Harry Potter Experience Coming To FDR State Park

YORKTOWN, NY — Harry Potter fans in the Hudson Valley and around the area have something to look forward to this fall.

The New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that "Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience" will be coming to Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown.

According to organizers, beginning Saturday, Oct. 22, this family friendly nighttime attraction will leave visitors spellbound for up to an hour and a half as they wind through the woods along an illuminated light trail in the park.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said it was exciting to have two magical names brought together: Harry Potter and FDR.

"We will be ready to welcome Hippogriffs, centaurs and unicorns to Westchester County," he said. "We are very excited to watch as lights and special effects transform our state park into a spectacular forbidden forest and create magical memories for families in Westchester County and the surrounding area."

Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater said this attraction will build on the tremendous momentum that Yorktown has built during the pandemic recovery.

"We expect thousands of visitors to Yorktown," he said, "who will also be able to participate in other fall attractions, including our Fall Farm Weekend on Oct. 24 and our Halloween Parade and Carnival on Oct. 29."

Ticket sales for "Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience" begin August 18 at 11 a.m. Ticket prices range from $36–$75 for adults and $25–$64 for children, depending on the session date and time. The attraction’s hours will be from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Inspired by the iconic Forbidden Forest from the wizarding world and featuring creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, mesmerizing lights will transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail. Visitors will discover some of their favorite moments from the books and films and can even practice casting their own spells, according to the production team.

At the end of the trail, visitors will step into a quaint village where they can enjoy delicious food and drinks, as well as a gift shop with merchandise from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies.

The event's producers said they have taken measures to reduce the environmental impact on the park. Also, overall sound levels will be low in the areas where music will be used, and set creators are using localized, limited lighting.

Working in conjunction with the estate manager, any sapling trees that are removed for the event will be replaced within the wood system with species benefiting the overall health of the woods.

The outdoor experience was created by Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment in partnership with entertainment discovery platform Fever, theatrical designers and experiential creators Thinkwell and global experience design and delivery agency Unify.

The FDR State Park is located at 2957 Crompond Road in Yorktown Heights.