What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1221228
10 WHAT'S UP! MARCH 15-21, 2020 Calling All Wizards LARA JO HIGHTOWER NWA Democrat-Gazette T hree years ago, a group of friends got together and hatched a plan to share their love of the Harry Potter series with other fans in Northwest Arkansas. The result was Northwest Arkansas' first Harry Potter convention. The event sold out almost immediately. "We were 100% shocked," says co-founder Staci Bell. "We thought if we could get 200 people to come, that would be amazing. We ended up selling close to 2,000 tickets that year and, instead of renting out a fourth of the Fayetteville Town Center, we ended up renting the whole thing. We thought, if we do this again, we'll need more space — more area for things to happen." The following year, the organizers changed the name of the event — it is now Wizard Way of the Ozarks — and added a second location to the event lineup, but Bell says having two locations took away a bit from the feel of community that having all events in one space afforded the first year. So the third time is the charm. This year, the event will run Saturday and Sunday with a special, V.I.P Wizard Dance Party on Saturday night. In addition to the three original co-founders, the event has a volunteer staff on hand of about 25 people pitching in to help. Bell says she and her co-founders are learning as they grow and, she says, this year will be even better than the first two. "We're in a good place!" Bell declares enthusiastically. "We've consolidated into one site across two days, and we still expect a couple thousand people to attend." In addition to 40 vendors "displaying carefully procured or handcrafted curious and nerdy wares," the conference will feature interactive activities like a magical scavenger hunt, wand and wizard duels, costume contests, house sorting and a wizard-themed escape room, planned and executed by the event's co-founders. "The theme is 'Escape from Umbrage's Office,'" says Bell. "That's where some of the theater and carpentry background [of the founders] comes in. We're so excited about this one because it's sinister and sweet at the same time." The organizers have also built in a lot of opportunities for Harry Potter fans to get to know each other better — a primary goal of the event, says Bell. "We introduced panels last year, something we didn't have the first year, and we're bringing that back." Bell adds that the panels will focus on three subject areas: fandom and mental health, books versus movies and cosplaying. "Each of the four houses of Hogwarts have a time in a common room where they can come together with like-minded folks for a facilitated conversation. The goal is to get people talking so they can make longer-lasting friendships. We have a whole new group of friends that we didn't have [before the first conference]. I don't know about you, but it's harder for me as a 35-year-old to make friends, especially if you have kids. Harry Potter fans prepare to sort themselves out While costumes are not required for attendance at the Wizard Way of the Ozarks event, they are highly encouraged, as demonstrated by Arts Live Theatre's Mark Landon Smith and a group of young actors. "It's an opportunity to step outside yourself and do something out of the ordinary," says co-founder Staci Bell. "It's not just another art show or a concert. I want people to take away from this that it's a hidden jewel inside our own community — something totally bonkers but really awesome, where you can make friends and take away incredible memories." (Photo courtesy/Festifaces Photography) FAYETTEVILLE FAQ Wizard Way of the Ozarks: NWA's Harry Potter Fan Con WHEN — March 21-22 WHERE — Fayette- ville Town Center, 15 W. Mountain St. COST — $15-$60 INFO — wizardway oftheozarks.com This has been a really cool way to meet people." Other events at the conference cut across all age and interest areas, like a herpetology presentation by the University of Arkansas Herpetology Department; owlery, presented by Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas; a short play by Arts Live Theatre performers; the UA Quidditch team; and potions and herbology presentations. While Bell says one of the motivations behind the event was to find like-minded Harry Potter fans, she and her co-founders also wanted to use the event to help nonprofit organizations in the Northwest Arkansas area. This year, the event is supporting Asbell Elementary School in Fayetteville. "They're one of the lowest income Title 1 schools in the district," says Bell. "They don't really have a Parent- Teacher Organization, so when you compare that to other schools in the district, you see that they need a boost for the kids to have the same experience as kids in other schools in the area. All Asbell kids get into the event for free. We had a Northwest Arkansas Harry Potter Alliance event back on Feb. 28 where we did wand making and face painting. The kids had dinner and got some free books, so we've really taken them under our wing. That's another huge component of the event."