5th Annual Witches Night Out adding even more witchy fun!

Kerry LaCross, a previous year’s Witches Night Out Cackle Contest winner. Mirror file photo/photo courtesy of Sue LaRocque and Linda Stevens.

by Sara Swanson

Downtown Manchester’s Witches Night Out is returning for its 5th year on Saturday, October 11, from 6pm to 9:30pm. All of the favorites will return, including late-night shopping, drinking with lots of specials, sales, dancing, food trucks, and the big end-of-the-night witch contest! But this year also features some exciting additions!

As in the past, costumes are optional but encouraged. At 8:45pm stores will close and everyone will be encouraged to make their way to the Manchester Mill on the Water at 201 E Main, where the costume and cackle contests will be held inside this year instead of on the porch. 

Earlier in the evening, inside of the Mill there will be a DJ, dancing, and a bartender, and Anya Novesky from Dance with Heart Studios will be teaching the “Thriller” dance (check Facebook closer to the event for the exact timing of this). 

Also new this year is the potion bottle–collecting game. Participants will visit different stores in town to collect potion bottles. No purchase will be necessary and participants win an awesome keepsake souvenir of Witches Night Out 2025.

Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) will be shuttling people to downtown Manchester from Chelsea, Dexter, and Scio Township, plus some stops around the outskirts of town.

Participating businesses include the Village Hair Forum, River Raisin Distillery, The Sassy Peacock, Steele Grafix, Millie’s Coffeehouse, The Village Tap, Over the Edge, Frank’s Place, All Things Green, Dragonfly and Birch, Worth Repeating, Dance with Heart Studios, River Raisin Mercantile, Hometeam Ice Cream, Manchester Brewing, and Farm Bureau Insurance. Stop in during Witches Night Out for a potion bottle and/or specials, sales, free gifts, drawings, and more!

New this year for Witches Night Out is the potion bottle–collecting game where participants will visit downtown businesses to collect potion bottles. Photo courtesy of Dragonfly and Birch.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.