Wizard of York magics up WizardFest, York’s spellbinding May half-term festival

The Wizard of York, Dan Wood: Founder, host and programmer of York’s inaugural WizardFest. Picture: The Story Of You

YORK’S first festival of wizardry, WizardFest, will fizz with fun from May 24 to 26.

The magical new festival is the spellbinding idea of Phoenix the Red, the award-winning host of the Wizard Walk of York, who will co-host the city-wide event with Little Vikings, the guide to York for families.

“Although it isn’t until May half-term, I’m promoting it now, so that families visiting York can plan their magical trip in advance!” reasons the Wizard of York, alias Dan Wood, fresh from winning  Experience of the Year 2025 at the Visit York Awards.

A magical myriad of attractions, both paid and free, will be on offer with the promise of “more magical fun than you can shake a wand at”.

“Since announcing WizardFest, I’ve had lots of exciting companies come forward for an event that will appeal to wizard fans of all ages,” says Dan. “We’re flying the flag for all things magical in this enchanting city, and of course we’ll be running plenty of extra Wizard Walks to meet demand.” 

York company Story Craft Theatre’s Cassie Vallance, left, and Janet Bruce: Hosting A Kind Of Magic sessions

Working closely with independent businesses, the festival is supported by Visit York and sponsored by Loopy Scoops Ice-Cream Parlour, Totally Awesome Toys, The Cat Gallery and The Society of Alchemists.

Little Vikings will help to promote the attractions on offer. ““This magical event is the perfect opportunity for families to explore the enchanting experiences York has to offer,” says Little Vikings’ Polly Bennett. “We’re thrilled to be supporting it.”

Some events are yet  to be confirmed, but confirmed so far are extra Wizard Walks; Harry Potter films at City Screen Picturehouse; Lego workshops with The Brick Box; A Kind Of Magic sessions with Story Craft Theatre’s Janet Bruce and Cassie Vallance; Witch and Wizard crafts with Avocado Events; bird of prey experiences, dragon meet-and-greets and more.

A purr-fect partnership with The Cat Gallery, in Low Petergate, will see families searching for cats around shop windows and spelling a magic word to receive their own mini magical cat. A permanent Wizard of York cat will be added to their regular Cat Trail, complemented by a competition to name the magical moggy.

From Visit York and Make it York, visitors can peruse a Magical Night Market in Shambles Market on the Monday evening, with interested traders invited to email York-markets@makeityork.com to book a stall.

Wizard Of York ice creams at Loopy Scoops

The free Owl Trail will return to Shambles Market and a Wizard Activity Area will appear on Parliament Street. Expect majestic birds of prey to meet, face painting, wizard props and more.

Hungry witches and wizards are in for a treat too at themed specials across the city. Wizard Afternoon Teas will be available at Plush Café, in Stonegate, and monstrously good Beastly Burgers from Baby Boys Burgers at Spark:York. Wanderers can be all ‘fired up’ about Phoenix cocktails and mocktails at Ate O’ Clock, in High Ousegate, too.

Wizards with a sweet tooth can enjoy a chocolate Magic Minster or Mystic Macaron from Florian Poirot, in Shambles, chocolate shots at Monk Bar Chocolatiers or the Wizard of York ice-creams at Loopy Scoops. New to this Church Street ice-cream parlour will be the Wizard’s Butter Brew Soda Float, an ice-cream twist on a drink that wizard fans go Potty for.

Elsewhere, many shops will offer discounts to visitors dressed as wizards and The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring, in Merchantgate, will have a new quest to lift the curse of dark wizard Mortius Darktrix. York surrealist artist and illustrator Lincoln Lightfoot will create an exclusive Wizard of York print.

Bird of Prey experiences with York Bird Of Prey Centre, being held in Parliament Street

The festival will culminate in a fancy-dress parade on May 26 at 3pm from St Helen’s Square, with a contest for Best Dressed Witch or Wizard. Prizes include a Phoenix Lego set and family Wizard Walk tickets, dragon hatchlings from The Society of Alchemists and magical goody bags from The Shop That Must Not Be Named.

A dedicated web page is being made for the wizardwalkofyork.com site. Wizard fans are advised to check in closer to the event, as the festival programme is subject to change. In the meantime, you can follow facebook.com/wizardwalkofyork for WizardFest updates and booking links.

“Many activities are already bookable, so locals are advised tobook early as tickets are expected to vanish…as if by magic,” advises Dan.

2024 was a busy year for The Wizard Walk, winning Best Tour of York for the third time alongside myriad further accolades. At the Visit York Awards, the team won both Best of York and New Tourism Business Award, followed by winning gold at the VisitEngland Awards in Liverpool.

Lego workshops with The Brick Box at York Medical Society

The Wizard Walk also scooped TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best for the second year running as one of only a handful of UK attractions making the cut.

Dan says: “It’s been absolutely spellbinding to win so many awards, and we’re thrilled to have so much support locally too. We love working with business who are doing great things in the city, and we’ve already waved a wand over some magical partnerships, with many more to come.”

In response to tours continuing to sell out, Dan cast a duplication spell last May to conjure up a second guide, Viridian the Green, and he is now looking for a third. 

“We have big plans for 2025 and beyond, and WizardFest is an event that I aim to build on year after year,” says Dan. “If you’re interested in being involved, you can send an owl of enquiry to info@wizardwalkofyork.com or contact us via www.wizardwalkofyork.com.” 

The logo for WizardFest

Summary of events at Wizard Fest, May 24 to 26

 The Wizard Walk of York. Booking at www.wizardwalkofyork.com.

 Brick Magic Lego workshops with The Brick Box – York Medical Society. Booking at brickboxyorkshire.com/brick-magic-york.

 Harry Potter film screenings – City Screen Picturehouse. Booking at www.picturehouses.com/cinema/city-screen-picturehouse.

 Totally Wicked craft workshops – Avocado Events (Monday only). Booking at www.bookwhen.com/avocadoevents.

 A Kind Of Magic workshops – Story Craft Theatre (Saturday only). Booking at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

 The Curse of Professor Kettlestring – Professor Kettlestring’s Puzzling World. Booking at www.puzzlingworldyork.co.uk.

 Wizard Activity Area – Parliament Street.

 Magical Night Market – Shambles Market (Monday only).

 Owl Trail – Shambles Market.

 Black Cat Quest and naming of new Wizard of York cat – The Cat Gallery.

 Bird of Prey experiences with York Bird of Prey Centre – Parliament Street.

 Dragon meet-and-greets – St. Crux Churchyard (Monday only).

 Wizard Afternoon Teas at Plush Café.

 Phoenix cocktails and mocktails – Ate O’ Clock.

 Wizard of York Ice-Creams and Wizard’s Butter Brew – Loopy Scoops.

 Beastly Burgers – Baby Boys Burgers, Spark:York.

 The Magic Minster and Mystic Macaron – wondrous creations by Florian Poirot.

 Chocolate Shots at Monk Bar Chocolatiers.

 Fancy Dress Parade and Best Dressed Witch or Wizard competition. 

 Exclusive Wizard of York art print by Lincoln Lightfoot.

1st. Dolphins. 2nd. Chocolate. 3rd. Wizard Walk of York as magician Dan Wood takes TripAdvisor international family award

The Wizard of York with Frog Eggs on his award-garlanded Wizard Walk of York

THE Wizard Walk of York has won third place in the Best Family Experience in the World category of the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Awards, pipped only by Californian dolphins and Scottish chocolate.

“Apparently less than one per cent of the eight million attractions receive this international award,” says the Wizard of York, alias wandering wizard and magical mirth maker Dan Wood.

“The overall winner is swimming with dolphins in South Carolina, then The Chocolatorium in Edinburgh, my tour at number three, then the Roman Gladiator fighting school in Italy!”

The award is based on an analysis of 12 months of reviews, comments and ratings on the TripAdvisor website and app and recognises traveller experiences that appeal to children as well as their parents. As many as 111 York tours feature on the site!

Hot act: Magical wizardry tour guide Dan Wood, the Wizard of York

Despite only launching in February 2022, Dan’s tour already has won Best Tour of York (Little Vikings Awards), Silver Winner, Best Small Attraction (YorkMix Choice Awards) and Highly Commended, Experience of the Year (Visit York Awards).

TripAdvisor, however, is the first international award for York’s wandering wizard and Central School of Speech and Drama-trained entertainer, who first made his mark as magician The Magic Hatter for more than a decade at events and parties and on stage.

“I’m absolutely spellbound and delighted be recognised for bringing wizard fun and comedy to the streets of York,” says Dan, whose tour involves searching for magical creatures, from gargoyles to carved cats, in York’s alleys and snickleways. “There are 15 ghost walks in the city, but my goal was to create a truly unique family-friendly experience, with the emphasis on making magical memories.”

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Dan’s tour was born from the chaos of the pandemic, prompting him to hang up The Magic Hatter’s big green hat to focus on the Wizard Walks and his charity work in hospitals as a trained Giggle Doctor.

“My goal was to create a truly unique family-friendly experience, with the emphasis on making magical memories,” says the Wizard of York

Attired in cloak, frock coat, waistcoat and hat, Dan leads his walks with the promise of mystery, history, magic, spells, comedy and “more wizard puns than you can shake a wand at”.

“With it’s cobbled streets and winding alleys, York looks like something from the pages of a magical wizarding novel,” he says. “There’s magic around every corner, and lots of opportunities for young wizard fans to join in with their own optional Wizard Wand Kit.”

Tours for children aged five to ten and their parents – plus “bigger kids with a silly sense of humour” – can be booked at www.wizardwalkofyork.com. They run regularly from Shambles (St Crux churchyard to be precise), taking in Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, Mad Alice Lane, York Minster, St William’s College and Bedern.

“I’ve been working on my ‘sunny spells’ and have many extra walks scheduled through the summer holidays,” says Dan. “Exclusive private tours are available for birthdays, school groups, kids’ clubs, Rainbows, Beavers and more.”

The official poster for the Wizard Walk of York