If you’re headed to a Colorado lake or reservoir this weekend, you may find the area bewitched, as paddleboarders dressed as witches indulge in a fall float thatap become a beloved tradition here and elsewhere across the country.
Witch paddles, as they’re called, are a spooky sendoff to summer — namely, a fun excuse to dress up in costume and enjoy a late-season lake day. The largest near Denver comes to Chatfield State Park in Littleton this Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., where hundreds of witches and warlocks will gather on the water.
, which started in 2021, has grown so popular that tickets sold out in June. More than 250 people are currently on , according to the registration website. While itap likely too late to get on the water there, spectators are welcome to attend for free. (A state parks pass is still required for entry.) There is expected to be a vendor village, a costume contest and plenty of magic to go around.
If you’re itching for a bewitching paddle, there may still be opportunities along the Front Range to join the fun. (Just don’t head to Lake Dillon, where the water was far too low to schedule a witch paddle this year, according to the organizer of past years.)
Bliss Coleman is one of the founders of the , which boasts more than 5,000 members. Seeing the demand among water-loving witches, Coleman declared this Saturday the and encouraged folks to grab a costume and some friends for informal adventures wherever they may be.
“It’s not a formal takeover or one lake. It’s more like, let’s just do this for the season; everybody can join no matter where they live in Colorado,” she said.
PHOTOS: Stand-up paddleboarders, ready for Halloween, hit the water at Chatfield State Park
Coleman attended the Chatfield witch paddle several years ago and considered hosting a similar, open-to-the-public event of her own. But obtaining permits and liability insurance were too much of a hurdle for her as a casual enthusiast. Instead, she wanted to leverage the Facebook group for what it already does best — connecting paddleboarders for on-water excursions.
She invited everyone in the Facebook group to hold their own small, witch paddles. “Itap a fun way to extend our paddleboard season in a time where most of us have packed them up because colder weather is settling in,” Coleman said
Coleman, for her part, plans to meet some friends at the Aurora Reservoir, donning leggings and a Spirit Halloween costume topped off with a pointy hat. Witches can get as creative as they want with their costumes, though, “as long as you are safe and able to move freely,” she added.
Water temperatures are colder this time of year, so Coleman also advocated wearing a personal flotation device as part of the ‘fit and even springing for a wetsuit if folks think they may get in, purposefully or accidentally. Those who don’t already have a group to go with can join on Facebook and see where locals plan to paddle.
“I'm promoting individuals to find their tribe and a good time that fits them,” Coleman said.
Further from the Front Range, Pagosa Springs hosts a on Oct. 31.
