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Wizards and witches in flowing robes, as well as regular folks, were seen wandering around Antioch’s historic downtown area Saturday. They were all invited guests of the village’s Chamber of Commerce for the 6th annual Wizards Weekend Day.
Young students get to hobnob with each other and professors of magic, while learning and trading spells.
Furry animals, 7 feet tall, could be seen roaming the streets with leprechauns, kids dressed in character and the surreal atmosphere that magic creates.
Loosely based around the Harry Potter books, the family-friendly activities also showcased the different shops in town, and came complete with a guided map for a scavenger hunt.
Visitors had to stop at an alcove park on Main Street and choose their own wand at the Ministry of Information booth.
“We’ve had so many people in town today, and I’ve had good spells cast on me,” said Marilyn Bowen, a chamber member. “One girl recited a spell more than 40 times to pick the right wand and brought it back, saying it didn’t work. She picked another one, and later she told us she made someone fly.”
A “restricted” section at the Antioch Public Library District was reserved for the “School of Magic,” and proved to be a popular attraction.
“We had about 70 kids rotating through,” said Hannah Sator, the library’s marketing and communications associate. “The classes were about 15 minutes, with each professor using books for specific spells. They practiced herbology, fortune-telling. They battled evil wizards.
“I was a little all over the place,” she said. “I’ve never done this before. It’s fun. I got to play a prefect that leads all the students around.”
Another site, the PM&L Theater, is a former vaudeville house that some believe is haunted. The lobby was open and converted to a “requirement room,” with scenery constructed to resemble a castle. Theater troupe members acted as docents, and mixed ice-cream-sorting potions that changed colors.
Visitors had to fish for a balloon hanging from the ceiling with a flying key attached, which determined their prize from a sorting bag.
Costume play, or “cosplay,” was an important part of the festivities.
Strolling along Main Street were Darwin Gillespie and Jennifer Becker, dressed as the parents of Ron Weasley, a major character in the Potter books.
“It’s just watching everybody enjoy themselves, and seeing the looks of children,” Gillespie said. “You don’t normally see all this, and then you look into it after hearing about it. You try to find things like this.”
The United Methodist Church meeting room was used, as the “Great Hall.” Many volunteers dressed as characters from the books posed for photos with families, kids could play games on ball toss boards or oversized checkerboards. They also received a Wizards Weekend Day swap pouch.
“It gets more magical by the year, and we don’t have a count of how many people,” said Barb Porch, the chamber’s director. “It’s so nice to see wizards, witches and muggles walking the sidewalks of downtown Antioch.”
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Gregory Harutunian , 2024-06-17 22:58:22
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