Fire up your broom and get ready to explore as The Great Witch Hunt returns this month, as we approach Halloween.

Fifty-one witches are on display at businesses right across the Bass Coast Shire and everyone is encouraged to explore our region to hunt down the witches and locate their unique identification numbers.

This annual community event is hosted by the Grantville Business and Community Association. Head to their website (www.visitgrantville.com.au) to purchase an entry ticket for only $5 and then download the map and get hunting!

There are a range of great prizes on offer this year including first prize of a two-day family get away at Kaloha Holiday Resort in Cowes and three-park pass from Phillip Island Nature Parks.

The total prize pool is worth over $2000 with a special prize for every entrant who successfully locates all of the witches.

The event is sponsored by Panny's Chocolate Factory and the Bass Coast Shire Council.

"This volunteer run community event is a great way to explore Bass Coast businesses and at the same time be donating to a not-for-profit event," said a spokesperson for the organisers.

"Any funds that are raised are 100 per cent returned to the community through the running of other local events.

"Hard copy printed tickets and maps are also available from the Newhaven and Inverloch information centres, the Artspace and information centre in Wonthaggi and Maru Koala and Animal Park in Grantville."

This year 40 of the original large life-size witches have been retired and replaced with the smaller size witches. Those large witches are now being offered for sale to anyone who may be interested in them for their own Halloween decorations. If you would like to purchase one, visit www.trybooking.com/DFRFO.

To stay up to date with the hunt, follow the Great Witch Hunt Facebook page for tips and clues on location of the witches.

This year there will also be three 'virtual' witches only seen on the Facebook page.

So start flying around our beautiful Bass Coast now and get hunting.