Portsmouth Witches Fête

The Witches Fête is coming to Treadgolds on Sunday 1 November, from 12pm to 8pm. It's a new witchy market for Portsmouth, and the name tells you exactly what to expect: tarot readings and spell workshops alongside bakery and craft stalls. If you've been looking for a day out that leans into the occult side of things, this is it.

The fête was started by Rebecca Gilbert, who runs Auntie Duck's Apothecary. She set it up after she couldn't find a similar witchy market anywhere in the city, so she decided to build one herself. There's a personal thread running through it, too: Gilbert is of Romany Gypsy descent and grew up around family members with 'The Gift'. About eleven years ago, she began educating herself about the craft, and tarot reading was part of that. Now she runs an academy that teaches spells, astrology and tarot, with classes held at The Cove on London Road. She describes the market as a way to educate others about witchcraft and Romany Gypsy culture, so it's as much about learning as it is about shopping.

On the day, you can find the workshops and tarot readings running alongside the bakery and craft stalls, so you can move between the two. If you're just browsing, there'll be plenty to look at; if you want to get stuck in, the workshops give you a chance to try things out for yourself. It's a full day, from midday through to 8pm, so you can drop in whenever suits you best. You'll find it at Treadgolds on Bishop Street, in the heart of Portsmouth.