To ring in the Halloweekend, Hocus Pocus star Bette Midler hosted her annual fundraiser, Hulaween, alongside her spooky costars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. Tickets sold to the virtual event on Friday night raised money for Midler's New York Restoration Project.
The hour-long special, In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover, was created as a mock documentary to discuss the Sanderson Sisters' history, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. Guests discussed their own simulated experiences with the onscreen witches.
Cassandra Peterson, who played the Mistress of the Dark, was the virtual event's emcee. She proudly welcomed other stars from outside the Hocus Pocus universe, such as Kenan Thompson, Meryl Streep, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more. Everyone dressed to impress in their very best Halloween costumes.
Glenn Close, who's best known as Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations, sported the iconic black and white wig from the film and explained her connection to the Sanderson Sisters, while in character, of course. "On the De Vil family tree, you'll find that Millicent De Vil, my great, great, great, great, great grandmother, lived in Salem, MA from 1643 to 1962," said Cruella.
Mariah Carey made a surprise appearance for the grand finale to get viewers excited for her favorite holiday, Christmas. After telling Midler, it was time to move on from Halloween to the most wonderful time of the year, her iconic song, All I Want for Christmas, played during the credits.
Thank you to the Divine Miss M @BetteMidler for having me! Best Halloween movie ever!! 🎃🎃🎃 #HocusPocusReunion @NYRP https://t.co/QHDteZxlAl https://t.co/84UUF6pG1u
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) October 31, 2020
It's been over 20 years since the Halloween classic was released, so Midler felt this virtual fundraiser was the perfect way to reunite with her spooky sisters. Even after all these years, evidently, fans still hold so much nostalgia for Hocus Pocus and its iconic characters.