ITHACA, NY — Dozens of visitors began to apparate into Press Bay Alley Friday afternoon in the relative calm before the storm of Wizarding Weekend.

Witches in the Alley, a free event that will be held until 7 p.m., includes an array of specialty vendors selling magical goods as well a chance to pick up official Wizarding Weekend merchandise and a copy of The Daily Non-Profit before the main festival events on Saturday.

See our gallery below to see the excitement beginning to brew!

All photos by Jennifer Wholey.

Ouija planchettes from Positively Mystic.
Laser-cut and engraved wood from Positively Mystic.
Nicole Marino of Positively Mystic and Noah Tebben.
A custom Ouija board from Positively Mystic.
Press Bay Alley starts to fill with revelers.
Wizarding Weekend creative director Darlynne Overbaugh sells t-shirts in Press Bay Alley.
Butterbeer scented candles and coasters at Amuse.
Official Wizarding Weekend merchandise.
Themed candles at Amuse.
Snitch bath bombs from Amuse.
Amuse displays some of their wizardly wares.
House patches on display at Amuse.
Star Truck serves lunch for Witches in the Alley.
Susan Loesch from Mockingbird Paperie dressed as Medusa examines a chocolate display at Life’s So Sweet.
Flying keys and butterbeer at Life’s So Sweet.
Butterbeer flavored cotton candy!
Chocolates in all kinds of magical shapes and sizes.
Assorted Owls at Life’s So Sweet.
Spell charm bags at Life’s So Sweet.
A “Take the Lot” box at Life’s So Sweet.
Chocolate frogs and scars at Life’s So Sweet.
Marika Chew’s intricate animal designs in the Weird Sisters booth.
The other half of the Weird Sisters, Camille Chew, displays her artwork.
Marika Chew sits by her artwork.
Liana Hall, with a new wand and her brother Aiden.
Byron Miller arranges wands.
Regulation muggle quidditch broomsticks for sale at Broomhilde.
Kristine Litteer poses as “Arrow” in front of fairy doors.
Metal, stone and bone jewelry at Blood Moon Adornments.
Erin Isbilen and Rochelle Davis man the Blood Moon Adornments booth.
Chris Pallace arranges some of his fairy doors.
Hogwarts-inspired fairy doors.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Jennifer Wholey

Jennifer Wholey is a feature writer and Head of Dining Partnerships for the Ithaca Voice. Contact her at jwholey@ithacavoice.com.