Oct 11, 2016 3 min read

When the city of Monongahela opted to invest nearly $1.8 million to make numerous improvements to Noble J. Dick Aquatorium, it was for the purpose to help downtown remake itself.

The facility, once deemed unusable by Washington County Redevelopment Authority because of destroyed concrete and debris, is now host to a summer concert series that has brought crowds to the venue.

Aquatorium Innovations, the nonprofit whose purpose is to assist the city with the aquatorium, will bring another first-time event to the area as it plans to welcome the fall season with Witch Festival on Oct. 29. Festivities for the 18-and-older crowd will begin at 7 p.m. at the aquatorium at 200 Railroad St.

Co-organizer Terry Sebben said the event could be one of the largest of its kind in the Mon Valley in quite a while.

“We’re thinking that we will have the biggest attendance of vendors in the Valley in a very long time,” Sebben said. “We have vendors and attendees planning on coming from the entire tri-state area.”

Anticipation is building fast for what Sebben wanted to be an alternative to the classic costume party or pumpkin festival. The aquatorium’s Facebook page already has 801 people reportedly planning to attend the event. Another 5,900 are listed as interested in the event, which hasn’t needed much advertising.

“We’ve only advertised on social media and through word of mouth,” said Sebben. “It’s really exciting. The fact that we just put it up on social media and let it go. The response we have gotten has been quite amazing.”

The costume-optional, free event will offer music, games, readers, merchandise vendors, food, beverages and prizes. Organizers also are offering access to a Very Important Witch Tent for $25 per person in advance. This portion will feature hors d’oeurves, finger foods and a witch’s brew.

In addition, tickets for $30 are being sold for a “Messages from the Other Side” session, and two seances will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 to 10:45 p.m.

Merchandise for the event includes jewelry, hand-blown witch balls, handmade bags and purses, crystals, hand-poured soy candles, brooms, spell bags and jars, knitted items, clothing and essential oils.

With a group of volunteers to help with events at the aquatorium, and partnering with local organizations such as Monongahela Fire Department, Sebben is following through on the city’s goal for the aquatorium.

“Without the group of volunteers, we couldn’t do anything,” she said. “The city spent the money to renovate the venue, so let’s use it.”