A new “Harry Potter” outdoor attraction has been announced for the Chicago area this fall, opening near suburban Fox Lake in time for the Halloween haunted house season.
Titled “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience,” it will open on Oct. 3 in Ingleside at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan (32405 N. US Highway 12). A waitlist opens 10 a.m. Wednesday, with tickets ($31-$46) on sale 10 a.m. July 30 at hpforbiddenforestexperience.com.
The event is described as being for families and all ages, themed around the “Harry Potter” and spin-off “Fantastic Beasts” films. “Forbidden Forest” also is playing or has visited 10 other cities in the U.S. and internationally, including Austin, Texas; Westchester, New York; Melbourne and Singapore. Visitors to those events describe an outdoor walkthrough experience with props and settings known from the films, as well as lights and digital displays and the like. Fans of the “Harry Potter” books and movies can use wands for interactive effects, and visitors can also expect food vendors and concessions.
According to an announcement Wednesday, it’s presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, Fever and IMG Arts & Entertainment. In Chicago, it joins the Harry Potter Shop on Michigan Avenue and a previous “Harry Potter: Magic at Play” exhibit at Water Tower Place.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
