A SONOMA COUNTY HALLOWEEN TRADITION
Witches & Wizards on The Water
It’s a Supernatural Paddle Party on the Petaluma River.
Saturday, October 24 • 11 am-2 pm
—-Boat, board, or water bike, that is.
QUICK FACTS:
WITCHES & WIZARDS ON THE WATER
Don’t be a stranger. Just be strange.
WHEN & WHERE?
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24th FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM
Show off your costume and your paddling, pedaling or rowing skills from the central Petaluma River Turning Basin, upstream along Water Street and downriver all the way to the North Bay Rowing Club!
WHAT?
TRICK-OR-TREAT ON THE WATER
Follow a special paddle trail using a map and gathering treats in a custom cotton bag you collect at the top of Weller Street or River Plaza ramps anytime from 11 am to 2 pm. Discover folks passing out treats from docks, from bridges, from shore!
WHAT ELSE? COSTUME CONTEST
COSTUME CONTEST ON THE WATER
Anytime between 12 and 1 pm, paddle up to shore at Grand Central Cafe and do your best to wow the panel of judges!
HOW DO I GET ON THE WATER?
BYO BOAT OR BOARD— OR RENT FROM THE FLOATHOUSE.
If you’re renting, we suggest you do so online ahead of time, or your favorite broom might be taken!
Halloween is better on the water.
For one whole afternoon in October, downtown Petaluma’s river turns into a floating costume party. Perfect for ghouls, goblins, witches, wizards, river monsters, unicorns, pirates, superheroes, pups and of course, Petaluma’s famous chicks!
In 2025, this Wizard of Oz trio won Best Overall Costume. See more AMAZING COSTUMES below!
Tips & Tricks
HOW TO…
-
There aren’t a lot of rules to this frightful frolic, but we do have a few requests.
Everyone is welcome to join in. You can dress up as much as you like, or not at all! It’s a floating costume party, AND spectators are welcome too!
We request that if motorized craft are your thing, you choose another day to cruise the turning basin and its vicinity. People-powered craft of all kinds are welcome and celebrated!
Be kind and courteous to all, even monsters.
-
Pick up your custom Witches & Wizards cotton trick-or-treat bag AND MAP at the top of the Weller Street or River Plaza ramps. BYO boaters should launch from Weller Street or anyplace on the public docks in the basin or between Water Street and the Yacht Club on the downtown side.
You have from 11 am till 2 pm to follow the Paddle trail to collect goodies from riverside businesses and organizations stationed up and down the river!
Find out what boating teams and local businesses are hiding in plain sight! You might find someone on a bridge! or on docks you didn’t even know existed. It’s a meet n’ greet on the river!
-
Enjoy this classic analog experience for all!
12-1 pm, on the water in front of Grand Central Cafe.
No preregistration required, just shout out your phone number to the registrar stationed by the panel of judges waiting for you to show off your spooky, sweet, or hilarious costume.
You’ll be competing for amazing prizes donated by local businesses who appreciate the effort required to design and wear a costume that works and wows on water!
Categories include Best Little Costume, Most Nautical, Most Petaluman, and Best Group Costume.
Or convince the judges to create one just for you and your friends!
We’ve had some stellar surprise entries over the past few years. Check out some of the standouts here.
-
Whether you bring your own boat or board or rent one from The Floathouse, you can incorporate the means of transportation into your costume, and get points from the judges if you enter the contest, or just kudos from your fellow ghouls and goblins on the river.
Pirate ships? Awesome.
Water bike-based costumes? There are plenty of examples, from the Wicked Witch of the West to Mary Poppins.
Our very first Best Costume Ever (before we even had a contest) was hands down a vampire in a flowing black dress operating one of our Hobie Pedal Boards; She appeared to float effortlessly across the surface of the water!
Group costumes in multiple watercraft or piling onto one big one like our Megalodon giant paddleboard have been known to literally wake the competition.
Have fun and get wild!
Everyone gets a hand-drawn map of the paddle trail created by illustrator Joey Manfre and a unique cotton trick-or-treat bag for gathered goodies.
Need a broom? We’ve got all kinds!
Renting from The Floathouse is easy. Book online ahead of time for the 90-minute or 2-hour slot that suits your schedule. Then just check in and let The Floathouse crew do the rest!
Renting from The Floathouse? Choose the mode that suits your costume!
PEDAL: Skirted folks often favor water bikes or pedal stand-up boards (as seen in our main photo). Those who like to present a speedy, low profile like the pedal kayaks. Group costumes may prefer the Hobie Fiesta, a family-sized raft with four pedal stations and room for passengers or props.
PADDLE: These classic watercraft can support a wide variety of costumes, from superheroes to wizards. We have single & tandem kayaks, family-sized canoes and a sweet solo canoe too (perfect for those with tiny pets or small props) and, for those who like a paddle-shaped broom, we have regular-sized paddle boards or the Megalodon (a 6-person giant paddle board favored by families of skeletons or crowds of ogres and platoons of pirates).
ROW: Three kinds of rowboats, for all kinds of costumes. (Note: rowboats are for those with rowing experience).
Bringing Your Own Broom? Welcome!
Oar-owning pirates, broom-bringing witches, canoe-carrying chickens & cows….you’re in the right place!
(The Weller Street Dock, near The River House, 222 Weller Street)
Bringing your own boat or board to this Petaluma River party? Here’s the protocol.
Unload your boat at the Weller Street dock (Near River House, 222 Weller Street, Petaluma, CA.)
2. Park your vehicle in the gravel lot or on Weller Street itself.
3.Pick up a custom Witches & Wizards on The Water cotton trick-or-treat bag and paddle trail map at the top of the Weller Street ramp.
4. Have a great time meeting fellow freaky folks on the water, trick-or-treating up and down the river, and entering the costume contest.
A RECAP OF ALL THE DETAILS
WHERE ARE WITCHES WELCOME?
For Floathouse renters: check in at The Floathouse docks in the central turning basin. Access The Floathouse via the ramp at River Plaza, between Baskin Robbins and TAPS (60 E. Washington Street) OR via the Weller Street ramp, by River House at 222 Weller Street
For BYO boaters: launch at the Weller Street docks by River House at 222 Weller Street.
Pick up your custom cotton Trick-or-Treat bag and this year’s Trick-or-Treat Water Trail map at the top of the Weller Street ramp or the top of the River Plaza ramp, between Baskin Robbins and TAPS.
WHEN CAN WE JOIN?
Floathouse open: 9 am-5 pm
Trick-or-Treat Paddle Trail: 11 am-2 pm
Floating Costume Contest: 12-1 pm, on the river, in front of Grand Central Cafe at 226 Weller Street
WHAT’S INCLUDED FOR FREE?
Trick-or-Treat Paddle Trail: 11 am-2 pm
Floating Costume Contest: 12-1 pm
Spectating: 11 am-2 pm anywhere along the river, especially: Riverfront Cafe, LUMA Bar & Eatery, TAPS on The River, Grand Central Cafe (Costume Contest is judged here)
Everyone is welcome at Witches & Wizards on The Water. There is no fee to participate in the Trick-or-Treat Paddle Trail or the Floating Costume Contest.
WHAT CAN I PADDLE?
All people-powered watercraft are welcome. We ask that you do not operate hydrofoils or motorized watercraft in the turning basin during the event (11 am-2 pm).
Safety First.
Petaluma loves variety, and creativity is wildly appreciated by our river community.
FABULOUS COSTUMES FROM THE PAST
WHAT MARVELS WILL THIS YEAR BRING?
Little witch helps big witch with her broom. How sweet!
Amazing creativity abounds.
Best costume before we even had a contest...
This could spell trouble. Spell... Get it?
What do you call a bunch of witches? A cauldron?
Judges will spontaneously create categories...
The color combo is perfect!
Paddling for Gold.
The skies cooperate sometimes!
We know witches get around on paddleboards. At least in Petaluma! Photo: aquamarinestudios.com
This was the winner of Most Petaluman...
Bring your best smiles!
Friends who paddle together...
Pirate ships welcome.
Mary Poppins paid us a visit on our Hydrobike!
Analog all the way!
Spidey sense activated!
Wait, is that cauldron legal on a seafaring craft?
Personal Pirate Craft... With pup.
Get together and get your goodies! Bags provided!