Sloane M. Perron

Halloween is fast approaching which conjures up images of ghosts, goblins, and treat or treaters. However, tucked away in Worcester’s Higgins Castle lies another spooky treasure: The New England Witchcraft and Wizardry School (NEWWS). The school is the epitome of all things Harry Potter and once students enter the castle doors, participants can easily lose themselves in a world of imagination and magic.

Jeremy Oneail is the owner and operator of Oneail FX Studios and the Assistant Headmaster of NEWWS. Before entering the magical world of Harry Potter, Oneail had a successful career doing special effects and makeup for many movie shoots. During one film, Oneail created a detailed silicone mask. As a result, he started experimenting, making more masks and selling them on eBay. Today, Oneail FX Studios sells masks worldwide as well as makes elements for theme parks, movies and events. An example of Oneail’s work can be seen in Adam Sandler’s movie “Hubby Halloween” which features Oneail’s masks.

Oneail joked about his life trajectory and career in special effects and thematic design, “This is something you do when you don’t have any marketable skills and you have an art degree. You create your own world.”

The idea for NEWWS was the culmination creative thinking combined with good luck and great timing. Oneail was a fan of the Harry Potter movies because of their amazing thematic design and thought that Harry Potter World at Universal Studios really captured the “flavor” of the original movies. Oneail was inspired to create his own interactive world of witches and wizards. As a previous sword fighter, Oneail knew many medieval reenactors who would be perfect as Hogwarts professors. The last puzzle piece came together when the Higgins Castle became available for rent. According to Oneail, Higgins Castle created the perfect tone and atmosphere as it was transformed into Worcester’s own Hogwarts.
Oneail said about the school, “What began as a business venture has turned into a deep appreciation for the art direction and aesthetic of Harry Potter.”

During Oneail’s Harry Potter inspired events, every nook and cranny of Higgins Castle is transformed with magical creatures, interactive magical scenes reminiscent of the movies, and talented actors who walk around as fan favorites. Oneail said he wants the events to be one hundred percent believable for participants. “You’ll have to leave your imagination at the door because you won’t need it since you are in that world,” he said.

Oneail’s FX Studios has several Harry Potter themed events that take place throughout the year. Firstly, they host School Days. During School Days, witches and wizards of all ages must come prepared with their own robes and wands in hand as they begin their first day as a student of magic. Students will take part in eight classes throughout the day such as Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Charms Class. During Charms Class, participants will magically make a feather float while other students will make dark brews in Potions Class. “Real Harry Potter fans absolutely love School Days,” Oneail said. Space during School Days is limited to 100 students so that each person can receive attention from the professors and also participate in activities such as pulling realistic looking mandrake roots from the soil, complete with earmuffs so you do not faint from their cries!

The Yule Time Wizard Market is another immersive experience brought to life by Oneail and his team. Attracting more than 1,500 guests each year, Oneail described the market as, “The coolest craft fair you’re ever gonna find.” Inspired by all things Harry Potter, shoppers can visit vendors to purchase wardrobe pieces, crafts, and prop recreations all inspired by JK Rowling’s books. This is the perfect opportunity to find anything and everything for that special witch or wizard in your life. After Market Days, the Yule Ball takes place where fans dress up and dance the night away while drinking butterbeer.

For Oneail, his favorite part of creating NEWWS is seeing the reactions on the faces of kids, adults and fans alike as they look at the fantastical world that surrounds them. One of his favorite moments came when a little girl attended one of the School Days with a chaperone who was her pastor. The pastor came up to Oneail and said that the speech about self-sacrifice which the professor made during Defense Against the Dark Arts Class was better than any sermon he could create. Oneail said that he loves that NEWWS becomes a part of peoples’ memories.

Each year the team adds something to the events to make them bigger, better and bolder. Oneail likes making the sets and worlds he creates as realistic and tangible as possible, “You’ve got to make it [the sets] cool. When you have a fireball, you need to have a fireball. Hopefully no one catches fire but I can’t promise!” His goal is to make his events “parfaits of awesome” for attendees.

“Maybe it is the Victor Frankenstein in me but I love creating things that don’t exist,” Oneail said.
Witches and Wizards can use the Halloween season to stock up on all their magical school supplies and cauldrons since the next NEWWS event will be the Yule Time Wizard Market on Dec. 7th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. followed by the Wizard Yule Ball from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets and information about upcoming events are available through the NEWWS website at www.newizardschool.com/ or check out their Facebook page.

SIDE BARS
Trick or Treat
Halloween is the season for candy! While some people go to the grocery store to get bulk bags of their favorite sweet treats, there are many local candy stores that offer devilish delights. Originally a penny candy store, Parker’s Candy in West Boylston now offers classic candies along with new sweets tailored for this generation. Hebert Candy Mansion has been offerring hand crafted chocolates since 1917. An area shopping destination, Hebert Candy Mansion offers a refined twist of some hauntingly good choolcate. Instead of buying from big cooperations, try supporting your local candy store or chocolatier this Halloween season!

Wicked Desserts
Halloween would be nothing without candy. However, Halloween cakes are also festive alternatives for your next costume party. Check out these Worcester bakeries for some of the creepiest cakes in the city! Located on Highland Street, the Bean Counter is known for their custom cakes suitable for every wedding, birthday theme and holiday. This Halloween check out their creepy zombie cakes complete with red frosting gore. Gerardo’s Italian Bakery in West Boylston are known for their Italian pastries and cannolis but stop on by during Halloween and order a cake that would perfectly accompany any autumn celebration!

Spooktacular Events
Haunted houses, costume parties, and autumn festivals are some of the fun events that come with the month of October. Central Massachusetts has a plethora of fun and festive events this Halloween season. Whether it is family fun events for little trick or treaters to enjoy or horrifying events not for the faint of heart, Pulse Magazine has you covered on the latest spooktacular events!

Family Fun Frights
Davis Farmland in Sterling is perfection for families and children of all ages. Known for generations for their huge corn maze and discovery farm, they have recently added Moo-Moo’s ‘Fright Free’ Halloween Party for children. The event allows children to dress up in costumes, participate in trick or treat parades and play games without the stress and scariness of most Halloween events. Another unique and child friendly twist on Halloween is brought to you by Halloween on Ice. Hosted by VNA Care’s Worcester Area Community Cabinet, the event gives children and their parents the opportunity to dress up in costumes for Halloween while skating around the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center. Ever family in New England knows that you cannot properly celebrate the Fall without going on a hayride. The Stowe Farm in Millbury offers a Famil Fun day complete with face painting, pony rides, mini golf, a bounce house, and pick your own pumpkins. Family Fun Day at Stowe Farm is sure to be an opportunity to create memories while enjoying time as a family.

Haunted Happenings
Grab a drink and celebrate with a block party at this year’s Cannaloween. Sponsored by Pulse Magazine, Canalloween celebrate the Canal District with 15 bars and restaurants offerring parties and costume parties all night long! From Sept. 27 through Nov. 3, Old Sturbridge Village is hosting Sleepy Hollow. This hauntingly fun attraction is a must see this Halloween. At The Sleepy Hollow Experience, guests will be ghoulishly guided through the Village’s countryside where they will encounter Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel, Brom Bones and quite possibly the Headless Horseman during a one and half hour long theatrical and interactive performance. Those who love adrenaline rushes and pure horror should check out Factory of Terror in Worcester. The self-proclaimed number one indoor haunted event in New England, the Factory of Terror leaves attendees with their hearts pounding in their chests as they walk through rooms filled with gore beyond your wildest nightmares. In this intense haunted house, you never know what is lurking around every corner…those who enter better BEWARE!