WizardFest: York Festival of Wizardry 2025

About

WizardFest: York Festival of Wizardry returns from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th May 2025, bringing a magical celebration to the streets of York. Created by the team behind the Wizard Walk of York, the city’s only tour designed especially for families with children, this enchanting event promises three days of spellbinding fun across multiple venues.

The festival is co-hosted with Little Vikings and supported by Visit York, with a packed programme of activities and attractions designed to delight young witches, wizards and their grown-ups. From immersive storytelling and spellbinding performances to hands-on workshops, film screenings and magical food, the weekend is set to be a highlight of the spring calendar.

Date and Time

Friday 24th May to Sunday 26th May 2025
Times vary depending on the activity – check individual listings for details.

Location

Various venues across York city centre, including St Helen’s Square, York Theatre Royal, City Screen Picturehouse, and The Cat Gallery.

Festival Highlights

WizardFest will feature a range of paid and free experiences. Highlights include:

• The Wizard Walk of York – the award-winning family-friendly tour.
• Brick Magic LEGO workshops at York Medical Society.
• ‘A Kind of Magic’ storytelling sessions by Story Craft Theatre at York Theatre Royal.
• Harry Potter film screenings at City Screen Picturehouse.
• Witch and Wizard crafts by Avocado Events at St. Olave’s Church.
• The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring at York Dungeon.

There will also be a number of free activities, including a fancy dress parade and Best Dressed Wizard or Witch competition on Monday 26th May at 3pm in St Helen’s Square, and the Black Cat Quest trail hosted by The Cat Gallery.

Magical Shopping and Food

Visitors can browse spellbinding shops like The Shop That Must Not Be Named, The Society of Alchemists and The Imaginarium. There will also be wizard-themed treats on offer across the city, such as The Wizard of York Ice Cream at Loopy Scoops, Phoenix cocktails at Ate O’Clock, and magical chocolate from Monk Bar Chocolatiers and The Heroes Journey at Browns Department Store.

Tickets and Booking

Many events are free to attend, but advance booking is strongly advised for paid activities due to high demand. For bookings and full listings, visit the official website: www.wizardwalkofyork.com.