The 5th Annual Witches’ Brunch was held on Saturday, October 22, at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (LMDC) in Gulfport.
More than 200 witches dined, danced, and competed for the best costume. And more importantly, they raised over $20,000 for the LMDC and Women’s Resource Center.
There was a great variety of costumes – sea witches, good witches, swamp witches. All kinds of witches.
“The commitment and creativity the witches put into their costumes was incredible, and it’s one of the reasons the Witches’ Brunch is so entertaining,” said Jacqueline Bordeaux, the event’s chair.
The theme was “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall” which was reflected in the decor and the entertainment. Lots of silver and black was used. Mirrors and trees were wrapped in silver garland and intermixed with greenery to give it a forest feel. A DJ provided the musical entertainment and there was a dancing mirror man.
There was also a small art auction consisting of witch and spooky art created by local artists.
The word “SLAY,” which was lit up in lights, was used in the décor, and its slang meaning “to do something spectacularly well, especially when it comes to fashion, artistic performance or self-confidence” sums up what the witches achieved at the brunch.
“Witches’ Brunch gives women an opportunity to be creative and have fun with their friends while giving back to the community,” Bordeaux continued.
When the witches arrived, they were greeted with their personalized event glass, which this year was a painted silver glass. They mingled, drank cocktails by Cathead, and bid on witch art. PartyPix captured the moments with complimentary photos. Then, there was a very short program, costume contest, and dancing.
Brunch was a sit-down meal with all the works – customized place cards, charcuterie cups and dessert. Food was provided by Half Shell Oyster House and The Rack House Steaks & Spirits.
Attendees left with swag bags that were put together by The Radish Loft in Gulfport.
“The event only lasts two hours but it is a very full, fun two hours. It was a great success. Exhausting, but successful,” Bordeaux said.
Next year’s brunch will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2023, and the first “Little Witches’ Brunch” for younger participants will take place the following day.
The idea for the Witches’ Brunch began in 2017 when Andi Oustalet and a small group of friends held an informal brunch. In 2018, the first organized Witches’ Brunch was held and it benefitted Gulfport Galleria of Fine Art.
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center was chosen as the venue for the brunch as many of the people who were originally on the Witches’ Brunch committee had close ties to the center so it was a natural fit for a partner in this event.
Bordeaux has chaired the event since 2018 and has always done the marketing, but took over the planning and execution in 2021. She will again be the event chair again in 2023.
Plans will soon be made for the 2023 Witches’ Brunch. Tickets will go on sale for the event approximately two months before the event. This year tickets sold out in less than 24 hours.
