Hippogriffs, owls, unicorns, and — for better or worse — Dementors can all be seen in the actual world by Muggles of all ages.

As dusk sets, a sense of magic permeates Westchester County's Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park as the park's wooden walkways are converted into an immersive "Harry Potter" experience that brings to life the most imposing monsters from the Wizarding World.

The seven best-selling books and eight top-grossing films are celebrated in The Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, which made its debut in the United States last weekend. Interactive exhibits, light shows, and theatrical illusions, some of which can only be explained by magic, are used to showcase the works. On October 29, the walk-through exhibit debuted at Leesburg, Virginia's Morven Park in Loudoun County.

The lines between reality and enchantment began to blur the moment I entered the dark forest during a preview last week as if I had taken a portkey to another dimension. The visit was a combination of immersive theatre and visual extravaganza, with John Williams' well-known soundtrack playing in between iconic lines from the movie and rainbow lights illuminating the New York flora.

By channeling our inner wizards, casting spells to turn on and off lamps, and selecting wands to duel our friends (or foes! ), we were invited to participate. As my hot chocolate was decorated with the colors of my house, my inner Hufflepuff fantasies were realized. However, they were also called into question because the Patronus I summoned in the woods was a phoenix, just like Dumbledore's (so maybe I'm more of a Gryffindor than I thought!). Bowing to Buckbeak the Hippogriff, who graciously returned the gesture in all his regal dignity, and a startling incident involving more than Aragog was among the most breathtaking (and Instagrammable) moments. (Warnings are provided to prevent people who are arachnophobic from entering the area.)

There are as many twists and turns when entering a real-life replica of a mythical forest that is off-limits to Hogwarts students. There are times when you're simply strolling along and all of a sudden discover a unicorn; other times, you find yourself tracing a path of glowing mushrooms or floating lights. I genuinely jumped and grabbed my friend in panic as I shouted in fright during a Dementor attack, as well as when Cho Chang and Harry first kissed beneath the mistletoe. Along with owls, giants, centaurs, and other surprise visitors, familiar characters from the "Fantastic Beasts" films, such as Nifflers, also make an appearance.

Despite the magical atmosphere, Muggle's needs are also met because themed food and beverages, such as Butterbeer, are offered at both the midpoint and entry, along with a wide selection of Wizarding World sundries.

The nocturnal trail by Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment in collaboration with Thinkwell, Unify, and Fever is open through January 2023 in both New York and Virginia. The family-friendly experience is available every day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (the last entrance is at 9:45 p.m.), and it lasts 60 to 90 minutes, with a walking track taking 45 to 75 minutes.

The pop-up event was planned with environmental awareness because it is New York State location was aware of the Muggle impact of such a significant undertaking.

According to the event's website, "the vast majority of the overall woodland will remain fully unaffected by the experience and should have minimal influence on natural habitats." "Any sapling trees that are cut down for the event will be replaced, in coordination with the estate management, with species that will improve the health of the wood as a whole. So instead of reducing the woodland, we will try to improve the overall number of heritage species on the estate.

The occasion also has a partnership with One Tree Planted, allowing attendees to fund sustainable and reforestation projects.

Tickets are still available through the end of the year for the July 2021 premiere of The Forbidden Forest Experience at Arley Hall in Cheshire, the United Kingdom. In November and December, it was also made available in a limited capacity at Belgium's Groenenberg Castle.

Harry Potter: Magic at Play, a brand-new experience, debuts on November 11 at Chicago's Water Tower Place, and the three-day Wizarding World Festival is slated for 2023—though specifics are still hidden in the Chamber of Secrets. The Wizarding World is still casting its spell on the Muggle universe.