Wizardfest ‘Rennervate!’: Festival returns to Ironton for its sixth year

Fans of the Harry Potter series of books and movies can get their cloaks dry cleaned and ready as Ironton’s Wizardfest returns Nov. 9 and 10 with familiar faces and a pair of new guests.
“It’s very exciting,” said Brad Bear, one of the organizers of the event, which is now in its sixth year.
Returning this year are James Payton, who played Neville Longbottom’s father, Frank, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Walles Hamonde, who portrays an auror in Fantastic Beasts.
New guests this year are Adrian Rawlins, who played Harry’s father, James Potter, and Rohan Gotobed, who played the younger version of Sirius Black.

“I think it is a good mix for the fans who are coming, they know the deep cuts,” Bear said. “Looking at these actors, they are all incredibly talented but they are really prolific and have been in a lot of films.”
He said that all four actors are not only fan-friendly but they love talking about their work and their careers.
“So, if you want the behind the scene details of some of your favorite films of the past 30 years, chances are these guys are going to have it,” Bear said.
While the festival will have some of the fan favorites again such as cosplayers, wizard classes, escape rooms and Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana LEGO Users Group’s expanded Harry Potter set, the organizers of Wizardfest are always updating events to keep the festival fresh for returning fans and this year is no exception.
“Some of the bigger animals we have had in the past may not be here this year, but we are bringing some new animals in,” Bear said. “There are some changes at the BARKer Farm that are really exciting, so we are going to have a giant toad, a Burmese python for a photo op and we are going to have a new owl, a rather large new owl.”
He added there will be a new, rather large vendor tent on Third Street.
“We are trying to add new vendors as well,” Bear said. “We try to keep the number of food vendors low so the fans will fill up some of our local restaurants here in Ironton. Every dollar that is spent in Ironton and Lawrence County stays here.”
And the festival, which brings in thousands of fans over the weekend is an economic boom for the county and area.
“I believe, by tourism math, Wizardfest has an overall economic impact of around $1 million,” Bear said. “That’s because so many people from outside the area come in and they stop at gas stations, they stay in hotels, they eat in restaurants and patronize local businesses. So that leaves a marked impact.”
Wizardfest opens up at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, winds down at 7 p.m., and reopens at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, lasting until 4 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at www.irontonwizardfest.com.

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