For the O’Neils, Harry Potter is almost a member of their family.
Jessie and Tim O’Neil read the Harry Potter books after they were married and now, nine years later, their oldest child is deep into the wizard-y series and sharing parts with their youngest.
"The whole family has been able to enjoy these books. The appeal, I think, is that all ages can enjoy the idea of magic," says Tim O’Neil.
The O’Neils took their love of Harry Potter – and magic and fantasy in general – and conjured up the Midwest Magic Festival. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23 at the Waukesha Expo Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The indoor/outdoor event takes place rain or shine and will feature performances, activities and experiences that celebrate illusions, sorcery and modern fantasy such as Harry Potter, The Magicians, Percy Jackson, Fantastic Beasts and more.
"Our festival is a place for Wizards and Witches to gather with kindred spirits while enjoying our eight magical performances, interactive Wizards Wand Duel, Wizards Profile Experience, costume contests, a Not-So-Forbidden Forest, make your own wands, make your own potion bottles, professional photo booths, professional GIF booths, Quidditch games, beer garden games, live owls, live snakes and many more displays and experiences that we are still working on," says Tim O’Neil.
The O’Neils got the idea for a full-blown magic festival after organizing a fundraiser at Summit View Elementary where their kids attend school.
"We started to see that our ideas were bigger in scale, and we were off to the races from there as soon as we found that the Waukesha County Expo Center was available the weekend we were looking for," says Tim O’Neil.
Tickets to the Midwest Magic Festival are limited and cost $25 or $45 for VIPs. Find out more information about pricing here.
"This is our way of sharing our vision of the magical realm. Whether you have been a fan of all things wizardly for decades, just starting to get into the magical world or are just getting dragged along with friends, we want you at our event and know that if you show up with a smile, you will have an amazing time," says Jessie O’Neil.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
