Harry Potter inspired wand shop at The Big E celebrates LGBTQ community

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Harry Potter fans might feel as if they’re venturing through Ollivanders Wand Shop as customers pour over the hundreds of wand options, suddenly getting the feeling that a particular wand has chosen them.

Maybe it’s a 14 inch wand made of black walnut wood. Or a 14 inch birch wand with pearlescent round pommel and squared handle with soot sprites jumping around on it.

But fairgoers aren’t in Diagon Alley. They’re at Orchard Works Magic Wands located at the Craft Common section of The Big E in West Springfield.

“We really want you to have a fun experience. We all do this for the magic of it,” said co-owner Janet Bareiss.

Bareiss started making wands 13 years ago when her stepdaughter wanted a Harry Potter themed birthday. So, Bareiss made her wands to try to fit the theme.

“And we got a lot of really good feedback. Everybody was like, ‘Oh, these are cool. You should sell them,’” she said. “We looked around online and we were like, ‘Yeah, we can do this.’”

The wands, made with each artists’ own twist, were first sold on eBay. Bareiss and her husband moved to Etsy and eventually got their own store located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. They now have 10 “incredibly talented” wandmakers.

Fairgoers aren’t in Diagon Alley. They’re at Orchard Works Magic Wands located at the Craft Common section of The Big E in West Springfield.

The shop also makes “emotional support dragons,” which are 3D-printed dragons. The dragons were meant to hold wands but people quickly got attached.

“You can put them on your hand and they look so friendly. You can put them on your shoulder,” said said wandmaker and artist Emma Halloran. “And people really do develop an actual emotion.”

An employee suggested to Bareiss that the business attempt to go to The Big E. Bareiss wasn’t convinced they’d make the cut but told the employee to apply.

They were accepted.

“It’s just been a whirlwind to get to this point,” she said, adding they have about 1,000 wands on standby if they sellout before The Big E is over on Oct. 1. Plus, their store is still open.

Although many customers make the connection to “Harry Potter,” the wands are unique and aren’t affiliated with Universal Studios, Warner Bros., or JK Rowling — and that’s a good thing, Bareiss said.

Some fans have denounced the “Harry Potter” author, J.K. Rowling, after transphobic comments. Quidditch, the sport involving riding broomsticks in “Harry Potter,” became “Quadball” for the many Muggles (non-magic folk) who play it.

A majority of Bareiss’ staff are queer and they came up with the idea to do Pride themed wands. Artists known as wandmakers have control over what they make and bring into the magical world, adding glitter, color and different shapes, sizes and curves.

Fairgoers aren’t in Diagon Alley. They’re at Orchard Works Magic Wands located at the Craft Common section of The Big E in West Springfield.

“Working as a wandmaker not only means we get to have a lot of really freeform fun in a world that maybe doesn’t embrace magic as much outside of the store. But we also get to feel like our talents and our value as artists really matter and are uplifted and cherished,” said Halloran.

Orchard Works customers have been “thrilled” with the separation, Bareiss said.

“They’re thrilled to be able to still hold on to the Harry Potter universe without giving any money to JK Rowling at all,” Bareiss said. “Because she’s turned her back on them. And then double down and triple down on it. And we’re different.”