A Muggle’s Guide to the Wizardly World of Harry Potter Weekend
A weekend of wizardry is heading for Chestnut Hill in less than a month. The Philadelphia suburb hosts the annual Harry Potter weekend. This year’s festival begins on Thursday, Oct. 19 and continues through Saturday, Oct. 22. Here is the go-to guide for the upcoming festivities.
Events
Harry Potter Conference — Oct. 19 and Oct. 20
The festival launches with the Harry Potter Conference; an academic conference where writers present scholarly presentations that were inspired from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Chestnut Hill College hosts the annual conference throughout campus. High school students kick off the event Thursday night from 6pm to 8pm. It is open to the public and is free admission.
The lectures carry on Friday starting at 8:30am and finish at 6 pm. This portion of the conference requires an admission fee.
Ticket Prices:
- Attendee (no lunch): $15
- Attendee with Lunch Box (choice of turkey, roast beef, tuna, or veggie): $25
Visit the official Harry Potter Conference website to purchase tickets.
Wands & Wizards Night on the Avenue — Oct. 20
The newest addition to Harry Potter weekend, Wands & Wizards Night on the Avenue replaces what was previously known as Harry Potter Pub Crawl. The activities begin Friday at 6pm on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. There are specific costs required to attend, but some of the entertainment will cost money.
The night includes photo booths, aerialist performers, and fortune tellers. The Franklin Institute is hosting an astronomy event at the Jenks Memorial Playground Science Museum.
A costume content is also available starting at 8pm. John Story Jenks Academy of the Arts & Sciences holds the event. There is a $5 participation fee but the audience can view for free. Costumes showcase readers best outfits of Harry Potter characters. Participants must be 18 years of age.
Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival — Oct. 21
Saturday’s attractions begin in Chestnut Hill at 10am and end by 4pm. All of the festivities take place along 12 blocks of Germantown Avenue. The following is a list of free events vs paid events available for visitors:
Free:
- Dumbledore’s greeting, S.P.E.W. rally, Potter quizzo, and wizard dance party, ice sculpting demonstrations, sorting hat, muggles read-a-thon.
Money required:
- Woodmere Straw Maze, Glassblowing (Crefeld School), Jenks Firebolt 5K, Caricaturists, Slow motion booth, face painting, fortune teller, potion making
Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament — Oct. 21
Chestnut Hill College presents the 8th annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament from 10am to 4pm. College teams from the Mid-Atlantic region compete in fast paced round robin Quidditch tournament. For those who aren’t familiar with Quidditch, it’s a game featuring characteristics of dodgeball, basketball and rugby. The tournament is free to watch. But, only registered colleges/universities can participate in gameplay.
Parking
Parking always strikes as a concern for attendees of Harry Potter weekend. The festivities are often crowded but there are several parking options. Parking is limited and public transportation is recommended.
Shuttles are running from three different lots on Saturday, Oct. 21. The service departs from each lot every 15 minutes.
Parking Lot 1: Plymouth Meeting Mall & Business Center
- Address: 500 West Germantown Pike & 600 West Germantown Pike
Parking Lot 2: Arcadia University
- Address: 450 South Easton Road
Parking Lot 3: Springfield Township High School
- Address: 1801 Paper Mill Road
Handicap Parking is accessable at the following locations:
Lot 1: Blossom Philadelphia
- Address: 102 East Mermaid Lane
Lot 2: Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church
- Address: 8855 Germantown Avenue
Transportation
SEPTA regional service is available on Saturday for the main festivities. There are two stops available close to the events: Chestnut Hill West & Chestnut Hill East. More information can be found on SEPTA’s website.
