Ever since I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I immediately thought of hosting a Harry Potter party, so I have been collecting ideas, supplies & props since the fall of 2000! Since I did not want to conflict with Halloween or other holidays, and I had some long-distance guests who required long-term planning in advance, I chose the Saturday prior to Harry's actual birthday of July 31st for a reason to celebrate - July 27th, 2002.
This party was a LOT of creative work, research and planning over almost two whole years, so I'll give it more attention by separating everything into more manageable sections:
(delivered by Owl Post, of course!)
The actual invitations with complete instructions for the intensely curious...
The final invitations, some preliminary decor, also Frequently Asked Questions for the invitees...
All the Hogwarts Classrooms, the Blue Lady painting, the Trophy Case, the flagstone walls, and more...
All the guests who bravely wore their wizarding attire and who won which prize...
My own leather Sorting Hat, complete with thoughtful face, separated all the guests into one of the Houses...
Hogwarts and Honeydukes recipes served at the party, including Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Treacle Tarts, Pumpkin Pasties, Licorice Wands, Peppermint Toads, Acid Pops, and more...
...and last, but not least...
Photos of the fun had by all, making their own Potions, the Whirled Word Wizard, the Successful Seeker of Indoor Quidditch, and including highlights from the webcam broadcast...
I am featured in this Harry Potter guidebook as "mega-fan Britta Peterson who has thrown two Hogwarts-themed extravaganzas" in the "How to Host Your Own Harry Potter Party" chapter, including my photos and instructions for certain party props, recipes, and activities! :D The book is "A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World: Exploring the Harry Potter Universe" by ECW Press, author Fionna Boyle. She found these Hogwarts Celebration webpages of mine while researching her book, contacted me asking for permission to use my ideas, and we ended up with much in common, so we're now online friends. :) Even though it is now out of print officially, the book is available on Amazon.com, and it has also been sighted in a few Borders from Canada to California! It has been so exciting to see my photos and instructions with my name in print in a real live book I can hold in my hands! :D
In Other News...
The second party, Year Five at Hogwarts, was June 21st, 2003,
with 50 people in attendance - most of them playing Nerf Quidditch!
The webpages are still forthcoming, but for now you can read the
Year Five at Hogwarts FAQ
The third party, Year Six at Hogwarts, was July 16th, 2005,
with 83 people in attendance - including about 20 kids!
The webpages are still forthcoming, but for now you can read the
Year Six at Hogwarts FAQ,
read my blog entries of party preparations,
and see the Marauders' Map I made for the invitations...
The fourth party, Year Seven at Hogwarts,
was July 21st, 2007, with 81 people including 16 kids!
Read about the panic of party prep here,
and watch my 1-minute interview on NBC11 News:
