A peek inside the new Harry Potter experience in Vancouver

Interactive, immersive, well-illuminated and installed in Canada for the first time, the new Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is delighting fans in downtown Vancouver.

Last week in Stanley Park, media received a preview of the slightly controversial attraction, which has replaced the popular Bright Nights light display (now in Surrey) for a fall/winter run.

Builders created a walking trail through the forest, for what’s advertised as a “spellbinding experience” presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, Fever and Rifflandia Entertainment Company.

Motion-activated spellcasting will thrill Harry Potter fans as they walk through the “Forbidden Forest,” filled with magical creatures and scenes from the books and movies, thundering audio and miles of cable for the thousands of lights.

It takes around an hour, maybe 90 minutes, to walk through the nighttime attraction, at 690 Pipeline Rd. in Vancouver.

This area of Stanley Park is barely recognizable with all the added structures including food, beverage and merch huts (bring a card; cash isn’t accepted).

Tickets are available at hpforbiddenforestexperience.com/vancouver. Single passes start at $43, with most in the $70 to $85 range – more for “deluxe bundle” packages. Kids under age three are free.

Jan. 11 is the last date on the calendar for bookings (so far), with time slots from 4:45 to 10:15 p.m.

Be warned, some elements might be a little scary for some Forest-goers. “If you have arachnophobia,” the website cautions, “please let us know when you arrive, and we can make sure that we accommodate any needs to avoid spider-themed elements.”

Also, the bushland hiking trail and steep sections might limit wheelchair access inside the temporary attraction, dubbed “the most magical of walks.”

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!