Thousand of witches and warlocks flock to city’s first pagan-inspired markets
A growing awareness of environmentalism and hit films like Harry Potter have inspired a resurgence of old-world paganism, so the organiser of Toowoomba’s first Witches Market said.
The man behind the Witches Market thought hosting an event in Toowoomba was a gamble but that punt has paid off with thousands of curious cats and wide-eye warlocks flocking to Picnic Point on Saturday.
Wayne Pina-Roozemond runs the Queensland Pagan Collective and holds Witches Markets across Southeast Queensland.
He said there had been a resurgence of pagan religions as society became more conscious of the environment and the spiritual connection people have historically had with the land and nature.
“Paganism is an earth-based religion and people are thinking, hang on, this other mob has been at it for thousands of years.
The markets were billed as a place where everyone from practising pagans and those with a passing interest in old-world spirituality could pick up supplies and meet like-minded people.
There was a roving fire eater alongside stalls selling handmade clothes, artwork and toys and countless crystal and cauldrons, potions and poultices.
“I also run the Beltane Fire Festival at the Sunshine Coast and we did our first Witches Market there,” Mr Pina-Roozemond said.
“It was really popular and now we run 12 each year in southeast Queensland and up to Gladstone.
We had about 8000 people at the Ipswich market last week.”
Given the success of the Toowoomba event, Mr Pina-Roozemond said he would be back again next year and even looked at hosting events at Dalby and Warwick.
“One of the things we strive for is inclusion and the vibe of the Toowoomba market was amazing.”
Originally published as Thousand of witches and warlocks flock to city’s first pagan-inspired markets
