Into the Dark Forest – Grimm Villains at International House Esbjerg
When the gates to Fantasy Festival open, International House Esbjerg is transformed into a dark and captivating fairytale universe. Under the name Into the Dark Forest – Grimm Villains, you can step into a forest full of villains, decorations, and enchanted experiences inspired by the Grimm fairytales.
Already in the courtyard, dark magic awaits: a giant tree with twisted branches grows tall, Rapunzel’s braid hangs from the tower, and villains from the old tales sneak about. With the help of 35 volunteers – both Danish and international – the house buzzes with life, costumes, and creative energy.
Villainous Workshops
On both festival days, you can take part in four different workshops, running from 10:00–16:00.
To secure a spot, book in advance via the program at fantasyfestival.dk. Each workshop lasts 45 minutes and is led by instructors who guide you all the way:
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The Witch’s Gingerbread House – build and decorate your own candy house hosted by witches
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Rumpelstiltskin’s Graffiti – create stickers and decals with a villainous twist
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Croquis with Villains – sketch the dark characters of the fairytales as they appear before your eyes
Villain Slime – find out which villain you are and make slime to match
Courtyard Activities
Without booking, you can also throw yourself into magical and villainous courtyard activities:
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Rumpelstiltskin’s Riddles – a fairytale treasure hunt with a twist
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The Poisoned Apple – make candied apples in dangerous colors
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Grimms Wall of Fame – dive into the villains’ stories and take your own “Most Wanted” picture
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Enchanted Crowns and Poisoned Apples – creative workshop in collaboration with Kulturskolen
The Atmosphere of the Dark Forest
Behind it all are International House Esbjerg’s settlement coordinators, Pia Enemark and Nicole Devon Hogan, who, together with volunteers, have created this magical universe.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing the courtyard as a dark forest filled with witches, evil queens, wolves, and Rumpelstiltskin – and to croquis with villains, it will be great fun to draw!” says Pia.
Nicole adds:
“I can’t wait to see how guests let go and bring out their inner villain – and the slime workshop is something truly special, where you even get to take your own slime home.”
Whether you want to challenge Rumpelstiltskin, decorate a poisoned apple, or build your own gingerbread house, International House is the place to live out your darkest fairytale dreams during Fantasy Festival.
