Park Board apologizes for Vancouver Harry Potter attraction amidst public outcry
An official Harry Potter event, just weeks away from opening in Stanley Park, has had its future in the city confirmed by the Vancouver Park Board this week.
A motion by commissioner Tom Digby, which urged the Vancouver Park Board to officially apologize for hosting Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, passed by unanimous vote on Tuesday, Oct. 7
The motion also requested that the Vancouver Park Board instruct staff to report back and confirm that the Harry Potter event will run for only one season, with no extension or renewal.
There has been considerable outcry surrounding the associations between the Harry Potter event and the author behind the franchise, which Digby acknowledges.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)
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“Deep concerns about the event have arisen because the original author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling, has, since at least 2018, used her platform and the wealth gained from the Harry Potter franchise to fund and amplify anti-transgender political campaigns, and her actions have caused harm to trans communities worldwide, including here in Vancouver,” wrote Digby in the motion.
“The potential negative effects on an important part of our community by the decision to host the Harry Potter event in Stanley Park opening in November 2025 has called into question the reputation of the Park Board regarding, specifically, its commitment to the TGD2S community, and more generally, whether it intends to profit from events which are associated with the targeting of any of our diverse equity seeking groups in Vancouver.”
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)
The motion stated that the Vancouver Park Board apologizes to transgender, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit (TGD2S) people and their community for the harm caused by hosting the Harry Potter event.
It was also moved that the Park Board publicly disavow JK Rowling’s political activity and directed the Chair to send letters of apology to members of the community.
Vancouver Park Board is also asking staff to report back on concrete actions that they can undertake to “repair trust and address the harm” caused by hosting the Harry Potter event.
Last night, @ParkBoard did the right thing. Apologized to TGD2S community after emotional discussion. Shared some tears. Disavowed JKR. Will undertake concrete actions to rebuild trust. https://t.co/dGC0zP3eun https://t.co/PJAKF4rjgH
— Tom Digby 狄弼 (@ThomasDigby1) October 8, 2025
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is set to open on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Stanley Park. The experience will lead guests along a lit pathway filled with interactive moments from the Wizarding World.
Event organizers estimate that the entire walk will take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete, with the walking trail itself taking 45 to 75 minutes.
People were also upset by the event’s pricing.
According to the event’s FeverUp page, tickets start at $49.50, and children under the age of three are admitted free of charge. However, some individuals who had pre-sale access, which could be obtained by joining the waitlist, shared significantly more expensive ticket prices.
Some are even suggesting that “surge pricing” is in effect, as certain times are priced considerably higher.
According to some comments on a Reddit thread, some tickets go for as high as $84 per person, depending on the time. That’s before GST is taken into account. In comparison, Bright Nights cost $15, and the proceeds went to the Firefighters Burn Fund, which has moved its annual Bright Nights event to Surrey this Holiday season.