A Harry Potter Adventure (Photo Essay)

The second annual Harry Potter Adventure festival was held today. We had missed the first one, but we were sure
to attend this time around.



So, what is the Harry Potter Adventure, anyway? It's a day-long festival with Harry Potter themed crafts, classes, events and more.

The day started with meeting a Courier Owl up close and personal. He wasn't white, but he was wonderful. He had been injured with a broken wing and he's now a rescued owl used to educational purposes. He's five years old and my no means tame (as the handler showed us while he bit her gloved hand.)

He sure is beautiful, though, despite the weird effects that the flash did to his eye.

Yumm fingers for breakfast!




He (or rather his handler) was supposed to have Wizard coins, but they didn't have them at this point.


You can see a short video clip of the owl here.

From here we went to go get Breakfast at the Great Hall... only to find that it was over and you needed to have reservations in advance to get in there. Oh, well. The prices were really good, though.

I love the menu choices, lol.


We overheard one of the professors mention that it was important to get sorted and we headed over to the headquarters to await sorting.


This stage of the event was a bit unorganized. For the longest time we all stood there wondering what was going on, when and how to get sorted and the significance of being sorted. (We never did learn what the significance of being sorted was)

While we were waiting Hagrid came over.


Snape and I believe Professor McGonagall came over as well.


We peered inside and found this poster announcing the free photos later in the day.


Getting antsy we went up a block to the Wizard Bank to see what the Wizard Coins were all about. Apparently the coins were needed to pay for activites and additional coins could be earned with the owl, chess game, and finding Moaning Myrtle.

However, the Dementor might come and steal your coins. A wand (which was given out at the breakfast we missed out on) and a spell would keep away the Dementor.

We entered a prize drawing here for a set of Harry Potter coins as well.


Finally, we went back to the headquarters and were sorted. We wound up in the Hufflepuff group, though once Clint heard Slytherins were not very nice he was tempted to switch houses. Gideon didn't like being in the not nice group, so we stayed with Hufflepuff.

This marked the start of the Search For The Fire Stone scavenger hunt. The hunt was based around fictional stores (which made the search harder) and Potter trivia. We only did a few clues partially due to knowing the answers, partially due to location of the stores and to needing breakfast still.


While we were playing the scavenger hunt we decided to see if the courier owl had their Wizard coins yet. (They did) Gideon correctly answered a trivia question and won his coin.

 Then we went in search of Moaning Myrtle. I assured Gideon that the ghost was not real (I was expecting a photo or something)


Okay, so imagine my surprise to see Myrtle in the bathroom exclaiming "You found me!"  We got our coin, a wand (she said maybe we can do better magic with it than she could) and a photo (Gideon's been cropped out. He was so unsure of her that he stood far enough away that it made cropping him out a cinch, LOL.)


Here's the wand Myrtle gave us, and it's a darn good thing we had it for that darn Dementor came after us. Gideon stared him down and waved his wand yelling "Expecto Trollus." Okay, so he said it wrong, but the Dementor slinked away and went after someone else's money.


While on the scavenger hunt we bumped into Dumbledore. He kindly posed for a couple photos (Gideon once again was unsure of him) and talked to us a bit. He told Gideon a spell to make the Dementor go away.




At this time we bowed out to get some yummy breakfast. We watched as some storm clouds rolled in threatening to ruin the day. Luckily all they did was give us a short rain shower and all was well.

Next up was the Tasting Contest. Gideon gave a Wizard Coin for an assortment of candies like "boogers," "worms" and Bernie Botts jelly beans. We also entered a prize drawing here.


We went back to the Headquarters for the photo with the professors. Snape was missing from this shot. Gideon was a little shy at first, but he did sit on Mad Eye Moody's lap, though. Well, sorta. Hehehe.


We headed to the wand craft first.


Unfortunately, the wand craft was met with an unexpected volume of kids. They had to close for a half hour while in search of more supplies.

We decided to check out the potions craft, which wound up being Gatorade mixed with varied candies inside it. Gideon decided to pass on that. It didn't seem too appetising to us either, lol.

So, on to Nits and Nots for the Medallion craft we went.


Gideon and I learned how to needlefelt and this is the medallion he made. He decided against an eye on his medallion.


We decided to go to some shops and look around while we waited on the wand supplies to be replenished. We bought a Wow Wow Wubbsy book kit for Gideon and some M&Ms, his favorite.

After some light shopping we returned to the wand craft and they were all ready for us. We paid our Wizard coin and I assisted Gideon with his wand making. Okay, so he told me what he wanted and I made it, LOL. It was hard holding it in place while the glue dried, so maybe it was just as well.

Here's the wand he made. There were all sorts of things to decorate them with, but Gideon wanted to keep it simple.


 One of the last things we did was go to the Seeping Cauldron and have our tea leaves read. Both Clint and I paid one Wizard Coin for a reading. It was rather interesting.

I was told that she saw a seven, a cat for courage, an H and a I, a cane, which meant I was going to grow old, that I was going to get a package (sounds like my review book is on it's way) and I was going to be happy and filled with love.

Clint had a different number, I think it was four, a tree with many branches which meant he'd grow to something strong, a different set of initials and a fish.

After this we shopped more until the free showing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at the beautiful Al Ringling theater.

All in all we ALL had a wonderful time and we have already planned to try to attend again next year. If you have the chance to make the trip out next year I highly recommend it. It's fun for the entire family.

Ever since we got home (and even while at the festival) Gideon waved around his wand yelling "Expecto Trollus" or "Specto Troll" LOL. He's really gotten into this spellcasting thing.

For more information of the Harry Potter Adventure click here.