Although almost 100 hundred people were signed up to do this year’s Halloween Paddle, the weather whittled that number down to around a dozen paddle boarders and kayakers who braved the rain to complete the annual trip around Wickets Island in costumes.

Prior to the paddle, attendees stayed warm inside the Onset Bay Center doing festive crafts, including painting monster seashells and decorating wearable masks. 

Samantha, dressed as Eeyore, and James McCart, dressed as a sort of “Jeepers Creepers” character, worked on painting seashells with Gavin Bruce, 5, who was dressed as Spider-Man. 

Samantha said they had done the paddle the year prior and collected some seashells that now decorate their home. The family plans to add these newly painted ones to the collection.

Reflecting on last year’s paddle, Bruce said his favorite part was “when we went on the island to see the beautiful flowers.”

Lisa Swider, dressed as Cruella Deville, and Steven Fournier, dressed as Michael Myers, were originally planning to do the paddle. However, with the rain, their friends canceled. 

But the two decided to still turn out and work on some crafts to show support and said they were not going to let the wet weather bring down their spirits as they had more Halloween fun planned for the week.

Christina LaRock, dressed as a devil, and Callie LaRock, 12, and Caroline Hogan, 12, dressed as lifeguards, worked on decorating some masks.

Although the LaRocks had been to the paddle last year, this time they were able to convince Hogan to join them. 

Christina said they wanted a costume that could keep them warm while also allowing them to still fit in a life jacket. 

In regard to the event, she said she wanted to thank the Buzzards Bay Coalition for hosting it, especially Angela White. 

She said her favorite part is: “I think just doing something unique that isn't offered anywhere else and getting to do something that promotes being out in the water, too.”