Harry Potter Magical Train Ride and Wizards Festival

[rusty_armour]

Last weekend, I went to the Waterloo Central Railway’s Magical Wizards Festival with some friends. Some of you might remember my previous WCR excursion from four years ago. This time around, there was a steam locomotive instead of a diesel locomotive and a whole lot of wizardry. It was a delightful event for any Harry Potter fan.

The experience began with a train shuttle ride to St. Jacobs Village Station. At the station, there was a wizards festival, complete with vendors in Merchant Alley, Butterbeer, “magical” creatures, and Harry Potter merchandise, of course. Before we caught the Escape from Spellbound Prison Train, we were treated to a pre-show that included an LED light/laser juggling act, an acrobat, and a magician. We then boarded the train for an adventure with much fun and hilarity.







Train shuttle to the St Jacobs Market Train Station




Volunteers working on the WCR 37 tank car




T & T on the train ride to Spellbound Prison




P & A across the aisle from us




T practising her magic on her husband




The witch who taught us protection spells (though
some of us had to use a pen or a finger in place of a wand)


Some of the scenery I saw from the train:






















Cows for my bovine-obsessed sister














Watching the escape attempts from Spellbound Prison was pretty hilarious. First of all,
overly dramatic music began to play as we approached the prison. Then there was the
seriousness and intensity of the prison wardens taking the prisoners down (as you can see
by the photos). The best moment was on the trip back to St. Jacobs Village Station. We saw
prisoners running in a field being chased by wardens/wizards. Then a prisoner ran past our
car, trailed by a slowly moving tractor, which caused everyone to burst out laughing. I
thought it was brilliant that the organizers were able to enlist a farmer to participate
in the show, but then I learned that the tractor pursuit wasn’t intentional. I mentioned
it to A afterwards and she said, “Oh, no, the tractor wasn’t supposed to be there.
I heard this woman screaming, ‘Get out of the way! Watch out for the tractor!’”

















The Dementor that boarded our train. To be honest, I found the Dementor
genuinely creepy. As spooky music played, the Dementor walked up and down the
aisles of the train, lingering in front of passengers and sometimes even leaning
into their space. I have to admit that I hadn’t taken the protection spells
entirely seriously up till then, but I soon found myself waving my makeshift
wand (pen) and saying, “Expecto patronum!” when the Dementor stopped in front of me.





Myself, T and A standing on the train platform


After the train ride, we spent some more time at the Wizards Festival checking out Merchant Alley and other areas. We drank Butterbeer and A bought a cool Platform 9 ¾ t-shirt.













Checking out the Butterbeer booth.




A man who somehow got his hands on the Hogwarts Sorting Hat




Blacksmith forging wands. Sorry, Ollivander.










Falcons in the Care of Magical Creatures area




Sorting Hat booth where I was sorted into Ravenclaw.
I was sure I would be sorted into Hufflepuff instead.




Hagrid (who also welcomed us onto the train)
having a chat with some festival attendees.







T & T in Merchant Alley

Comments

[smallhobbit]

What a brilliant trip!

[rusty_armour]

It was brilliant. We had a lot of fun that day. :-)

[crimsoncorundum]

That looks like a lot of fun! I'd love to go to some fun event, like the ones you have close to where you live.

[rusty_armour]

Thanks, crimsoncorundum. It was a lot of fun. :-)

St. Jacobs is about a two-hour drive from Toronto, but, luckily, I was able to get a ride with one of my friends.