Witches Parade West Cliff Drive for Charity
Nearly 1,000 costumed participants joined the third annual WestEdge Witch Walk in Santa Cruz, with donations going to a local cancer-support nonprofit.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy
Nearly 1,000 witches paraded down West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz during the third annual WestEdge Witch Walk on Friday, October 31, 2026. Organizers collected donations for WomenCARE, a local nonprofit supporting women undergoing cancer treatment.
Why it matters
The event highlights how a community-organized gathering can channel participation into direct support for local health services. The walk's growth from a group of friends in 2020 to a crowd of nearly 1,000 reflects strong local engagement.
The walk drew roughly 1,000 participants in 2026, up from hundreds in each of its first two years. Pre-event social media posts earned thousands of likes and tens of thousands of views, though the total donation amount for WomenCARE has not been reported.
The players
WomenCARE
A local Santa Cruz nonprofit that supports women going through cancer treatment, and the beneficiary of donations collected at the walk.
Six Minutes to Live
A local nonprofit focused on sudden cardiac arrest that taught hands-only CPR at the event.
Jenny Sandrof
The organizer who created the witch walk in 2020 with a group of her friends.
The details
Participants gathered at the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, mingled and took photos, then performed a collective witch cackle before walking the route. Attendees were encouraged to bring small gifts such as crystals or tarot cards to exchange, and Six Minutes to Live taught hands-only CPR at the event.
Timeline
2020: Jenny Sandrof and a group of friends created the original witch walk, held at Wilder Bluffs.
2024: The first public walk drew hundreds of people.
2025: The second walk again drew hundreds of participants.
October 31, 2026: The third annual WestEdge Witch Walk took place on West Cliff Drive.
Community Giving
The walk shows how a costume-based social event founded in 2020 has grown into a public fundraising vehicle, with the 2026 parade moving from Wilder Bluffs to the public stretch of West Cliff Drive and channeling donations to WomenCARE.
Santa Cruz residents who want to support WomenCARE or learn CPR through Six Minutes to Live can engage with these local nonprofits directly. The walk's public format on West Cliff Drive means community members can join future events as participants or volunteers.
The takeaway
Community events built around shared fun can become effective fundraisers when organizers pair participation with a clear local cause. Residents interested in supporting similar efforts can start by contacting nonprofits like WomenCARE.
Further reading
For more on local giving, explore Philanthropy coverage in Santa Cruz.
