Harry Potter Wokingham Midnight Party
The Hogwarts Express will be coming to the Wokingham borough when Wokingham Library opens its doors for a wizard midnight party to celebrate the launch of the seventh and final Harry Potter book.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at one minute past midnight on Saturday July 21 and Wokingham Library will be inviting special young guests and their parents and carers to a fancy dress party on the evening of Friday July 20 to celebrate the occasion. At the muggle-free magical Wokingham party all the guests will tour four zones of fantastic fun (based on the Hogwarts’ houses Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) in which they will be able to enjoy games, puzzles, crafts and magic (provided by children’s magician Mike Tait) – all on a Harry Potter theme. On arrival the guests will be placed in front of the famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat, which will divide them into groups for the rest of the night – but fear not, guests will move through all the school houses – nobody will be expected to stay in the dreaded Slytherin house all night.
As midnight approaches, special guests – supporting actors from the Harry Potter films – will entertain the guests with tales of life in Dumbledore’s Army. And then, as the last chimes of midnight fade, the big moment will arrive and the new book will be unveiled and guests will have a chance to win, borrow or buy copies of the final Hogwarts instalment.
Wokingham Borough Council’s reader development officer for young people and families, Elizabeth McDonald said: “This is going to be the party of a lifetime for those lucky enough to win a ticket. Wokingham Library will be transformed into a magical realm for the night and I know there will be non-stop entertainment right up to the main event – the unveiling of the Harry Potter book. JK Rowling’s books have attracted so many children to read that it is sad they are coming to an end, but at least there will be a fitting finale at Wokingham Library. And staff will be on hand to recommend other magical reads for children.”
The Harry Potter Midnight Party is being sponsored by The Wokingham Times and Wokingham Library will be transformed for the party thanks to support from The Party Box in Earley and Wokingham Theatre. Chapter One Children’s Bookshop in Denmark Street is providing the books being offered for sale on the night. Throughout the evening, which will run from 10pm to 12.30am, and there will be plenty of tasty treats and drinks for young and old guests, including a cake kindly provided by Tesco. The Berkshire Costume Service is providing costumes for library staff on the night and will, of course, be offering costume hire to all invitees.
Corporate head of Wokingham Knowledge Development Chris Hamilton said: “This is a ground-breaking event for Wokingham Library – it is our first midnight party and it promises to be a triumph. As well as being a wonderful celebration of the Harry Potter books it is a showcase for Wokingham Borough Council’s innovative and forward thinking library service. Libraries are so much more than simply places to borrow books now – they are resources of information, and entertainment for the whole community.”
The Harry Potter Wokingham Midnight Party is free but invite-only and invitations can only be won in three competitions being held in the run up to the big night. The competitions are open to young readers aged eight and over who are members of the borough’s library service – joining is quick, simple and free at any of the borough’s libraries. The fun will start on June 25 with the launch of a Draw Your Favourite Harry Potter Character competition at all the Wokingham borough’s libraries. This will run until Sunday July 1 and two winners from each library will win tickets to the party.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at one minute past midnight on Saturday July 21 and Wokingham Library will be inviting special young guests and their parents and carers to a fancy dress party on the evening of Friday July 20 to celebrate the occasion. At the muggle-free magical Wokingham party all the guests will tour four zones of fantastic fun (based on the Hogwarts’ houses Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) in which they will be able to enjoy games, puzzles, crafts and magic (provided by children’s magician Mike Tait) – all on a Harry Potter theme. On arrival the guests will be placed in front of the famous Hogwarts Sorting Hat, which will divide them into groups for the rest of the night – but fear not, guests will move through all the school houses – nobody will be expected to stay in the dreaded Slytherin house all night.
As midnight approaches, special guests – supporting actors from the Harry Potter films – will entertain the guests with tales of life in Dumbledore’s Army. And then, as the last chimes of midnight fade, the big moment will arrive and the new book will be unveiled and guests will have a chance to win, borrow or buy copies of the final Hogwarts instalment.
Wokingham Borough Council’s reader development officer for young people and families, Elizabeth McDonald said: “This is going to be the party of a lifetime for those lucky enough to win a ticket. Wokingham Library will be transformed into a magical realm for the night and I know there will be non-stop entertainment right up to the main event – the unveiling of the Harry Potter book. JK Rowling’s books have attracted so many children to read that it is sad they are coming to an end, but at least there will be a fitting finale at Wokingham Library. And staff will be on hand to recommend other magical reads for children.”
The Harry Potter Midnight Party is being sponsored by The Wokingham Times and Wokingham Library will be transformed for the party thanks to support from The Party Box in Earley and Wokingham Theatre. Chapter One Children’s Bookshop in Denmark Street is providing the books being offered for sale on the night. Throughout the evening, which will run from 10pm to 12.30am, and there will be plenty of tasty treats and drinks for young and old guests, including a cake kindly provided by Tesco. The Berkshire Costume Service is providing costumes for library staff on the night and will, of course, be offering costume hire to all invitees.
Corporate head of Wokingham Knowledge Development Chris Hamilton said: “This is a ground-breaking event for Wokingham Library – it is our first midnight party and it promises to be a triumph. As well as being a wonderful celebration of the Harry Potter books it is a showcase for Wokingham Borough Council’s innovative and forward thinking library service. Libraries are so much more than simply places to borrow books now – they are resources of information, and entertainment for the whole community.”
The Harry Potter Wokingham Midnight Party is free but invite-only and invitations can only be won in three competitions being held in the run up to the big night. The competitions are open to young readers aged eight and over who are members of the borough’s library service – joining is quick, simple and free at any of the borough’s libraries. The fun will start on June 25 with the launch of a Draw Your Favourite Harry Potter Character competition at all the Wokingham borough’s libraries. This will run until Sunday July 1 and two winners from each library will win tickets to the party.
Wokingham Borough Council
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