July 20, 2023
From Visit Fairfield County
A special event is brewing in Fairfield County, Ohio! Wands & Wizards Weekend in Lancaster and Beyond returns August 10th, 11th, and 12th.
This magical weekend takes place across several communities in Fairfield County including Lancaster, Pickerington, Lithopolis, Carroll, and Baltimore. Businesses and organizations in these areas will host fun, family-friendly events that will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into another world. Visit local restaurants to sample potions fresh from the cauldron, enjoy scavenger hunts to find fantastical creatures, or enroll in a class to create your own wand or magic orb. The possibilities during Wands & Wizards Weekend are endless!
Start your wicked fun adventure on Thursday, August 10th by visiting the Fairfield County visitor center at 158 W. Wheeling Street in downtown Lancaster. The Visit Fairfield County staff have prepared a special map for wandering wizards to make the most of this enchanted weekend! Or enhance your experience by purchasing a VIP (Very Important Professor) package online that can be picked up at the visitor center and includes food and beverage vouchers, terrifically tasty treats, a VIP wristband, a special goodie bag, and more. Other packages are available and include a Friday overnight stay, or a Saturday day trip that comes with a custom Gay Fad Studios phoenix glass, a magical plant workshop at STUMP, and a Wands & Wizards t-shirt.
Events and wizardly specials will be taking place all three days, but be sure to make time to visit the Fairfield County District Library in Lancaster. This seemingly ordinary library will transform into something straight out of the Harry Potter series! Fans of this legendary wizard will delight in a sorting ceremony, treats from Honeydukes, photo opportunities, trivia, and more. The library will also host Magician Rusty Ammerman, magical creatures courtesy of Ohio Nature Education, and Miami Valley Falconry.
Wizard Faire is a brand new event happening this year during Wands & Wizards Weekend. On Friday, August 11, visit Victory Park in Pickerington for a free, renaissance-inspired festival for all ages. There will be games, crafts, food trucks, and vendors selling spell-tacular wares. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to enjoy live entertainment happening on the stage, or travel around the park to spot wandering musicians, a magician, and costumed characters.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though! Destination Downtown Lancaster will host its monthly Saturday Cinema with a special showing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Also on Saturday, a Potions & Pubs Bar Crawl will take place at many of the local bars and restaurants. Participants will sample potions and receive a complementary, custom shot glass designed by Gay Fad Studios. Other businesses are joining in with their own unique activities and specials, so be sure to follow Wands & Wizards Weekend on Facebook for the latest updates! There’s so much for witches and wizards of all ages to enjoy right in downtown Lancaster!
For those seeking a thrill, the castle-like Wagnalls Memorial Library in Lithopolis is hosting a ball on Saturday, August 12. From 12-2 p.m., enjoy a family-friendly scavenger hunt to solve the case of the missing headmaster. It’s up to you to use your magical sleuthing skills to solve the mystery! There will be costumed actors, crafts, magical bingo, photo ops, and buttery beverages at this fantastic event. And as with all Wands & Wizards events, costumes are encouraged!
With so many events to choose from, you may need to take an occasional break at one of the local coffee shops or bakeries offering sweet, wizard-themed treats and buttery beverages– like Carroll Cup Coffee House, Sorso Coffee, and Juniper & Ivy to name a few. Or enroll in a class to create a wand, a magical orb, or your very own cauldron. Wizardly workshops are around every corner during Wands & Wizards Weekend, as well as scavenger hunts. Whether you’re finding dragons at Hartland Farm, creatures and cryptids at Lancaster Camp Ground, or magical creatures and fairy houses in Pickerington, there’s something for everyone to discover.
Most events are free for all to enjoy, but some may be ticketed or have limited capacity. Be sure to check with the participating businesses to verify details regarding their event or special; you can also go to VisitFairfieldCounty.org/Wands-And-Wizards to learn more or find other whimsical and mystical events. And don’t forget to download the free Visit Fairfield County app on iOS and Android to check out the Wands & Wizards Weekend tour– making it easier than ever to find magical events happening near you!
