Returning to York on May 23rd, 24th and 25th 2026 is WizardFest. Prepare to experience the magic with York’s festival of Wizardry, a city-wide event bringing lots of magical businesses together. WizardFest is hosted by The Wizard Walk of York and you’ll find all the activities over on the website.

Conjured up by The Wizard Walk of York, this enchanting event is co-hosted with Little Vikings, for the most magical match! As a fun, family-friendly event that champions York’s magical side and independent businesses, it’s right up our (cobbled) street, so we’re delighted to be part of it.

Find all the WizardFest activities here

WizardFest events

The Wizard Walk of York (Book in advance)

Winner Experience of the Year 2026, and Little Vikings Best Tour four years running! Spellbinding magic, comedy and five-star family fun on a wizard experience like no other. Pre-booking essential. “Funny, magical and engaging. The very BEST experience for every member of the family!” – Nicola B

📅 Daily 11, 1.30, 4pm and 6pm
📍St. Crux at the bottom of York’s Shambles 
ℹ️ Book here

The Black Cat Quest (Free!)

NEW locations for 2026! Collect a FREE map, and find the cats in shop windows to spell a magic word. Ages 5-12 can then claim a super-mini magic cat of their own by returning the answer sheet PLUS, guess the number of cats in the jar to WIN a Wizard Walk family ticket and a MEOW-vellous Cat Gallery prize!

📅 Daily
📍York Cat Gallery, 45 Low Petergate, YO7 7HT

The Owl Trail (Free!)

A Make it York event. Collect a FREE map from the Visit York Information Centre on Parliament Street, then find the owls hidden around Shambles Market. It’s a HOOT! Prizes include a Wizard Walk family ticket and goody bags from The Shop That Must Not Be Named. You can also pose with magical props around the Market, and even have your face painted 10-3pm (a paid activity).

📅 Daily
📍 Shambles Market, YO1 7LX

Whimsical Workshops

Brick Magic by The Brick Box (Book in advance)

A must for LEGO fans! Journey into imagination and creativity, with tens of thousands of LEGO pieces. Bring your cloaks as you enrol for wand making, marble mazes and lots of treats to take home

📅 Daily 9.30, 11.30, 3.30 and 1.30pm
📍 York Medical Society, Stonegate, YO1 8AW
ℹ️ Book here

Enchanting Events

Wicked screening at City Screen Picturehouse (Book in advance)

Sunday only. Enjoy the untold story of the witches of Oz, in the hit film starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Eviro and Jeff Goldblum. Pre-booking essential.

📅 Sunday, 6pm
📍York City Screen, 13-17 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL
ℹ️ Book here

The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring (Book in advance)

Cursed by archnemesis Mortius Darktrix, the Professor is trapped inside his Tubular Trickery Chamber falling endlessly through time and space…Enjoy mind-boggling illusions, find familiar wizard famous faces and use letters from their names to lift the curse. Then head to the gift shop and collect your sweet reward!

📅 Daily
📍 The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring, 14 Merchants Place, Merchantgate, YO1 9TU
ℹ️ Visit the website

Fancy Dress Parade and Best Dressed Competition (Free!)

Monday only. Don your best costumes and celebrate WizardFest in style. It’s FREE to participate, so dress to impress! It’s your chance to win amazing prizes including a £70 Steiff Dragon from Stonegate Teddy Bear, Dragon Hatchlings from The Society of Alchemists and Goody Bags from The Shop That Must Not Be Named.

📅 Monday 3pm for a 3.15pm start
📍 St. Helen’s Square, YO1 8QN

Meet a dragon! (Free!)

Meet The Wizard of York’s ROARsome pet dragon, with dragonkeeper Zoya. Get a photo with this truly Fantastic Beast…don’t worry, he doesn’t bite! 

📅 Daily, 10.45-11.30am, 12.30-1.15pm and 2-2.45pm
📍Outside St. Sampson’s Church, Church Street, YO1 8BG

Try the Dragon Sundae at Loopy Scoops opposite! Zoya and Ignis will also be appearing at the Magical Night Market, Monday 7.30-10pm in Shambles Market.

Magical Night Market

Monday only. Wand-er off York’s Shambles into The Shambles Market, transformed by Make it York into a Magical Night Market. Peruse a magical myriad of stalls from more than 30 traders. NEW FOR 2026 meet wonderful, whimsical characters too: Phoenix the Red, Zoya and Ignis the Dragon, and Professor Grimbleweed.

📅 Monday, 7.30-10pm
📍Shambles Market, 5 Silver Street, YO1 8RR

Wizard Family Rave, Thor’s Tipi

Sunday only. Get your groove on and throw some shapes, with a magical family disco packed with FUN! Spellbinding songs, disco lights, bubbles, and snow machine sorcery. Plus party games, pom poms, props and plenty of Hocus Pocus. Let’s get this party started! 

📅 Sunday 10-12, £3.50pp (ticket allows you to drop in and out as much as you wish)
📍Thor’s Tipi, Parliament St, York
ℹ️ Book at https://thorstipifamilyrave.eventbrite.co.uk (pre-booking essential)

Wizard Activity Zone

NEW FOR 2O26! Enjoy spellbinding activities on York’s Parliament Street, YO1 8RS (close to the Visit York Information Centre)

MEET PROFESSOR GRIMBLEWEED

Meet barmy botanist and purveyor of peculiar plants, Professor Grimbleweed. Snap a selfie with his pet Venus Flytrap and learn about the magical art of Herbology. 

📅 Daily, 10am to 4pm (Plant appearances: 10-10.45pm, 11.45-12.30, 1.30-2.15pm and 3.15-4pm*)
📍Parliament Street, by Visit York

*No 3.15pm session Monday, as joining the Fancy Dress Parade. Also appearing at the Magical Night Market, Monday 7.30-9.30 in Shambles Market. Blooming brilliant! 

PARTY OCTOPUS 360 EXPERIENCE

The ultimate WizardFest souvenir. Grab your wizard props, strike a pose and capture the magic! Each family can download their 360 spellcaster digital video and a wand-erful portrait photo too. Charge applies. Show your Wizard Walk booking (dated May 23-25^th) for 25% OFF

📅 Daily, 10am to 4pm
📍Parliament Street, by Visit York

WAND MAKING

Guided by the talented team from The Woodland Adventure Company, craft your very own magical wand using the finest materials – from shimmering gold and phoenix feathers to sparkling gemstones. Charge applies.

📅 Daily, 10am to 4pm
📍Parliament Street, by Visit York

FACE PAINTING WITH FACE PAINT YORK

Glittering face paints available daily, bringing even more magic to York City Centre! Park your broom and choose your magical face from a spellbinding selection. Shimmering Dragon Skin? Unicorn Sparkles? Or does an Owl sound like a hoot?

📅 Daily, 10am to 4pm
📍Parliament Street, by Visit York