Remember the first time you read or watched J.K. Rowling’s tales of Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Did you want to be transported to Hogwarts, Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley? Now you can.
Since the release of the first exciting and captivating book in the magical series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, published in the U.S. in June 1997, wizardry festivals and activities have sprouted like mushrooms throughout the country allowing you to experience the magic of Harry Potter. Some of these events are sanctioned by Rowling, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Studios, and all transport you to a land flowing with butterbeer and spells.
“These events are very inclusive and accepting of all kinds of people. Towns rebadge their shops to reflect place names from the Harry Potter series. There are often scheduled events such as Wizard Rock and public book readings. They give people a good excuse to visit a town they may never consider,” says Dr. Patrick McCauley, co-founder of the annual Harry Potter Conference at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.
So, whether you’re a new fan or old, these five events and Potter attractions are calling out your name. Don your robe, take out your wand and off we go to Harry Potter’s world of magic.
Wizarding Weekend in Ithaca, New York (October 26–28, 2018)
Photo courtesy of Wizarding Weekend/Allison Usavage
Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend is a three-day event highlighting magic and the wizarding world. Wizard’s Chess, wand duels, Quidditch lessons and matches, themed food and drink, acceptance letters to Hogwarts, stage magic, parade, STEM topics, street performers and owls are just the tip of the wand in attractions. General admission is free, but some events require paid tickets.
Plan your trip: Visit Ithaca | I Love NY
Driving distances: 1 hour 40 minutes from Rochester, New York | 2 hours 40 minutes from Buffalo, New York | 3 hours from Albany, New York | 4 hours 15 minutes from New York City, New York | 4 hours from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Where to stay: Red Roof Inn Cortland | Rodeway Inn & Suites | Trip Hotel Ithaca
Chestertown HP Fest in Chestertown, Maryland (October 5–6, 2018)
Photo courtesy of Kent County MD Office of Tourism Development/Mariya Filippova
Centered around the Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre, the Chestertown HP Festival has activities for free and with a fee. There’s a Quidditch tournament, wandmaker’s co-op, charms class, scavenger hunt through the “wizard village shops,” fun aboard the schooner Sultana, Defense Against the Dark Arts class, a magic hall of talking portraits, costume contest, Azkaban prison-break party, enchanted high tea and more.
Plan your trip: Kent County MD Office of Tourism Development | Visit Maryland
Driving distances: 1 hour 10 minutes from Wilmington, Delaware | 1 hour 30 minutes from Baltimore, Maryland | 1 hour 35 minutes from Washington, D.C. | 1 hour 40 minutes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 3 hours 20 minutes from New York City, New York
Where to stay: Quality Suites | Holiday Inn Express & Suites | Osprey Point Inn Bed and Breakfast
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida
Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort
You can follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter as you roam the streets of London and spend time wandering along Diagon Alley. You’ll find the Leaky Cauldron and Ollivanders wand shop, and you can take a multidimensional ride under Gringotts bank with Harry, Ron and Hermione (be careful of Voldemort, Bellatrix, trolls and other strange beings). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley is located inside Universal Studios Florida theme park. Potter things become even more intense during the annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter” held in late January.
Plan your trip: Visit Orlando | Visit Florida
Driving distances: 1 hour 20 minutes from Tampa, Florida | 1 hour 45 minutes from Clearwater, Florida | 3 hours 30 minutes from Miami, Florida | 4 hours 10 minutes from Savannah, Georgia
Where to stay: Clarion Inn & Suites – Orlando | Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando | Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Magical Night Out in Jefferson, Wisconsin (October 19–21, 2018)
The Jefferson, Wisconsin, Magical Night Out starts with a Friday night lighted parade through town (anyone—even Muggles without a wristband—may watch the parade). Then, on Saturday and Sunday, you can shop, eat and peruse the merchandise; stop by the indoor Festival Village; play Wizard’s Chess and then indulge your love of mystical plants at the Mandrake Greenhouse. Of course, there’s Quidditch, hat sorting and so much more. If you don’t happen to have a flying broom, take a helicopter ride to soar high into the sky. You may shop for costumes if you don’t already have one. (At the time of this writing, ticket prices for 2018 were not available. Online wristband prices for 2017 were $25 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets can also be purchased locally.)
Plan your trip: Jefferson Chamber of Commerce | Travel Wisconsin
Driving distances: 45 minutes from Madison, Wisconsin | 2 hours 10 minutes from Chicago, Illinois | 3 hours from Davenport, Iowa | 3 hours 15 minutes from Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 4 hours 35 minutes from St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota
Where to stay: Days Inn Johnson Creek | Rodeway Inn | Holiday Inn Express
The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California
Photo courtesy of Watson Adventure’s Wizard School Scavenger Hunt/Mark A. King
For a different type of wizardry magic, book a Watson Adventure’s Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Just as it isn’t a typical Hogwarts festival, it’s not a typical scavenger hunt. Instead, children (10 years and older) and adults search the center’s art for characters, places and objects that are similar to those found in the Potter books. You may find a powerful sorceress, a Snape-like potions master, Dumbledore look-alikes or flying owls. (Admission: $19 per adult and $17 per child ages 10–17)
Plan your trip: Discover Los Angeles | Visit California
Driving distances: 1 hour 30 minutes from Santa Barbara, California | 1 hour 40 minutes from Palm Springs, California | 2 hours from San Diego, California | 4 hours 10 minutes from Las Vegas, Nevada | 5 hours 10 minutes from Monterey, California
Where to stay: Hotel Angeleno | Plaza La Reina | The Brentwood Inn