Midnight Magic

From Jazams to the Lambertville Library, the parties for the last Harry Potter book are just gearing up.

By: Allison Musante

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TIMEOFF/MARK CZAJKOWSKI
Wizards of all kinds will be on hand at a Potter-themed block party hosted by Jazams.


   Accio! The summoning charm commands all witches and wizards to celebrate the release of the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, to be released July 21. There’s no need to get on Platform 9 ¾, however, when many free, community parties are allowing fans to step into Harry Potter’s world on July 20, the eve of the book’s release.
   Are you a Slytherin or a Gryffindor? At the PotterPalooza festival outside the Lambertville Public Library, get sorted in Hogwart’s Great Hall and visit the whimsical shops of Diagon Alley. The brave and ambitious guests can enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament to compete in the dragon-battle box and life-size lake game.
   Games and crafts will start at 5 p.m. At 9 p.m. there will be a showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on the lawn outside the library, and WDVR 89.7 will provide live music. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at midnight to guests who pre-ordered the book from the library. Snacks and refreshments will be sold.
   Potter fans will have the opportunity to take the life-size Great Hall and Diagon Alley murals home with them. The finely crafted, museum-quality pieces will be for sale to benefit the nonprofit organization, The Friends of Lambertville Library.
   In the event of rain, the festival will be moved to the Downtown Performing Arts Center on South Union Street, and the movie will be moved to the Justice Center on Union Street.
   Princeton may also be mistaken for a scene right out of Harry Potter’s world when Hulfish Street is transformed into Diagon Alley at the Harry Potter Block Party. Organized and hosted by Jazams, an independent toy store, the Block Party will take place from 6 to 9 p.m.
   Vendors will offer many free crafts and activities, including materials to make wizard hats and magic wands. All guests are welcome to enter the Hogwarts Costume Parade at 7 p.m. Winners will be chosen in three age groups and will receive a gift certificate and Quidditch broom made by the Arts Council of Princeton.
   Don’t be late to the party because classes will be in session at Hogwarts. Get an herbology lesson with Professor Sprout, take a potions class with Professor Snape, and watch a "Care of Magical Creatures" presentation with live snakes, turtles and tarantulas. The party will conclude with a showing of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at 9 p.m. at the Palmer Square Green. To conclude the magical evening, Jazams will be selling the final Harry Potter book at midnight. Jazams is still accepting pre-orders.
   Barnes & Noble at Princeton MarketFair in West Windsor is having its own party to celebrate the arrival of the final Harry Potter book. The Midnight Magic Party will start at 8 p.m. with trivia, games, a potion creation contest, Bertie Botts bean counting contest and a costume contest judged by a surprise guest from McCarter Theatre.
   Prizes will be awarded to the contest winners, so bring your wizardly wardrobe and wisdom. There will be plenty of snacks for sale and plenty of books to go around at midnight. Barnes & Nobles is still accepting pre-orders for the book.
   The Princeton Public Library is hosting its fifth annual Harry Potter trivia contest at 4 p.m. Wizards of all ages are welcome to compete and come in style, as prizes will be awarded to the most Potter-savvy team and best costume.
   The trivia questions will be supplied and delivered by local Harry Potter expert Don Suplee.Registration for the event is not required, but the library recommends registering for the contests in advance by calling (609) 924 9529, ext. 240.
   Most bookstores recommend fans pre-order the book as soon as possible if they want a copy on June 21. Amazon.com announced that it received 1.6 million pre-orders for the final Harry Potter book, and according to USA Today, it is the largest pre-ordered book in history.
   Many fans are anxious to see what J.K. Rowling has in store for Harry, Ron, Hermione and all the other characters that readers have grown to love — or hate — in the 10 years since the series began in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Although the clock will strike midnight on the Harry Potter series on June 20, come 12:01 all the magic and mystery will be revealed.
PotterPalooza will be held outside the Lambertville Public Library, 6 Lilly St., Lambertville, July 20, 5 p.m.; (609) 397-0275; www.lambertvillelibrary.org/nicknights. To inquire about purchasing a piece of Harry’s world, e-mail [email protected]. The Harry Potter Block Party will be held on Hulfish Street, Princeton, July 20, 6 p.m. Hulfish St. will be closed to traffic. For more details or to pre-order, call Jazams at (609) 924-8697. For information about parking, call Palmer Square Management at (609) 921-2853. The Midnight Magic Party will be held at Barnes & Noble, MarketFair, 3535 U.S. Route 1 South, West Windsor, July 20, 8 p.m.; (609) 716-1570. The Harry Potter trivia contest will be held at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, July 20, 4 p.m.; (609) 924-9529; www.princetonlibrary.org