Witches Ride returns

Bikes will become brooms on Halloween eve.

Decked out in colorful striped leggings and black brimmed hats of all shapes and sizes, hundreds of witches will cruise through Homewood’s streets, cackling with joy and tossing candy to those they pass.

Just as the Homewood Witches Ride’s founder would have liked, the procession has one primary aim — fun. 

This is the second year in a row Janie Ford Mayer has organized the ride in memory of her mom, Paula Stringfellow Ford, who planned an annual Witches of South Walton event in Florida until she passed away from lung cancer in early 2013.

 “She lived to dress up and do anything fun like that,” Mayer said. “She would always want us to do something fun and keep her happy spirit going.”

Last year, plans for the ride began two weeks prior when Mayer posted information about the date and route on her personal Facebook page. Friends told friends, and on Oct. 30, a flock of friendly witches and their broom-bikes showed up decked out in costume. The event had raised $600 for the American Cancer Society (ACS) before it began.

“Eighty-something people were here that night,” Mayer said. “It was insane.”

Afterward, Mayer kept hearing people tell her they heard about the ride and wanted to do it the following year, so she decided to start planning months in advance.

The original organizers are working with the ACS on this year’s event, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7 p.m. Mayer is anticipating participation from around 200 witches, including a group of her mom’s friends from Florida. The ride will depart from Studio on Linden, 2919 Linden Ave., at around 5:30 p.m. and take about 25 minutes to complete. Registration is $10, all of which goes directly to ACS. T-shirts and a silent auction with many items from Homewood merchants will also raise funds for the society.

Only women are invited to ride as witches, but Mayer encourages men and kids to find a spot along the ride route and wait to catch candy.

Once the ride is completed, everyone is welcome back at Studio on Linden for food trucks and other festivities, as well as a toast in memory of Ford. 

Mayer ordered her cape and leggings for this year’s witch costume months in advance and is looking forward to seeing everyone’s expression of a “fun witch.” Prizes will be awarded for the best witch costume and the best broom-bike.

“We want everyone to do their own thing, but the crazier the better,” Mayer said. “Less is not more in this case.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/homewoodwitchesride.