Downtown Wallaceburg will see a swirl of spooky sights on Wednesday as a group of local women don their finest “witchy” attire and dance through the streets — months ahead of Halloween.
The Whimsical Dancing Witches of Wallaceburg are set to take part in the Wolfshager Hexenbrut Witches Dance, a worldwide event promoting peace and unity through synchronized dance. Tens of thousands of participants around the globe are expected to join the festivities.
The Wallaceburg group, witches in name only, embraces a wide range of costumes — from traditional Halloween witches to Steampunk and Gypsy-inspired outfits. “Almost anything goes,” organizers said.
The group meets regularly not only to rehearse but to share crafting and baking skills. Recent activities included painting rocks to be hidden around town for residents to find, and designing a float that wowed crowds at the 2024 Wallaceburg Christmas Parade. Plans are already underway for their 2025 float.
Beyond dancing, the witches will take to the water this summer for a “Witch’s Paddle” — aiming to stay dry — and will return downtown for their popular Halloween dance event that draws dozens of fans.
Each dancer takes on a whimsical nickname, from “Bee-Witch,” who champions the preservation of dandelions for bees, to “Keebler Witch,” named for her elf-like stature. Other members include “Devine,” “Twisted-T” and the town’s beloved “Baldoon Witch.”
Dancers range in age from their 20s to their 70s, united by a common goal: to spread joy and love throughout the community.
The public is invited to join the Whimsical Witches on April 30. The group will gather at the Wallaceburg Museum at 2 p.m. and dance their way downtown to Fountain Park, where they will join the global dance at 3 p.m.
