Celebrate Harry Potter ‘A Night of Spells’ with us
This article first appeared in the January 20, 2016 issue of the Casper Journal.
Do you remember the first time you heard about The Boy Who Lived? Were you a child in elementary school or a teenager in the throes of secondary school like Harry, Ron, and Hermione?
If you were an adult when you first read the series, were you reading them with or to your child(ren), checking them out to see what the fuss was all about, catching up before you saw the movies, or did you just happen to magically stumble upon them?
The first time I was introduced to the phenomenon that began with J.K. Rowling’s first novel “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” I was browsing in the mall’s bookstore (oh, how we miss you). I was way in the back of the store, combing through the juvenile fiction shelves for books that might satisfy the requirements for my undergraduate Children’s Literature class. A kiddo who looked to be a fourth or fifth grader noticed me, grabbed a book off of the shelf, shoved it in my hand, and excitedly proclaimed, “You have to read this. It is the best book ever.” I couldn’t say no to such powerful guidance. I, of course, gobbled it up and waited each following year to dive head first into the next volume. Even now I’m on pins and needles waiting for my Kindergartner to finally be ready to experience the adventures of Hogwarts.
Potterheads (Harry Potter fans) are always looking for a reason to celebrate, dress up, and share their love of the series with other Potter devotees. Each summer, teens celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday (July 31) at the library. And each year, fans—younger and older—lament that they wish they could participate. We are pleased to announce that February 4 is the day that all ages can join in on the Harry Potter fun at our Harry Potter Book Night, a night for fans of the magical series to share their love for the stories and also introduce them to a generation of new readers.
Harry Potter Book Night celebrations will be held all over the world at bookstores, libraries, and schools. The theme of the evening is “A Night of Spells.” The library staff have spent months combing the stacks, casting spells, and dreaming up magic that we hope will satisfy the masses. Muggles, witches, wizards, and Potterheads of all ages can expect a bit of magic in the form of food, games, fun, and friends, including:
– Brewing potions.
– Fashioning wands at Ollivanders.
– Getting sorted by the sorting hat.
– Creating your very own spell book.
– Drinking butterbeer floats.
– Playing board games and LEGOs.
– Enjoying sweet magical snacks.
– And more.
Come dressed in your finest wizard or muggle attire and be prepared for a night of magical excitement.
We invite everyone to drop in and partake in the wizarding fun on February 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. If you have questions or if you would like to volunteer to help with the celebration, please call the library at 577-READ ext. 2. And remember to share your ideas and plans for Harry Potter Book Night as well as your photos on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using #HarryPotterBookNight and #NatronaLibrary.
