It’s 7 p.m., not quite witching hour, but Melissa Madara is intently melting the side of a dark blue spell candle so that it can fit into the mouth of an empty whiskey bottle. “I’m being the most boring witch ever,” she says.
witches
Druids, Faeries, and Sorcery of All Manner at the 5th Annual ‘WitchsFest USA’
At left, Indigo. Right, a man who, when asked, said “I think you know already.” (Photo: Nicole Disser)
As one might expect, the 5th annual WitchsFest USA, which unfurled its freak flag over Astor Place on Saturday, was a hotbed for crazies. Oh, we’re not talking about the usual chatty theologians, fantasy-contact-wearing druid bachelors, springy sprites, and cute pagan moms wearing their fishnet best and proudly pushing faerie-winged kiddies through the packed street fest. No, you could hardly accuse these pagan faithful of being antisocial– instead, it was the Christian protest element, out in full force on Saturday afternoon, that earned the watchful eye of the police and the ire of a doting crust punk tribe.