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.
Description
The 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
Ginny 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
Big Float, a defunct annual event on the Willamette River
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