What’s on

Activities

Owls and snakes, steam trains and Routemaster rides, crafts, magic shows, a treasure trail and a grand parade. This is the line-up from Wizarding Day 2026; the line-up for Sunday 3 October 2027 will appear here nearer the time.

Wizarding Day 2026 · Sunday 4 October

Twenty-one ways to spend a magical day

Many activities are free and need no booking. Some have limited places, so book ahead on TicketSource or pay on the door.

Meet Snakes, Dragons and Lizards
Meet some fantastic reptilian beasts! You can hold snakes and lizards for a donation. The Royal Oak will be open from 12pm for cobs and a range of drinks.
Where
The Barn, Royal Oak, North End
When
10am–4pm
Cost
Free (donation to hold an animal)
Booking
Drop in
Provided by Gary’s Reptiles.
The Wizarding Express, Owlery and Fairground
Travel to Wizarding Day in style on the Wizarding Express! Set in 1950s carriages, some with compartments, steam and diesel trains run from Duffield to Wirksworth and back.
At Wirksworth Station, Woodie’s Wings owl rescue lets you get up close to real live owls. There is also a fairground at the station for young witches and wizards to enjoy.
Where
Wirksworth Station (Ecclesbourne Valley Railway)
Booking
Train tickets from the railway
Buy train tickets →
The Curse-Breaker’s Trail
Seven cursed objects. One shattered soul. Can you break the curse?
Long ago, the Dark Lord tore his soul into seven pieces and hid each one inside an enchanted object, so he could never truly be destroyed. Those seven objects have been transported to Wirksworth and hidden around the town. The Chosen One went looking for them and hasn’t been seen since. We need curse-breakers. We need you.
Take your magical map and follow the clues through the streets. Find the witches and wizards wandering the town, because they know where the vessels are hidden. Scan each cursed object to break its dark magic, and collect the letters it leaves behind. Once you’ve found all seven, unscramble the final clue. Every curse-breaker who completes the trail goes into the prize draw.
Bring a phone to scan the magic codes; your progress saves as you go. Perfect for teen witches and wizards, or families.
Where
All around town; start at any Info Stall
Cost
£3 per player
Booking
At any Info Stall, or online
Buy a trail ticket →
Quizzadry for all the Family
Attempt the 2026 Triwizarding Tournament. If you think you know the wizarding world, pit your wits against wizards and witches from around the world.
The master sorcerers of the Wirksworth Twinning Association have studied magic at Die in France, Frankenau in Germany and Varallo in Italy.
Where
The Gothic Hall
When
11am–12pm, 1–2pm and 3–4pm
Cost
£5 adults, £3 under 18s, free for under 5s (and Parselmouths)
Booking
Book online
Book tickets →
Liam Jones: Magician
Would you like to see a magician amaze you with close-up tricks? Enter the ancient Moot Hall and be amazed by the skills of Liam the Magician, who brings a touch of comedy to his act. Shows start at half past the hour and last about 25 minutes.
Where
Moot Hall, Chapel Lane
When
10:30, 11:30am, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30pm
Cost
£3 per person
Booking
Book online to avoid disappointment; some tickets kept for the door
Book tickets →
Magical Plants and Enchanted Trees
From mandrake roots to the girls who turned into trees, from flowers of starlight to leaves of poison or wonder… Join resident storyteller Gordon MacLellan from Creeping Toad for a walk in the Gardens of Magic and the Woods of Sorcery. Add your own leaf of magical ideas to the Tree of Spells, or take a leaf of dreams home with you.
Where
Coach House Studios, under the arch off West End
When
10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
Cost
£3
Booking
Online, with some spaces on the door
Book now →
Character Costume Contest
Dress as your favourite wizard or witch and enter the Hall of Selection in St Mary’s for the chance to win prizes. Whether you come as a student or professor, from the Ministry or a practitioner of the dark arts, you will be welcome.
Judging begins at 3pm, and the contestants then join a magical parade around the churchyard at 3:30pm. After the parade, the judges make their final decisions and announce the winners.
There are categories for children and adults, with prizes including family tickets on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. Every contestant receives a certificate of participation, and category winners compete for the coveted Wizarding Day Cup.
Where
St Mary’s Church (the big one)
When
3pm
Cost
£2 to enter
Booking
Book online, or pay cash on the door
Book online →
Parade of Witches, Wizards, Professors and Magical Creatures
The parade closes the day, following the costume contest winners, with music and two fearsome characters to keep you moving. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you entered the contest. Dress up and bring a flag or banner to carry; there are banner-making sessions earlier in the day.
Where
Church Walk
When
3:30pm
Cost
Free
Magical Makers’ Cavern
Making sessions for all crafty wizards and witches. Make a wizarding flag or banner for the parade, create and keep an enchanting LEGO mini model, make a charm bracelet or enchanted wand, print your own spirit animal on a T-shirt or tote bag, or try candle-making.
Where
The Maltings, St Mary’s Gate
When
10am–4pm
Cost
Varies by activity, about £3–£10
Wizard Flag Making
Make your own wizarding-world family crest on a banner or flag, with your imagination and lots of bits to stick and cut. Hold it high at the parade and enter the competition. Prizes available! Led by Molly, who is raising funds to attend the Scout and Guide Jamboree in Poland in 2027.
Where
The Magical Makers’ Cavern, The Maltings
When
10am–3pm
Cost
£5 per flag, £10 per banner
LEGO Create and Keep
Join a spooky themed Create and Keep session, and build an enchanting LEGO mini model to take home.
Where
The Magical Makers’ Cavern, The Maltings, St Mary’s Gate
When
10am–4pm
Cost
£3–£10 per person, depending on the activity
Fantastic Fused Glass
Join local artist Stevie Davies to make your own fused glass tile or hanging (about 9cm) from precut glass, with designs inspired by the logos, symbols and motifs of the wizarding world. The cost includes all specialist materials and firing.
Finish your design in the session and leave it at the studio to be fired and cleaned up. You can collect it a few weeks later, or have it posted at cost. Bring a drink, an apron or old clothes, and a willingness to experiment.
Where
Create Space Studio & Gallery, 27 Market Place
When
10am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3pm
Cost
£18
Booking
Book online
With local artist Stevie Davies.
Book a session →
Wizarding Classes with Wild Roots Creative
Wild Roots Creative are back on the station platform with charm making, Herbology potion making, crafts, and a chance to test your magic powers in a wizarding game. The self-led activities suit children of all ages, and raise funds for Wild Roots Creative’s wellbeing groups.
Where
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Platform 1
When
10am–4pm
Cost
Varies by activity
Provided by Wild Roots Creative CIC: wildrootscreative.org · Facebook
It’s Magic! Sparks and Spells
Light a fire using natural materials, with fire strikers, flint and steel, and bow-drill methods, around a fire pit in the Old Market Place. Toast giant marshmallows and drink hot drinks from the witch’s kettle (depending on time and demand).
Where
The Old Market Place
When
10am–2pm
Cost
Free
Booking
Drop in
Provided by Derbyshire Outdoors.
Routemaster Bus Rides
Ride the magical Routemaster bus, the inspiration and model for the Knight Bus in Prisoner of Azkaban. It drives through town all day: hop on at the Market Place and Memorial Hall bus stops, and Stan the wizardly conductor or one of the wizarding school professors will collect your fare. A £1 donation covers as many rides as you like, and all proceeds go to the day’s official good causes, Foundation Derbyshire and Wirksworth Pre-school.
Where
Between Haarlem Mill and Ravenstor Road car parks
When
9:30am–5pm
Cost
£1 for the day
Booking
Included with park & ride, or just hop on
Ford Anglia
A Ford Anglia flies in for the day: the model used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Find it pretending to be an ordinary muggle car in the centre of town.
Where
The remains of the ancient witch house (cruck beam)
When
10am–4pm
Cost
Free
Ministry Phone Box
Need to contact the Ministry? Or perhaps the Ministry needs to contact you… Step inside the Wizarding Phone Box, pick up the receiver, and dial the numbers provided to hear important messages and magical warnings from the Wizarding Ministry Committee.
If you hear that Dementors have been sighted nearby, we strongly advise you to keep your wits about you.
Where
Just outside the Library (and the Ministry)
When
All day
Cost
Free
Written by Jo Metcalf and performed by Alice Counsell.
Fire Station Open Day
This crew could have saved the Burrow! Meet the firefighters, the aerial ladder platform and the animal rescue unit, with face painting, children’s rides, demonstrations and refreshments. The fire station is also where to find lost children on the day.
Where
Wirksworth Fire Station
When
10am–3pm
Cost
Free
Magical Markets
The Magical Markets are full of magical makes, appealing activities, curious crafts and wizardly wonders. Visit the Memorial Hall, by the Memorial Gardens food area, to have your face painted or to browse a range of quite magical stalls selling supplies for the discerning witch or wizard.
Where
Memorial Hall and Gardens, St John’s Street
When
10am–4pm
Booking
Not needed
Wirksworth Wizarding Supplies
Wirksworth’s wizarding supplies shop apparates once more into a secret location on the Old Market Place. Only wizards and witches can spot it, so please guide any muggle friends or family to its door. It sells officially licensed Harry Potter gifts and toys, from wands to T-shirts, key rings to stationery, bags to games: the perfect place to find Christmas presents, or to treat yourself.
Where
No. 9¾ Market Place
When
From 9am on the day
Wizardly Windows
Businesses and houses in the town centre are invited to join the Wizardly Windows competition, with prizes from Le Mistral and the Wirksworth Pottery Company and a trophy for first place. Turn your window into a potions laboratory, a dark arts library, or a wand, broomstick or hat maker’s, then wander the town to see everyone else’s.
Where
Throughout the town
When
All day
Cost
Free