By Zack Woltanski
On Oct. 22, well over 300 costumed witches and warlocks participated in the ninth annual Key Largo Witches Ride. The event, which consists of a bike ride from The Catch to the Caribbean Club and an after-party, has grown steadily over the years since its humble beginnings.
In 2013, Key Largo teachers Michele Thiery and Pamela Caputo got together to host a party and a bike ride, inviting their teacher friends to bike with them in a Halloween-themed get-together. In the years since, the Key Largo Witches Ride has gained support from sponsors and community leaders, as well as hundreds of annual participants.
Proceeds from its participation fee, as well as silent auctions and raffles hosted at the Caribbean Club, go back to the community, including donations to local scholarships and charities, with a significant portion going to the Joey Patterson scholarship fund. Cheryl Powers, a regular attendee at the annual rides since 2013, lists the ride’s charitable contributions as a primary reason for her continued support and participation in the event. “It’s my favorite event of the year,” said Powers. “It’s all about camaraderie and all of us coming together for a common cause.”
After the ride, witches met at the Caribbean Club for an after-party. There, riders could participate in raffles and a silent auction. There were also contests for costume and bike design. The Lilly Pulitzer Ladies, who wore vibrantly colorful hats and dresses, won for their collective costumes.
