Harry Potter fans of all ages can rejoice because Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest experience is finally in Vancouver, and for the very first time in Canada.
This experience is a treat for Harry Potter fans young and old, and a must-visit for Potterheads. Wish my Harry Potter-enthusiast younger sister was in town to experience the magic cuz she would’ve geeked-out hard! She’s the only person I know that owns 7 official Harry Potter wands!
I brought my mom and my youngest kiddo for the media sneak peek, a day ahead of opening night. My mom loves the series (she even wore a lightning-patterned sweater underneath her robe for the event!).
We gave little dude a crash course in Harry Potter lore a couple hours beforehand. He’s never seen the movies or read the books, but he sure wants to now! He was super excited to dress up in robes, and he was loudly proclaiming “I am Harry Potter!” to anyone who would listen all evening long (even though he was dressed in Hufflepuff colours).
Tip: make sure to wear comfy shoes and dress for the weather, as this outdoor experience runs rain or shine, and requires event-goers to walk through an illuminate, somewhat rugged, woodland trail.
Our experience began at the Village grounds, where we had the option to purchase snacks and refreshments before the walk. To stave off hangriness, we got the kid’s (2-piece) chicken tenders and chips ($10), which was already pre-prepared and ready in a warmer. Self-serve sauce choices included ketchup, mustard, or relish.
And then the doors opened, and suddenly we were in the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid’s voice over the loudspeaker, encouraged us first years to “hurry up and not be shy”.
Up the path, we ran into Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, out for a walk with Fang. Malfoy’s scream cut through the night as we approached.
We encountered many magical creatures along the way, the first of which was a Hippogriff.
According to the books, if you meet a Hippogriff you have to show proper respect by bowing (and maintaining eye contact without a single blink!). Wait for it to bow in return before approaching. Otherwise, it might attack! It was fun to put this into action, and rewarding when the Hippogriff bowed back!! On first pass, my kid just bowed and walked off. He didn’t even wait for the Hippogriff to bow back. Ha.
The most fun interactions were the motion-activated spell-casting stations! We practiced spells like bombardia, to disperse blast-ended skrewts, incendio to illuminate lamps, and colovaria, which turns things different colors.
We especially enjoyed the Patronus charm interaction, where you recite the incantation expecto patronum! as you wave and point your wand across a small water body while thinking of a single, happy memory.
In the story, the animal that appears after the spell is cast reflects the caster’s personality. It was exciting to see which Patronus would magically appear! My Patronus was an otter, little dude’s was a phoenix, and mom’s was a dog.
Another really cool activation was the wizard duel. Using the special wands provided by the staff, we took turns activating the lighting-shaped energy beams to see whose beam would dominate.
About halfway through the illuminated forest walk, you’ll find The Mulling Pot, a small hut offering themed snacks and drinks, in case you’re in need of refreshments.
We tried the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin House hot chocolates ($9 each), flavoured with caramel, vanilla, and mint syrup, respectively, and decorated with whipped cream and sugar in each House’s colour.
Lids or sleeves weren’t available so we had to wait for the drink to cool down enough for little dude to be able to drink it before we resumed our walk. Took him a full 20 minutes to finish it!
Every now and then, Voldermort’s menacing, whispered hiss cut through the serenity of the forest: “Give me Harry Potter and I will leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have one hour.”
The sound and flashing lights made my arm hairs stand on end. Be warned, some areas of the trail are dark, spooky, and may be scary for younger kids.
The walk through spiderweb projections on the way to Aragog’s lair was made even creepier with fog machines, lighting effects, and ominous music.
If you’re familiar with the story, Aragog is able to keep his offspring from harming Hagrid, but he “won’t deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into their midst”. Eeeks that means us!
The Forbidden Forest got darker and more sinister as we wandered into Death Eater territory.
Watch out for Dementors!
The mood brightens quickly though, as we soon found ourselves surrounded by familiar creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.
Glad we gave the kiddo a crash course in all things Harry Potter, because he recognized many of creatures and iconic scenes from the movies.
The Forbidden Forest Emporium gift shop at the end of the walk offers licensed merchandise, including 7 kinds of souvenir wands (2 light-up and 5 collector’s), light-up lanyards, snow globes, stuffies, clothing, and candies, all at theme park pricing.
Fanfare greeted us when we exited the emporium, back into the entrance village. Drinks, savoury food, and sweet treat options are available if you’re feeling peckish after the walk.
We were tempted by the Marshmallow kart, where you can toast marshmallows over a propane fire and make your own s’mores ($8/kit).
To complete the experience, we enjoyed a round of Butterbeer and listened to snippets of the story in the Audible Harry Potter Full-cast audio nook inside a tree trunk!
Butterbeer is nonalcoholic, vegan, and gluten-, soy-, and dairy-free. Tastes like slightly fizzy, not-too-sweet caramel-cream soda.
Opt for the adult version with the addition of a vodka, spiced rum, whiskey, peppermint schnapps, or Irish cream shot (+$10). Shots can be added to any of the hot chocolates, as well.
The entire experience took us about two hours to complete (more than the estimated 60’- 90 mins) partly because little dude took so long to drink his hot chocolate.
While tickets are for a specific entry time, there is no time limit, and you are welcome to revisit the installations as many times as you like.
While the pricing for this experience is on the higher end, I can appreciate the cost that goes into setting up, operating, and maintaining this 1.3 km installation, that is situated in an actual forest environment and exposed to weather conditions for a two-month duration. It is an immersive experience, so unlock your mind and open your eyes to the magic.
We enjoyed this experience overall. I highly recommend dressing in robes for a fully immersive experience! Bring your own wand, or do as we did and use twigs!
Wands are also available for purchase in the small gift shop at the start of the walk ($74.95). They light up and are ready for spell-casting. You are also able to borrow a wand at the different installations, so don’t worry if you don’t have one.
With the holidays coming up, this Forbidden Forest Experience would make a magical and very special gift, especially for Harry Potter enthusiasts.
Tickets are available online at https://hpforbiddenforestexperience.com/vancouver. Later show times and Family Bundles offer some savings.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience runs from Nov. 7th until Jan 11th, 2026
Stanley Park (690 Pipeline Road, Vancouver, BC)
We received complimentary tickets to this media preview, hosted by Edery & Lord Communications.