Deep in the forbidden forest stand dozens of magical creatures that you have the chance to see. Featuring state of the art props that are nearly identical to the movies, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience gives Harry Potter fans the opportunity to  see some of their favorite parts of the franchise come to life.

Tickets range between $40 and $70 and can be purchased on the Harry Potter Experience website. The self-guided tour is located in Leesburg’s Morven Park Equestrian Center and normally takes guests between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. It is set up on a circular trail in the woods, with stops for food at the beginning and halfway point, and also features a large gift-shop between the entrance and exit.

The first thing senior Kaylee Stanton did when she arrived was try some of the most iconic Harry Potter foods. The extensive menu includes butterbeer, chocolate frog brownies, and mystery colored cake pops. “We had butterbeer and chicken nuggets. They were both really good,” Stanton reviewed. Another thing Stanton enjoyed was the radiant colors in the trees. “The lighting was so cool…It was very beautiful,” Stanton expressed.

After months of planning, setting up all of the lights and other elements takes over 60 people and nearly five weeks. “Temporary buildings and tents are brought in to house the crew and set up the food service and retail areas for guests. Large generators are brought in to provide power and thousands of lights and speakers are set up to provide the visual and sound elements,” event producer PJ Miller informed. Miller oversees and manages multiple parts of the event, including press, communications, and set-up.

Stanton’s absolute favorite part of the experience was the interactive wand duels. “I got to do it with my uncle. He was on the other side, so we went back and forth and I won,” Stanton laughed.

The interactive parts are a highlight for many of the guests who attend, as they are what make the experience truly immersive. “We take particular pride in the interactive elements. Getting to see iconic parts of the Harry Potter world is one thing, but it’s another thing entirely to get to experience them yourself. Our visitors get the opportunity to interact with well-known magical creatures, cast famous spells, and even battle each other with their wands along their journey,” Miller detailed.

Junior Eve Clarke, who described the experience as “enjoyable and wondrous,” was very entertained by the elements. “There was this cave where spiders came down from the ceiling. That was really cool,” Clarke expressed.

All of the parts of the experience combine to create something that is incomparable. “It felt like I was walking through the story line,” Stanton remarked. “It’s really unique. I can’t think of any other fandom that has something like it.”

The quality of the experience is a testament to the employees and personnel who work to set up something so hands-on. “A majority of the time, fans of a story or franchise are simply told about or shown that world through the pages of a novel, the CGI of a big-budget film, or the pen and ink of a comic book. It’s incredibly rare that fans get the chance to actually step into and experience the worlds they have spent so much time imagining. That’s the special experience that we hope will be something Harry Potter fans of all ages will remember for a very long time,” Miller expressed.

There is no time for dawdling, so make sure you Harry up and buy your tickets before the experience closes on January 5, 2025.