Draco Malfoy may have been terrified to venture into the Forbidden Forest with his nemesis, Harry Potter, but residents of Northern Virginia are clamoring for the opportunity to enter the magical realm.
Now they have their chance. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience opens at the 1,000-acre Morven Park in Leesburg on Oct. 29 and runs through January.
Getting In
Tickets for the October and November dates have already sold out, while limited availability remains for December and January. Leesburg is one of three locations to offer this fantastical experience. The other sites are in Westchester, New York, and Cheshire, England.
“We have received an incredible response already from Harry Potter fans across the DMV area, even before the experience opens up to the public,” says Heather McGill, producer and creative director of Unify Productions Global. “The venue at Morven Park offers us beautiful, dense woodland with pathways, which is perfect for our guests to experience the magic. … The close proximity to great transport links is also a real benefit to us and our guests across the DMV area.”
What To See
Guests will walk a lighted woodland trail at their own pace, encountering some of their favorite mystical creatures from the Harry Potter universe along the way. Centaurs, unicorns, hippogriffs, and nifflers are all rumored to make appearances, as are creatures like the rare giant spider Aragog and the wrongfully accused hippogriff Buckbeak.
The path will also transport witches, wizards, and muggles through some of the series’ more popular scenes, including sightings of Mr. Weasley’s flying Ford Anglia and Harry Potter’s stag patronus.
Things To Know
Paid parking is available, and patrons are encouraged to book online when buying tickets. (Parking costs $8 online, $10 on site.) Guests should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time of their experience. This is a cashless venue, so be sure to bring the plastic and leave the green at home. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly and wear comfortable outdoor shoes. The experience is open rain or shine, so bring a small personal umbrella in the event of inclement weather. Lastly, service dogs will be the only animals allowed on the trail.
Practice Spell-Casting
Think of a happy memory and practice your “Expecto Patronum” spell, which guests will be able to cast to conjure their own unique patronus. There’s no need to bring your own wand — patrons will be offered one on site.
If sightseeing and spell-casting tire you out, food inspired by the Wizarding World will be available.
“We hope that guests will be able to immerse themselves in the same magic of the Wizarding World that they felt both on screen and in print,” McGill says.
Feature image courtesy Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
This story originally ran in our November issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
