Aurora Is Getting A Harry Potter Fan Festival This Summer

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 6, 2017 8:20PM

Mark your calendars for July 30, when Aurora, Illinois is poised to transform into Hogwarts and fill with dedicated Harry Potter fans.

The local cultural center and bookstore Culture Stock is hosting the day of festivities, which will include transforming the city's Water Street Mall into Diagon Alley—the famed shopping center of the novels where Harry buys his wand and school supplies. Look for vendors and crafting stations, including a broom-making booth:

The festival will also feature a kind of scavenger hunt for "horcruxes" hidden around the area, a Hogwarts Express train for children to ride and a costume parade. And because no festival set at Hogwarts would be complete without classes, there will be classes in potions, herbology and the Care of Magical Creatures at Millennium Plaza off Stolp Avenue.

Here's the full Facebook event post:

A festival for all ages, celebrating Harry Potter! Presented by Culture Stock.

A brief overview of events:

Diagon Alley will be set up along Water Street Mall with vendors and crafting stations. Hogwarts Classes in Potions, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures will take place at venues along Downer Place and at Millenium Plaza off Stolp Avenue.

Search for Horcruxes throughout the downtown area. Children can ride the Hogwarts Express mini train attraction. Dress as your favorite character for the Costume Parade!

No admission charges! Some of the events will have fees, but most activities are free.

Aurora’s Harry Potter Festival is a community-based fan festival celebrating the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The Festival is organized by a volunteer committee sponsored by Culture Stock, a not-for-profit organization that provides free and affordable arts events and programs to the Aurora area community. Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling are not responsible for this event.