Wokingham

Young Harry Potter fans have been flocking to the Wokingham borough’s libraries for a chance to win tickets to the ‘party of the year’.

The seventh and final Hogwarts adventure Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is being launched at one minute past midnight on July 21 and the place to be on the night will be Wokingham Library, where lucky guests will be enjoying a magical party that will culminate with the unveiling of the book.

Tickets for the Wokingham party are free but can only be won in a series of three competitions being run at all the Wokingham borough’s libraries. The first competition, to draw a Harry Potter character, is now over and entrants was judged onTuesday July 3 but the second competition – to write a magical poem will run until Sunday July 8. The final opportunity to win one of the sought-after tickets will be a Wizard Treasure Hunt at all the borough’s libraries from Monday July 9 to 15.

The competitions are open to all young library members aged eight and over and two tickets per library per competition are up for grabs. On the night guests and their parents will enjoy a witch’s cauldron of fun activities as they tour four zones of Hogwarts inspired fun. There will be games, puzzles, crafts and even a magician on hand to teach a few tricks. And, of course, everybody will have the chance to win, borrow or buy a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Wokingham Borough Council’s reader development officer for young people and families Elizabeth McDonald said: “The first competition may be over but there are still two more chances to win so anybody who didn’t enter the first drawing challenge, or wasn’t lucky enough to win a ticket in it, can still come to any of the borough libraries and have another go. The competitions are great fun to enter and entering can be combined with a fun trip to your local library.”

The Harry Potter Midnight Party is being sponsored by The Wokingham Times and for the night Wokingham Library will be transformed into a Potter paradise for young fans 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, 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 the library staff on the night and will, of course, be offering costume hire to all invitees.

Harry Potter devotees who want to ensure they have a copy of the new book as soon as possible can reserve one at all the borough’s libraries on online at www.wokingham.gov.uk. But be quick, as the copies are being booked up already.

Wokingham Borough Council