Every autumn around Columbus Day weekend, a coastal tradition comes alive on the Bolivar Peninsula. Eleven years ago, local resident Shirley Broussard decided to brew up something truly special by combining her love for Halloween with a deeply personal mission: raising organ donor awareness. As a four-time organ transplant recipient who has overcome incredible medical hurdles—including double lung, single lung, and kidney transplants—Shirley started the Halloween Witches of Crystal Beach annual dance. What began a decade ago with just a handful of enthusiastic friends has blossomed into a beloved community celebration packed with costumes, laughter, and a life-saving message.
This year’s hour-long gathering brought together dance performances, family festivities, and heart-touching stories against the backdrop of the beach. Event organizers kicked off the festivities with a grand original witches dance routine before inviting the entire crowd to step up and join in on a classic group dance. Dancers clad in pointed hats and whimsical costumes lined up along the sand, taking well-earned breaks and returning for multiple lively rounds.
Adding a moment of maritime magic to the festivities, a passing Coast Guard helicopter even circled around overhead for a second look at the dancing witches. Between performances, one lucky crowd member walked away with a custom work of art painted by Shirley Broussard.
Beyond the enchanting choreography, the heart of the event remained focused on its critical mission. Speakers shared emotional personal testimonies about how organ donors gave Shirley second and third chances at life, noting that her presence at the beach that day was a direct gift from donors. With transplant teams reporting a recent decline in donor registrations nationwide, event organizers urged attendees to sign up as organ donors to help give others a second chance at life.
