Grab your wands and cloaks: Wizarding Weekend returns for a fourth year

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Quidditch match during Ithaca's Wizarding Weekend Hufflepuff (LACS) took on New Roots (Ravenclaw) on Saturday during Ithaca's Wizarding Weekend which drew thousands. Witches, wizards and Muggles watched the close game. Hufflepuff was ultimately victorious when their seeker got the snitch.

Marking its fourth year, Wizarding Weekend returns to downtown Ithaca this wekeend for three days of magic, science and fantasy-related activities.

The festival starts Friday afternoon with events such as the Wizarding Weekend Pumpkin Carving Contest and Silent Auction, Halloween in Downtown Ithaca, and Magical Classes at GorgeKeep Library.

The street festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on and around the Commons.

The event began as an homage to the world of Harry Potter, but festival organizers have tweaked its focus following a crackdown by Warner Bros., which owns the rights of the theatrical films.

More: Ithaca Wizarding Weekend: Everything you need to know

Here are five things you should know about Wizarding Weekend.

Magical quests

The GorgeKeep School and Guardian Quest is a series of four quests in which magic students can complete four challenges on Saturday and Sunday to earn their admittance to GorgeKeep, Ithaca's School of Magic. Once completed, students go to the GorgeKeep augmented reality portal at the Clinton House.

The portal transports users to Ithaca’s GorgeKeep School of Magic, where they can participate in a interactive journey to meet and learn from the school’s four guardians: Kolatan, Flitspark, Lilican and Tathom. Students then “graduate” and becoming the fifth guardian.

To participate in the GorgeKeep Portal, users must bring their own augmented reality-compatible cellphone or tablet and headphones, and download a free app. Compatible devices include iPhone SE or higher, and iPad Pro fifth generation or higher. Compatible android devices can be found on https://developers.google.com/ar/discover/supported-devices.

Signings and panels

Special guests from the world of television and film are scheduled to appear, including Holly Marie Combs ("Charmed"), Erica Cerra ("The 100", "Eureka"), Scarlett Byrne ("Vampire Diaries," "Harry Potter") and JG Hertzler ("Star Trek"). Throughout the weekend attendees have the opportunity to purchase autographs, selfies and professional photo ops with these special guests. All special guests will have their own Q&A session at the Hotel Ithaca.

Carrie Vaughn (best-selling author of the "Kitty Norville" series) and Rose Catherine Khan (international illustrator and author of the "Centernia" series) will offer book signings and panel discussions through the weekend.

The gift of charity

One of Wizarding Weekend's main goals this year is to donate to the various nonprofit organizations who actively participate in the Wizarding Weekend event, including Girl Scouts of NYPenn Pathways, Southside Community Center, Greater Ithaca Activities Center, The Cherry Artspace, Extra Life Syracuse Guild, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Pathways Inc., Family Reading Partnership, History Center of Tompkins County, Cayuga Nature Center, Ithaca Physics Bus, Family and Children’s Services, Tompkins County Public Library and Finger Lakes Toy Library.

Each of these organizations is participating in the event through a craft, game or activity that is in theme and fun for all ages.

Wizarding Weekend staff raise funds for these organizations by collecting fees for select crafts and games, as well as through magical passports. Tickets can be purchased at official festival merchandise booths. Magical passports include two main passport-exclusive activities: the Potions Crawl and the Magical Artifact Hunt.

The Potions Crawl is a self-guided, family-friendly, 13-stop drink and food crawl, and the Magical Artifact Hunt is a self-guided, 10-stop scavenger hunt that allows participants to enter a raffle for prizes after they finish it. Both the Potions Crawl and the Magical Artifact Hunt highlight participating local Downtown Ithaca businesses.

Familiar treats

Returning favorites include the City of Magic Ball (Friday night), wand dueling, free face painting and balloon art for kids 12 and younger, Quidditch practice and scrimmages, and live music and performances from the community and beyond.

Traffic detours

The 100 block of Cayuga Street and the 100 block of West State/Martin Luther King Jr. Street will be closed to accommodate the festival activities.Those attending are strongly encouraged to carpool and/or use the bus system if they are coming from the Cornell University or Ithaca College campuses.

Parking is available in all downtown Ithaca garages for $5 per car on Saturday and Sunday. Street parking is free throughout the weekend.

For more information, visit WizardingWeekend.com.

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