Experience WitchFest at Gardner Village
SEPTEMBER 20-OCTOBER 31, 2024
(West Jordan, UT) – If you visit historic Gardner Village mid-September through October, you’re in for a real treat! And maybe a few tricks as well as the witches come out to play during the annual WitchFest in West Jordan, Utah.The menace is intentional each year as crews begin working on WitchFest, Gardner Village’s seasonal celebration of everything witch, complete with witch displays and a scavenger hunt to find them. There's Breakfast with a Witch, Witchapalooza Dinner Theater, Witches of Mystic Manor Escape Room, Manifestations Magic Show with Dinner and so much more. WitchFest is Utah's premier Halloween festival.
WITCHFEST 2024 DATES, HOURS & PARKING INFO
- Friday, September 20-Tuesday, October 31, 2024, runs daily, Monday-Saturday. No admission fees to visit. Parking fees each Thursday, Friday and Saturday during WitchFest.
- Normally parking is free year round. Parking is free Monday-Wednesday during WitchFest. $10 per car parking fee (cash or credit card), Thursday-Saturday, September and October. Receive valuable coupons when you pay to park. We hire ABM Parking to manage the lots and make your experience better. For your safety, please don’t park on 7800 South. There is plenty of parking in our lots.
WITCHFEST HOURS: - September 20-30, Monday-Thursday, 10am-6pm and Friday-Saturday, 10am-8pm and October 1-30, Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm and Saturday, 10am-9pm
- Archibald's Restaurant regular hours during September, 11am-8pm and then in October, Monday-Thursday, 11am-8pm and Friday-Saturday, 11am-9pm
- Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 2024, 10am-4pm | Archibald's Restaurant, 11am-4pm
PARKING:
FIND WITCHFEST FAQs HERE >>
WITCHFEST 2024 EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
- WITCH SCAVENGER HUNT & WITCH DISPLAYS: Navigate using your phone and on-site signs. FREE! No ticket necessary. Print your form from home here.
- WITCHAPALOOZA DINNER THEATER AND BREAKFAST WITH A WITCH at The Gathering Place on sale now. Live Gardner Village witches at breakfast.
- WITCHES WEEKENDS: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, September 20-October 26, 2024. Live Gardner Village witches in our Center Court area beginning at 12:30pm for photo ops and fun. Food trucks, witch scavenger hunt, train rides, petting zoo, face painting, shopping and lots of activities in select shops. (Witches Weekends have replaced our former Wee Witches Weekend that was only held on one weekend).
- WITCHES NIGHT OUT: An enchanting tradition at this annual ladies shopping and dining evening event on Saturdays, October 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2024 from 5-9pm. Dress in your finest witch wear or purchase your costume here at Gardner Village. 5:15pm family costume parade, ladies grand witches parade at 8pm (ladies 18 & older) with the live Gardner Village witches leading the way. Our live Gardner Village witches will create toil and trouble as they bring a few witch displays to life. Let your mole hairs down and shake your BOO-ty with DJs Russ & Morgan Powell of Powell Weddings & Events. Enter to win prizes, enjoy hair raisingly good food and shop til you drop. Wraps up at 9pm with Thriller and our Gardner Village witches on the main stage. No tickets necessary.
- MANIFESTATIONS! - A MAGICALLY MACABRE TRIBUTE TO EDGAR ALLEN POE at Mystique Dining and The Prestige: Magic Lounge & Showroom. A magical experience with a 5-course dinner followed by an award-winning master of illusion. Make reservations here.
- WITCHES OF MYSTIC MANOR ESCAPE ROOM at A Great Escape : Reserve time here.
- RICOCHET CANYON AMUSEMENT PARK: Rides, activities, play area, pony rides, petting zoo with a wild west bewitching theme. Reservations not needed. Admission & ride fees apply.
- WITCH EXPRESS TRAIN & TRACTOR-PULLED WAGON RIDES at The Train Shoppe: Witch Express Train, a trackless train that meanders through Gardner Village, Monday-Saturday. Tractor-pulled wagon rides with a Gardner Village witch, Thursday-Saturday. Fees apply.
- WITCHY HAIR & NAILS: Look your witchy best with a manicure, pedicure and a witchy updo at Soulstice Day Spa & Salon. By appointment only. Clip-in hair extensions and nail stickers available on a walk-in basis.
- VW PHOTO BUS: Bewitching photos in an iconic VW Bus Photo Booth at Camera Shy. The VW bus will roll in October 5, 12 & 19 from 5 to 9pm in front of their shop. Various photo packages starting at $10. No appointment necessary.
- FACE PAINTING: Located at The Art Cottage. Monday-Friday, 10am-7pm, Saturdays, 10am-8pm. HENNA TATTOOS: Thursday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, Saturdays, 10am-8pm. Fees apply.
- WITCH-THEMED PAINT NIGHTS: Every Friday & Saturday from 6-8pm at The Art Cottage. Pick and paint from a variety of witch paintings with step-by-step instruction on a 16x20 canvas, $34.99 per painter. Register here. WITCH HAT TABLE TOP DECOR WORKSHOP: Thursday, October 3, 6:30-8:30pm, $49.99 per person. All supplies included. Register here.
- WITCHY EATS: Food available at Archibald's Restaurant and Happy Camper Deli and Bakery. Caramel apples and sweet treats at Chocolate Covered Wagon. The Cackling Cantina on Mill Plaza serves Mexican food, Monday-Saturday beginning September 25, 2024, first come first serve seating, open weather permitting. Food trucks Thursday-Saturday. No outside food or private parties allowed in seating areas.
- THE BROOMSTICK SOCIETY TEA PARTY & SEASONAL CLASSES: Sandwiches, pastries, witches brew & more at Seven Gables Mercantile. September 26, 2024 at 6pm, $39 per person. Felted Witch Hat, Copper Halloween Ornament, Haunted Graveyard CLASSES and others available. Reserve here.
- PET SPIDER CRAFT: Witches love spiders and kids love crafts at Willow Hill Yarn Company. Fridays & Saturdays during October from 11am-3pm. Fees apply.
- WITCHFEST T-SHIRTS: Take a piece of the magic home with WitchFest souvenir t-shirts at BohoChic Boutique, our official souvenir t-shirt store.
- FAMILY MAGIC MATINEE: Join Utah's funniest magician, Jason Fun, for a magical show packed with fun at The Prestige. Buy tickets here.
WITCHFEST MAP & DIRECTORY >> >>
WitchFest Photo Gallery
WHY VISIT WITCHFEST?
All of the hocus and pocus that make up today’s WitchFest started in 2000 with Witches’ Night Out. “Witches’ Night Out draws thousands of would-be witches to the Village each year,” Joe Long, CEO of Gardner Village, said. “They come wearing elaborate costumes and pointy hats, ready to shop, eat, play and have whimsical witchy fun.”Over the years, WitchFest has evolved from this one-evening event into a celebration and family-friendly festival the runs mid-September to Halloween each year. With the ambiance and charm of an early Utah village, the brick-lined paths surrounding the historic Gardner flour mill are a unique backdrop for over 50 larger-than-life witch displays that adorn the property during WitchFest. You'll be immersed into the experience with 30,000 pounds of pumpkins, 20,000 pounds of straw and hundreds of bunches of cornstalks that decorate the grounds. One of the most popular activities is the free scavenger hunt for the iconic green-faced beauties. You'll find endless post-worthy photo ops.
World-renowned folk artist, Eric Dowdle, created a custom painting for WitchFest that has been turned into puzzles and prints that are sold nationwide and at Gardner Village in the Wanderlust store. WitchFest received a past Best of State award as Utah's best fair, festival and event.
MORE ABOUT GARDNER VILLAGE - THE HOST OF WITCHFEST
“Gardner Village is a unique destination that brings visitors every day throughout the year,” Long says. “Especially during WitchFest, people come from California, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and even the East Coast to be part of the fun. The Village showcases an important part of West Jordan and Utah history.”Gardner Village features locally owned specialty shops and event venues surrounding the historic Gardner Mill, which is listed on the National Historic Register. The old flour mill and silo are home to Archibald’s Restaurant, Mill Plaza and CF Home. Vintage pioneer architecture, antique fixtures, red brick paths and bridges add to the atmosphere that takes you back to a simpler time and spotlight Utah's colorful history.
Gardner Village is a Utah historic site and is located at 1100 West 7800 South in West Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The Village is open year 'round, Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays.