Every autumn, communities look for ways to celebrate the season, bring people together and support good causes. In our coastal community, The Witches Ride has become one of those traditions.
Decorated golf carts and bicycles, costumes and an afternoon of fellowship give the event a festive character. Participants make donations benefiting Sea Biscuit Wildlife Rescue and other local charities. The event can also bring visitors and additional business to restaurants, shops, accommodations and other local businesses.
Those are meaningful community benefits. At the same time, the event’s theme raises a broader question about how traditions develop and what they mean to the people who participate in them—and to those who view them differently.

More Than One Meaning

For many participants, The Witches Ride is simply a Halloween tradition. Witches and warlocks are familiar characters in Halloween, movies, literature and popular culture. Dressing as one may have no religious significance at all.
For some Christians, however, the imagery carries a different meaning. The Bible contains teachings concerning witchcraft, sorcery and occult practices, while Christianity places considerable emphasis on the distinction between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and deception, and moral choices.
For those Christians, avoiding imagery associated with witchcraft may be part of living consistently with their faith. Their concern does not necessarily mean they believe participants are practicing witchcraft or promoting an occult religion. Rather, they may regard the symbolism itself as something they would prefer not to celebrate.
This creates an interesting difference in perspective. One person may see a Halloween costume; another may see a symbol connected to spiritual practices their faith teaches them to avoid.
Neither interpretation necessarily describes every participant or every Christian. The meaning depends largely on the beliefs and experiences of the individual.
Why Not a Different Fall Theme?
If the goals are to celebrate autumn, raise money for charity, encourage tourism and bring neighbors together, could those same goals be achieved with pumpkins, harvest decorations, fall colors or another seasonal theme?
A pumpkin or harvest-themed ride could still feature decorated golf carts, costumes, fellowship, charitable giving and local businesses. A different theme might also avoid some of the religious or cultural associations that concern certain residents.
On the other hand, the Halloween theme is part of what makes The Witches Ride recognizable and distinctive. For participants, witches and warlocks may simply represent the playful side of Halloween.
This is not necessarily a question of whether one group is right or wrong. It is a question about what symbols a community chooses to put at the center of a public tradition and how those choices are experienced by different residents.
What About Community Character?
Oak Island’s 2025 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Charting the Course 2045, provides another piece of the conversation.
The plan identifies quality of life as a priority, with particular emphasis on preserving Oak Island’s community character and family-friendly atmosphere. At the same time, the plan recognizes that tourism, businesses, recreation and public spaces are important parts of the community.
That balance is important because Oak Island is both a residential community and a destination with an active tourism and business economy.
The plan does not specifically address The Witches Ride or establish whether a particular Halloween theme is appropriate. Instead, it provides a broader framework for considering how the community balances different interests as it grows and changes.
That same balance applies to community traditions. A successful event can provide charitable, social and economic benefits while still prompting residents to ask whether its themes reflect the kind of community they want to cultivate.
One Community, Different Perspectives
The Witches Ride brings people together for charity, recreation, fellowship and local economic activity. Those benefits are part of the event’s story.
So are the differing perspectives surrounding its theme.
Some residents see nothing more than Halloween fun. Some appreciate the charitable purpose but have religious reservations about the imagery. Others may simply wonder whether a different fall theme could provide the same benefits while appealing to a broader range of residents.
Local charitable giving itself takes many forms. Residents support nonprofits, civic organizations, churches, food programs, wildlife organizations and individuals in need. The Witches Ride contributes to that broader culture of giving through donations benefiting Sea Biscuit Wildlife Rescue and other local charities. There is no evidence presented here that its donations specifically benefit local religious charities, but that does not diminish the charitable work performed by churches or other organizations.
Ultimately, The Witches Ride is a local tradition that brings together recreation, charity, tourism and community life. Its meaning, however, is not necessarily the same for everyone.
Perhaps that is worth recognizing rather than resolving.
A community does not have to share identical beliefs to share its streets, support charitable causes and participate in local traditions. It can acknowledge that some residents embrace a celebration while others have sincere reservations about its symbolism.
The Witches Ride is therefore more than an autumn event. It is also a small example of the larger challenge every community faces: finding room for different traditions, beliefs and perspectives while continuing to share the same community