000 are available: Only those who purchase either the Very Important Witch/Wizard luxury experience or Basic Witch ticket holders can participate — people must sign up in advance for categories — and view the costume contest.
The sign-up link is included in the email sent after tickets are purchased.
The costume contest will take place from 8-9:30 p.m. at the O’Fallon VFW Post 805, 221 W. FIrst St. In addition to two regular returning judges, special guest judges will take part. Prizes have substantially increased, too, Leidner said.
Guests are encouraged to dress up in witch and wizard-themed attire, but this year, the contest features a Most Original award, so people can dress up like goblins, ghosts, or anything they choose.
The costume contest will start with a drag performance by host Beth Saltz, who did the honors last year. Judges will select Best Hat, Witch and Wizard; Best Broom — witch; Best Walking Cane or Staff — ward; Best Makeup Overall; Best Cackle (audience vote); Most Original Costume — overall, witch and wizard, and new in The Scream Queen Award. A Best Coven Award also will be shared by three to five people, and the prize is $1,000.
Tickets for Witches & Wizards
VIWs will have access to a special lounge all night, with a separate bar and seating just for them.
The Luxury Experience includes early registration for the costume contest, one free photo from the photo booth, one free Tarot reading, table seating and bar access in the VIW Lounge, early admission to the Witches’ Market (5 p.m.), VIW seating for special performances and an early invite next year.
To avoid lines event night, people can pick up their wristbands and agendas early at Refinery Salon at 115 E. First St. between through Friday, Oct. 7. Hours are 3-8 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Ticket holders can show it on their phone or print it out to show them the QR code. The phone number is 618-589-1880.
More event information
People can still check from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 8 at O’Fallon Station, and VIW’s will have a special line to make the process quicker.
Parking will be available at O’Fallon City Hall, O’Fallon Station, and surrounding side streets. Streets closed after 3 p.m. include north side of West First Street from South Lincoln to Cherry; West First Street from South Cherry to the west side of Fezziwig’s Marketplace; bus lane on north side of the chamber of commerce from South Lincoln to South Vine; and East First Street from South Vine to the west O’Fallon Station entrance (entrance to remain open).
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.refinerysalon1.com/event-details/witches-wizards-festival-2022.
