Richmond event: Oddities Witch Market draws nearly 1400 people, 'Good vibes everywhere'

RICHMOND — The Oddities Witch Market hosted by River City Witches at Diversity Richmond had a huge turnout. On Sunday, an estimated 1400 people of all ages attended the five-hour-long community event.

River City Witches founder Misty VanCleave, a necromancer/kitchen witch, came up with the idea for the public market.

"This market always blows me away for all the love and support we get from our Virginia and out-of-state communities," VanCleave of Richmond said. "This market gives witches a chance to connect, make new friends, and learn more about their craft."

Attendees had an opportunity to purchase food and drinks, watch performances, and survey goods from 75 different vendors.

Witchy goodies

The witch-based spaces included items such as bones, jewelry, oddities, apothecary, candles, wands, lotions, portrait art, woodwork, entomology taxidermy, shadow box art, coffin shelves, honey jars, essential oils, antiques, pottery, coffee, tea, herbs, whimsical art, crystals, potions, remedies, gemstones, baubles, dark arts as well as a variety of brooms.

The family-friendly market was held in Diversity Richmond's parking lot and Event Hall. A number of individuals had their canine companions wagging and tagging along.

Tarot card readings and Reiki, an alternative energy healing, were also available.

"I'm so happy I was able to do readings for everyone. I had such a great turnout," Nikki Knight, Clairvoyant/Medium/Tarot Reader. "Everyone I did a reading for had a meaningful experience and I to experience with them."

Knight, Star Angels Readings owner, passed out ancestor money to help bless the ancestors for the eclipse.

"This experience didn't only help me financially, but it helped me reach out and help others break generational curses and honor ancestors. In my practice, this means a lot to me," Knight said.

Party Liberation Foundation [PLF], a community of individuals from all walks of life, entertained the crowd with ambient fire performances and DJs. They also provided a mocktail libation station to keep marketgoers hydrated.

PLF sold the following specialty drinks:

• Beetlejuice — green Hi-C and Sprite garnished with a sour gummi worm

• Moontini — pineapple juice, lime juice, club soda, pearl dust [edible glitter] and activated charcoal

• Fresh Blood — pomegranate juice, lemon juice and Squirt soda garnished with two grapes

PLF's mission is to nurture community and individuals, hold and support fun, interactive events focused on collaboration, education, creativity, inclusion, consent culture, accountability, respect, responsibility, safety, gratitude, inspiration, positivity and progression.

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Oddities Witch Market feedback

Kaley Bankert of Chesterfield attended the unique market for the first time.

"I thought it was magnificent! Lots of love," Bankert said. "I felt good vibes everywhere. A lot of friendly faces."

Hex Positive podcast host Bree NicGarran was a vendor at the market. She is a practitioner of cottage witchcraft who specializes in plant-based magics.

The merchandise NicGarran had for sale at her Willow Wings Witch Shop booth included jewelry, witch web kits [wooden hoop, white and black embroidery floss, pentacle charm and instructions] as well as her book "Grovedaughter Witchery: Practical Spellcraft," a discussion of practical secular witchcraft, with spells, charms and tutorials.

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"Every opportunity to get my work out there means the lights stay on and the rent gets paid, so I'm immensely grateful to Misty and her team and the wonderful staff at Diversity for continuing to organize these markets," NicGarran of Williamsburg said. "It's a wonderful chance for us to come together and share what we've been up to, make friends, meet new people, and hopefully show the curious public a fun and positive side of the witchcraft community."

"The Oddities Witch Market was absolutely awesome. I didn't get a chance to wander much but everyone I came into contact with had such good energy," Knight said. "I look forward to doing tarot readings and selling spiritual items at future River City Witches markets."

Witchcraft and witches

Does River City Witches co-founder David James, a grey hedge witch/conjuror, think the Oddities Witch Market improves the community's perception of witches?

"Yes, 100%. It allows those that don't practice or are a part of a different religious view into our world to see the truth about witchcraft and witches from different paths and practices," James of Richmond said. "For thousands of years, witches have been hated, persecuted and killed for their practices and beliefs. This gives our people a chance to show our truths, our ways and practices."

River City Witches provides education and materials needed to practice witchcraft and other spiritual practices.

"We help those on the path to have a community where they know they are safe, no matter what kind of witch they are," James said.

The public is invited to the Mid-Summer Witch Market hosted by River City Witches. It will take place in Richmond on Sunday, June 26 from noon to 5 p.m. at Diversity Richmond, located at 1407 Sherwood Avenue. Admission is free.

For more information, follow River City Witches on Facebook and Instagram.

— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram, and subscribe to us at progress-index.com.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Richmond event: Oddities Witch Market draws nearly 1400 people