The Portland Stand Up Paddleboard Witches on the Willamette (SUP WOW),[1] more commonly known as "Witches on the Willamette", or simply the witch paddle, is an annual witch-themed standup paddleboarding event in Portland, Oregon.[2] Ginny Kauffman organized the first event in 2017.
| Witch paddle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Event participants in 2019 | |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Willamette River |
| Location(s) | Portland, Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 6–7 |
| Founder | Ginny Kauffman |
Description
editThe witch-themed event, traditionally leading up to Halloween in October,[3] involves people wearing costumes while standup paddleboarding in the Willamette River.[4] Participants have dressed as witches, sorcerers, warlocks, wizards,[1][2] and "aqua-type creatures from the deep".[5] Some participants have also attached skeletons, spiders, and other "spooky" decorations to their paddleboards.[6] Children and dogs have also participated.[5]
There is no fee to participate, but some events have also served as clothing drives[7][8] or fundraisers.[9][10] According to KOIN, the event "is open to anyone with a paddleboard and a witch costume". Event organizers have emphasized the need for participants to be experienced with paddleboarding, as lifeguards are not on duty.[9]
History
editGinny Kauffman organized the event starting in 2017; she was inspired to launch the event in Portland after seeing costumed paddleboarders in Morro Bay, California, in 2016.[11] Attendance has grown from a few dozen Halloween enthusiasts to more than 300 participants.[4]
For the event in 2017, participants launched from Johns Landing.[12] In 2018, KGW called the event "a stroke of Portland genius" and said, "You know you've hit big time when the Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau sends a boat to send up huge water jets usually worthy for a Rose Festival Navy Fleet Arrival."[13] In 2018–2019, paddle boarders traveled from Willamette Park to Tom McCall Waterfront Park and back.[14][15] The 2020 event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] Participants started following the previously used route again in 2021.[2][17]
In 2024, Kauffman said the event was on a hiatus while a search was underway for a new organizer.[4][18]
See also
edit- Big Float, a defunct annual event on the Willamette River
- Christmas Ships Parade, an annual holiday event on the Willamette River
References
edit- ^ a b Graves, Mark. "Witches Stand-Up Paddleboard Portland 2022". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ a b c Meagher, Sean (2023-10-28). "Photos: Hundreds hit the Willamette River for 6th annual witch paddle". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Portland Is the Best Place in the Country to Be a Witch". Willamette Week. 2020-02-12. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ a b c Pettigrew, Jashayla (August 8, 2024). "Willamette River witches paddle on indefinite hiatus as event seeks new organizer". KOIN.
- ^ a b Graves, Mark (2019-10-26). "Paddleboarding witches ride again in Portland (photos)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Yussen, Elayna. "Photo Essay: Hundreds of Witches Paddle Portland's Willamette". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "Hundreds of Paddle-Boarding Witches Took Over the Willamette River on Saturday". Willamette Week. 2019-10-29. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ "100s of Oregon 'witches' paddle down river, minus the brooms". Business Insider. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ a b Ferrara, John Ross (October 14, 2023). "How to join, watch Portland's 2023 'SUP Witches' group paddleboard event". KOIN. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Graves, Mark (2022-10-30). "Witches storm the Willamette River for stand-up paddleboard event in Portland (photos)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Gebel, Meira (October 27, 2023). "Where to watch witches paddle down the Willamette". Axios Portland. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Pointy hats and paddle boards: Witches take to the Willamette for Halloween". KPIC. 2017-10-31. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-08 – via KATU.
- ^ "Raw drone video: Hundreds at Stand Up Paddleboard Witch Paddle". KGW. 2018-10-29. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Graves, Mark (2018-10-27). "Hundreds of witches pick paddles over broomsticks to paddleboard the Willamette River (photos)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Caldwell, Cambrie (October 25, 2019). "SUP Witches: Paddleboarders haunt Willamette River". KOIN. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Stein, Rosemarie (2020-09-26). "Halloween in Oregon is on: See our list of haunted happenings, corn mazes and pumpkin patches". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Graves, Mark (2021-10-31). "Hundreds of paddleboarding witches brave heavy winds on the Willamette River for biggest turnout yet (photos)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Acker, Lizzy (2024-09-10). "Unless someone saves the event, Portland's famous coven of paddleboarding witches won't ride this Halloween". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-09-11.