Oct 20, 2025 By Garrett Neese 3 min read

MONONGAHELA – Witches, warlocks and other supernatural spirits didn’t need a moonlit night or a clearing in the woods to convene Saturday.

Instead, the eighth annual Witch Fest in Monongahela gave them fellowship through dances, contests and the chance to browse more than 80 booths of crafts, foods and curiosities.

Attendees are encouraged to show up in costume, helping it build a loyal following, said Tanya Chaney, president of Aquatorium Innovations, which puts on the event.

More than 2,000 people were expected to come Saturday, making it probably the biggest vendor show all year in the Monongahela Valley, Chaney said.

“It’s a great opportunity to get out and just really dress up, and it’s a great way to experience a lot of vendors in one place,” she said.

Camera Barker, owner of Barker’s Heirlooms in Monongahela, has come since the second Witch Fest to sell her creations, which put witchy spins on upcycled items like shirts or china.

“It’s just always a really fun mix of people and fun costumes,” she said. “Everybody seems to be really nice, and they seem to like my things, and they seem to buy well, so it’s always a good day.”

Saturday also featured two dance performances by the Dancing Witches of Westmoreland County, who raise funds for animal rescue organizations. In between, members of Saturday’s coven could compete to see who had the best hat, the best cackle and the best witch costume.

For the second year, the title of best hat went to Riley Provins of Elizabeth, who crafted a mix of papier-mache, craft sticks and cardboard boxes. All told, she spent about 15 hours on the hat, which she painted before adding glitter, braids and lace.

The toil and trouble paid off.

“I just recently got my degree in art at (Community College of Allegheny County), so it always makes me giddy when my art’s recognized,” she said.

Provins enjoys coming to the festival and getting to see the other costumes. Aodhan Lahew of Brave drew compliments and selfie requests from other attendees for her outfit, made in the style of immortal “dark fae” beings.

The ensemble, including fake ears and face paint, was her most elaborate to date, she said.

The festival brings together like-minded individuals, Lahew said. And as a free festival, it lets anyone from the public come by to join in.

“Anyone who’s curious, who’s interested, who just kind of wants a cool bauble, they’re able to just swing by and kind of interact with each other,” she said. “It’s really cool to see.”

Jamie Katsuleris of Mount Holly, North Carolina, had caught the tail end of last year’s Witch Fest. She timed her visit to her sister-in-law this year so she could make a return trip.

Wearing an orange-and-black “Eat, Drink and Be Scary” poncho, she was trying on rings at the Wicked Web Jewelry booth.

“I like the fact that everybody’s dressing up in costume, having fun and enjoying themselves,” she said.