Astoria celebrates return of Mitch’s Witches tradition

The “Mitch’s Witches” Halloween tradition is returning to Astoria, Oregon, this October. Named after the late craftsman William “Mitch” Mitchum, the tradition involves broom-crashed witches attached to downtown lampposts and has been a local staple for over 25 years.

This year, the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association is introducing new elements to the celebration. For the first time, many of the 34 witches will have individual sponsors. Additionally, each witch will be personified with its own unique name, number, and story, developed through a creative writing project involving students from Astoria Middle School.