By Cashmere Morley
To those familiar with the Pagan community, it’s well known that Michigan casts a strong and enduring spell when it comes to Pagan gatherings. Whether you’re a long-time practitioner of earth-based spirituality, or simply curious about modern witchcraft, you’ll find open arms and thoughtful conversation at gatherings like Witches’ Night Out, the Witches’ Ball, and Pagan Pride events throughout southeast Michigan. These community-driven experiences don’t just bring people together, they cultivate shared knowledge, spiritual growth, and a deeper sense of connection.
Over the past few decades, Ann Arbor has become a small but vibrant hub for modern witches, pagans, and seekers of all kinds. These are not secretive, exclusive circles. Instead, they reflect the values of openness, inclusivity, and mutual support. Whether participants identify as witches, druids, pagans, spiritual humanists, or none of the above, these gatherings offer a space for respectful dialogue, learning, and often, a bit of magic. From drum circles to lectures, seasonal rituals to tarot card discussions, each event is a reflection of the people who show up and share their time and energy.
This article takes a closer look at three of the region’s most enduring and beloved gatherings happening this fall, beginning with Witches’ Night Out, a free monthly meeting hosted at Crazy Wisdom Bookstore. WNO has been part of Ann Arbor’s alternative spiritual fabric for over 30 years. Now coordinated by Moira Finkle, it has grown from a casual meet-up into a dynamic circle of discussion, ritual, and community-building. Finkle emphasized shared leadership and encouraged attendees to bring questions, suggest topics, or even host an evening themselves. The circle is ever-evolving and always open.
We’ll also explore the energy and spectacle of The Witches’ Ball, an annual celebration of spirit, self-expression, and seasonal magic. Part costumed gala, part community ritual, the ball draws people from across Michigan and beyond. It’s a night to revel, to honor ancestral traditions, and to dance in joy and reverence. Organized by Kenya and Kyle Coviak, this event, like so many in the region, reflects a broader mission: to educate, connect, and uplift the wider pagan and spiritual community.
Finally, we’ll look at Ann Arbor Pagan Pride which hosts a series of fall events that combine visibility, education, and charity to bring a Pagan event to our neighborhood that is truly magical. Pagan Pride brings witches, and the witch-curious, into the public square breaking down stereotypes and building understanding. Through rituals, workshops, and family-friendly fun, Pagan Pride events remind us that spiritual practice can also be service and that community magic is often the most potent of all.
These autumn Pagan offerings give visitors not just insight into the practice of witchcraft today but into the communal spirit that keeps it thriving. Whether you’re a practitioner or a newcomer, these events offer a space where you can learn, question, connect, and grow.
Witches Night Out
Every second Wednesday of the month, from 6 to 8:00 p.m., a ritual of spiritual exploration, shared learning, and pagan connection unfolds on the second floor of the Crazy Wisdom Bookstore. Witches Night Out (WNO) has been welcoming new and seasoned practitioners alike for over three decades to its circle. Moira Finkle, who currently coordinates the gathering, described it as “an opportunity for people to share knowledge and to get questions answered.”
Open to everyone from the curious to the deeply experienced, WNO was originally initiated by a Crazy Wisdom employee as a simple way to gather like-minded individuals. In more recent years, as attendance began to dwindle, Finkle added structure and intention to the format by inviting speakers, creating a conversational circle, and emphasizing inclusivity and communal power. Now, attendance regularly ranges between 20 and 40 participants.
Unlike some larger local events, WNO is casual, drop-in, free, and requires no commitment. There’s no dress code, no vendors, and no live entertainment—just a warm, welcoming space to explore spiritual topics and connect with the community. “Relaxed” is the word Finkle used to describe the atmosphere. Each meeting includes informal chats and open-ended discussion over cookies to cultivate a judgment-free zone for learning and growth in whatever phase of spirituality one may be in.
Each month brings something new. Local witches, artists, and spiritual practitioners are invited to lead presentations on subjects as varied as spell work, devotional practices, spiritual drumming, crafts, and seasonal rituals. One especially memorable evening featured Sundance Living Waters, who led the group in exploring the power of drumming as spiritual practice. “We sat in a full room as we watched someone live their passion,” Finkle recalled, “and we all shared in their joy.”
There’s also space for spontaneous magic at this gathering. “People bring questions and/or requests, and we do our best to respond,” said Finkle. Readings, minor rituals, and spell work are often folded into the night’s energy. Some attendees simply come to listen and absorb; others are moved to share or participate more deeply.
Though the group doesn’t host vendors or sell goods during meetings, WNO has a strong relationship with Crazy Wisdom. Attendees are encouraged to browse the store before or after each gathering, supporting the local independent bookstore that generously hosts the event. Finkle also serves as president of the Magical Education Council (MEC), a nonprofit that organizes additional events like ConVocation, the annual Pagan Picnic, and public rituals many of which are announced at WNO.
Witches Night Out continues to thrive through the passion of its participants and the flexible, inclusive model Finkle has helped cultivate. “It’s about shared power,” she said. “Everyone brings something to the circle.”
To get involved or stay updated, follow Witches Night Out on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/annarborwitchesnightout.
Ann Arbor Pagan Pride
Each September, Ann Arbor Pagan Pride brings together witches, druids, and spiritual seekers of all paths for a day of magic, learning, and community. Since 2016, the event has served as a welcoming hub for local Pagans, as well as simply curious minds, offering workshops, rituals, vendors, and family-friendly activities for all. Now in its ninth year, the event continues to grow in size and spirit with this year’s theme—”Raising Our Voices: Joy as Resistance”—serving as a powerful call to gather, connect, and celebrate in the face of a challenging world.
Founded by the late Rob Henderson (see the feature including Henderson at issuu.com/cwcommunityjournal/docs/issue_73), Ann Arbor Pagan Pride is part of the international Pagan Pride Project, an organization that promotes education, inclusivity, and community engagement for Pagans around the globe. The local event is run by a small, dedicated team of volunteers and funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and community support.
Kai Belcher-Ross, one of the organizers of Ann Arbor Pagan Pride, said the event is “about finding the value you bring as you are in your spirituality. It’s about finding pride in your knowledge of how the earth moves, how the sea swells, how the stars sing, and how the gods, spirits, and us all weave together. It’s about coming together with others who understand and celebrate what we each do in mutual love and respect.”
At its heart, Pagan Pride is about fostering a safe and vibrant space for people of all traditions to learn from one another. Attendees can explore a variety of workshops led by local teachers, including hands-on magical techniques, devotional practices, nature walks, and even smaller rituals throughout the day. The event culminates in a large, public ritual, inviting participants to come together and weave shared intention through community magic.
Inclusivity is key: the event is open to all ages with a sensory play area for children and classes accessible to teens and up. New and experienced practitioners alike are welcomed and encouraged to teach, vend, or volunteer creating a dynamic and ever-evolving experience.
While celebration is central, so is service. Entry is donation-based with attendees asked to bring non-perishable food items for Food Gatherers which supports the broader Ann Arbor community. Pagan Pride is also committed to outreach and education responding to misconceptions about Paganism with empathy and openness.
As Belcher-Ross put it, “The point of the event is to provide a space where people can learn and grow together while celebrating what makes us Pagans, while including those that don’t know what we’re about.”
To get involved or stay updated, visit a2paganpride.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/annarborPaganpride.
Witches’ Ball
This October, summon a friend and conjure your most bewitching ensemble—the longest running, premier witches ball in the country is opening its doors once again, and there’s a ticket with your name on it. Witches, pagans, and spiritual seekers alike will indulge in spirited elixirs from a top-shelf open bar, savor a spellbinding selection of culinary delights, and dance the night away to the theme of “Dance of the Goblin King” at the annual, fully costumed, Michigan Witches Ball.
“It’s not trying to be a carnival, just a good time,” said Kenya Coviak, an organizer for the event. “We are welcoming of everyone. Leave the politics, worries, and stressors behind once you hit the inside, because this night is magical.”
Originally known as the “Pagan Prom,” the event began as a grassroots celebration held in a Knights of Columbus’ hall and has grown into a vibrant annual tradition. Though its exact founding is rooted in the early work of the group Cov42 and later guided by Gordon Ireland, the Ball has evolved through many incarnations including the Unreal WitchBall and the Midwest Witches Ball. Today, it is organized by Kenya and her husband, Kyle, who are infusing new energy into the event with the help of local vendors and sponsors.
At its core, the Witches Ball is a celebration of Samhain, the season that honors the dead and marks the final harvest. Its mission is twofold: to foster community among diverse spiritual paths and to raise funds for local Pagan charities. Beneficiaries have included Pagans in Need Lansing, Wolf Run Wildlife Spiritual Sanctuary, and the Michigan Pagan Scholarship. The event also maintains strong ties with groups like the Magical Education Council and Spiral Moon Family Circle.
The Ball has grown from a local party into a regional event, welcoming attendees from across the Midwest and even Canada. Traditionally drawing a crowd aged 30 and up, organizers are now intentionally opening the doors to younger generations, with hopes of bringing in more Gen Z and Millennial participants both on the dance floor and in the planning committee. While the daytime Michigan Witches Bazaar offers a family-friendly experience full of eclectic vendors, intuitive readers, and magical wares, the nighttime Ball is strictly for guests 21 and older offering dancing, dining, and mystique. Tickets are $60 a piece, and the event takes place in Clinton Township.
This year, live performances include Lady FireFox, and the Goblin Grrrls, as well as the announcement of Michigan Pagan of the Year. The Ball’s 2025 theme, “Dance of the Goblin King,” draws inspiration from faerie folklore and the film Labyrinth. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress—whether that means fantasy-inspired costumes or elegant evening wear that feels on theme. Still, organizers remain mindful that not all community members can, or want to wear disguises, and that’s okay, too.
The event does not affiliate with any one coven or tradition, choosing instead to build bridges across all paths. Looking ahead, the team behind the Ball dreams of securing a permanent venue and welcoming even more diverse voices into its leadership. But one thing remains constant: the Michigan Witches Ball is a night of magic, mischief, remembrance, and renewal—a sacred space where the community comes together to dance with the living and honor the dead.
For tickets to the Michigan Witches’ Ball, visit allevents.in/clinton-township/michigan-witches-ball-2025-tickets/80001309983942, or eventbrite.com/e/michigan-witches-ball-tickets-1308629850109. For more information about the ball find it on Facebook @michigan-witches-ball-2025. Find information about the Witches Bazaar on Facebook @michigan-witches-bazaar.
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