The official Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience is coming to Vancouver | Daily Hive

The official Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience is coming to Vancouver's Stanley Park

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)

Beginning in Fall 2025, a stretch of Stanley Park’s towering trees will be infused with a touch of magic. After dusk, the forest will glow with an otherworldly trail where wands are welcome, creatures stir in the shadows, and Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest is brought to life beneath Vancouver’s canopy.

For the first time in Canada, fans will be able to step into a reimagined version of the series’ most mysterious woodland.

For a limited time only, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience opens Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Stanley Park, offering an immersive outdoor attraction inspired by the films’ enchanted forest. It will run nightly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through early 2026.

And unlike the infamous, unlicensed Willy Wonka fiasco in Scotland in 2024, this production is the real deal — an official, high-quality event presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences in partnership with Brand Live, Fever, and Rifflandia Entertainment Company.

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This touring Harry Potter nighttime outdoor immersive experience has already welcomed millions of people around the world, with stops in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, and the United States. Now, Vancouverites and tourists will be the first in Canada to walk its illuminated trail.

Within Stanley Park, this Harry Potter-themed experience will specifically be held in the same area as the Stanley Park Train, which is not operational due to ongoing major technical issues with the train fleet. This means Bright Nights and its Christmas Train operating season will not return this year. But the new replacement experience this fall and winter for the space aligns with the Vancouver Park Board’s new strategy of generating new commercial revenues to better support the city’s parks and recreational system.

“On behalf of the Park Board and its staff, we’re very happy to host this event in beautiful Stanley Park this fall. With the much-loved Stanley Park Train unfortunately not available this coming fall and winter season, this exciting new special event is certain to bring a lot of joy and fun to residents and visitors alike,” said Vancouver Park Board chair Laura Christensen in a statement.

Catherine Runnals, the president of Brand Live, added that her event production company “is thrilled to be the operational partner for this exciting new attraction. Bringing the immersive Harry Potter Universe to Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park is a rare opportunity to create magic in our hometown.”

harry potter forbidden forest experience

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)

The Forbidden Forest is one of the most notable settings in the Harry Potter series.

Located on the edge of the Hogwarts castle grounds, the forest is home to a wide range of magical creatures, from unicorns and centaurs to giant spiders. Though Hogwarts students are generally told to stay away, the forest becomes an important backdrop throughout the stories, where characters face challenges, uncover mysteries, and encounter the wonders and dangers of the Wizarding World.

The experience will lead guests along a lit pathway filled with interactive moments from the Wizarding World. Event organizers believe the entire walk will take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete, with the walking trail taking 45 to 75 minutes. There will be plenty of things for guests to see and do at their own pace.

Visitors will see Arthur Weasley’s flying car, come face to face with magical creatures like Hippogriffs and mischievous Nifflers, and even try their hand at spell-casting. The trail concludes in a themed village where guests can browse exclusive Harry Potter merchandise and sample Wizarding World-inspired food and drink.

That includes the fan-favourite Butterbeer — a sweet, frothy, butterscotch-flavoured beverage that has become a staple at official Harry Potter attractions around the world.

Tickets go on sale starting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, with adult admission starting at $49.50. Children under the age of three can enter for free. Timed-entry tickets will be required.

While there will be a box office on site, organizers strongly recommend booking tickets in advance online, as tickets may be sold out for the desired time of entry upon arrival.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)

“We are thrilled to bring this enchanting journey to the Canadian market. This experience will be a must-visit event for Vancouverites and tourists alike,” said Annie-Lou St-Amant, regional manager of Fever Originals Canada.

Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver, commented, “Stanley Park is one of the world’s most iconic urban parks and as the first Canadian destination to welcome the new Harry Potter event, it underscores Vancouver’s ability to attract unique experiences that will appeal to both locals and visitors.”

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Vancouver

When: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to early 2026; nightly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Time: Starting at 4:45 p.m. each event night until late evening. All entry is timed.
Where: Site of the Stanley Park Train — Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance
Admission: Tickets online. Starting at $49.50 for adults; free for children under the age of three

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