Making Magic on Oak Island

Thanks to Oak Island resident Carrie Lenzen (and many others), the Oak Island Witches Ride and New Year’s Day Lantern Parade have become two of the island’s most anticipated annual traditions.

On one Saturday every October, Oak Island trades flip-flops for broomsticks. More than 1,500 people are expected to descend on the beach town for the sixth annual Oak Island Witches Ride, a festive cycling — along with golf carting and trolley riding — tradition where community and charity take center stage as witches and warlocks make their way between local restaurants and bars.

Participants arrive dressed in everything from colorful wigs and pointed hats to jack-o’-lantern costumes and elaborate Halloween ensembles. Others opt for sneakers and street clothes, since the only real requirement for joining the ride is being ready to embrace the fun and to donate at least $10 to charity.

The tradition’s organic growth has been fueled almost entirely by word of mouth and by curious onlookers eager to join after spotting the first gaggle of 30 or so cyclists rolling through town six autumns ago. Since then, the event has exploded in popularity, with attendees traveling from across the country and as far away as Canada to take part.

“We wanted to help businesses network and for people to make friendships,” recalls Carrie Lenzen, the Oak Islander who spearheaded that first ride and has overseen the return of the large-scale gathering ever since.

While much of the merriment comes from dressing up, riding around the island and sipping and snacking at local restaurants and bars, the true magic of the Witches Ride lies in its impact on the community.

Each year, Lenzen selects a pair of Oak Island nonprofits to benefit from the extravaganza, encouraging participants to donate a minimum of $10.
“I always and only feature nonprofits who are local to Oak Island who make an impact on life on the island for everyone,” she says.

Though she doesn’t keep an exact tally, Lenzen notes that past nonprofit partners have estimated the event has raised roughly $40,000 over the years. This year’s beneficiaries are the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter and the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program.

Beyond the goodwill (and good eats and drinks), the Witches Ride has become a major economic boost for Oak Island’s hospitality scene, with many participating businesses reporting some of their busiest sales of the year that day.

This year’s official restaurant and bar sponsor lineup includes lead Cauldron Club sponsor Paul’s of Oak Island, followed by Coven Circle sponsors Lazy Turtle Bar & Grill and Pirates Deck. Four additional Broomstick Lounge sponsors — Tranquil Harbour, 49th Street, Oak Island Pub and Second Wind — have also pledged donations directly to the event’s nonprofit beneficiaries.

The support extends well beyond the official sponsors. Restaurants and bars from one end of the island to the other — including Duffers Pub & Grille, The Grape and Ale, Koko Cabana, Salt64, Solar Brewing Company, Shagger Jacks, Oak Island Elks Lodge, The Tipsy Tuna, The Seahorse at Ocean Crest Pier, Lonerider and even Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill across the bridge — welcome riders throughout the day, with many choosing to contribute to the charities as well.

Notably, the Oak Island Witches Ride remains completely free to attend.

And because the event draws more than 1,500 riders, there’s no official route or schedule. But witches and warlocks are all provided with a custom Google Map to help them navigate the island’s participating stops. The unofficial game plan: Start wherever and visit as many restaurants as you’d like. To boot, restaurants often prepare special grab-and-go menu items and drinks to help keep traffic moving. And for newcomers and those flying solo, find fellow riders by joining or creating a “coven” through the event’s Facebook page to enjoy your ride alongside.

Although the ride itself is geared toward adults, it intentionally takes place the same day as the town’s family-friendly Spooktacular celebration. Lenzen and a group of volunteers even organize a choreographed witches’ broom dance to perform during the event — a tradition that delights children and adults.

For Lenzen, the highlight is still pedaling through town and seeing the community come alive.

“The best part is riding through and seeing everyone smiling and waving,” she says. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Outside of the Witches Ride, Lenzen also helps organize Oak Island’s annual New Year’s Day Lantern Parade with fellow resident Melanie Hartung. The pair launched the event to give residents something to celebrate together on an otherwise quiet holiday.

The first year Lenzen and Hartung simply showed up on the beach, hoping others would join them. Families arrived carrying homemade and store-bought lanterns, and within a few years the event has grown into another cherished island tradition. Last New Year’s Day, an estimated 700 people participated in the parade, while even more lined the beach and parked along the shoreline to watch the glowing procession make its way down the sand.

Lenzen organizes both the Witches Ride and the New Year’s Day Lantern Parade simply for the joy of bringing people together. Beyond planning and coordinating two of Oak Island’s now-signature community gatherings, she works full time as a senior marketing manager and co-hosts a radio show, dubbed Double Trouble, on Cape Fear Radio with one of her best friends.

Having called Oak Island home for the past eight years, Lenzen’s passion for the island shines through in both her words and her actions.

“To me, Oak Island is still small-town America,” she says. “I love that we love local, I love the people and I love that it’s dog-friendly.”

Whether you’re joining the Witches Ride this fall or ringing in the new year on the beach beneath the lanterns, Lenzen hopes these events inspire people to embrace the fun and fellowship and support the small businesses that make Oak Island special.

BROOMSTICKS, LANTERNS AND ISLAND SPIRIT

6th Annual Oak Island Witches Ride
Saturday, October 2412 to 5 pm
Suggested donation: $10 per participant
For more information, search Facebook for the Oak Island Witches Ride
Benefits Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter and Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program

4th Annual Oak Island New Year’s Day Lantern Parade
Friday, January 1, 20275 pm Oak Island Pier, 705 Ocean Drive, Oak Island
For more information, search Facebook for Oak Island New Year’s Day Lantern Parade event pages.