Jamie Gray, third from right, and her coven of water-loving witches stirred up some magic in Oceanport Oct. 24 by raising awareness and support for gynecologic cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. See the story below and more photos on page 4. Emily Schopfer
By Emily Schopfer
OCEANPORT – A spell was cast over Oceanport this past weekend as a coven of witches took to the water on boards and in kayaks, wearing their best hats, capes and, of course, striped socks. The First Annual Witches’ Wharf Paddle Festival took place Saturday, Oct. 24, at Old Wharf Park and Oceanport Creek. The event did more than offer a wickedly good time; it also raised awareness and support for gynecologic cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
“I couldn’t have asked for a better turnout,” Gray, who is also founder of Jersey Shore-based event brand The Salty Sol, said. Over 40 people registered, and about 20 showed up to paddle, “but at the end of the day I think it worked out perfectly,” Gray said. The smaller group, she said, allowed more mingling and connection, letting everyone get to know one another a little better. In a way, the event also created a space for female empowerment, as many participants approached Gray afterward and told her the event motivated them to pursue their own ideas and “side hustles,” she said.
Overall, Gray said she was “very grateful” she could bring the women together.
Gray, who loves all things Halloween, said the event grew out of an idea she and a friend shared: to gather the community for a bit of whimsy. “Who doesn’t want to have fun and be silly on the water?” After all, “we live in the most beautiful area,” and we shouldn’t take it for granted, she said.
Sports like paddleboarding are becoming more mainstream as the public shifts toward healthier activities, Gray said. Events like this are a way to try out the sport without feeling judged, she added.
While the event “wasn’t particularly tied to any charity,” Gray said, it was her best friend Mel’s idea to support MSK because of the positive care and experiences Mel experienced there following a 2024 cancer diagnosis. The event raised awareness “in her honor, to support her journey,” Gray said.
There is “so much about women’s bodies that we don’t know,” so “let’s do anything that we can.” Rather than charging an event registration fee, Gray asked anyone able to consider donating $30 or more directly to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They raised close to $500 to support not just Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in Middletown, but Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as a whole.
The “quality and intention” of participants this year “was so sincere,” Gray said, and she would “love to replicate that” for next year. She also has plans to expand the event into a full-day affair with local vendors, music, face painting and more. For now, Gray is in talks with Highlands and may plan another event as early as St. Patrick’s Day.
This article originally appeared in the October 29 – November 4, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
