Harry Potter Party

With the popularity of the Harry Potter Books, Harry Potter parties are on many kids most wanted list.  Here are a few ideas for Mugals to throw the perfect wizard party.

Set aside one room of your house to be a replica of Hogwarts School.  Here are some ideas to transform your dining room into a wizard's castle.

Decorations:

To throw a true Harry Potter party, it must take place at Hogwarts, Harry's school, and specifically in the Gryffindor house (the dorm to which Harry Potter was assigned).  The school colors are red and gold so this should be your color theme for the party.

Creating Hogwarts can be achieved in many ways as long as the mood is dark and medieval-like.  Draw the blinds and get ready for fun.

Every Good School Needs a Crest

You can purchase a crest at a party supply store. (Hogwart's Crest pictured available at shindigz.com) Or you can make your own out of construction paper.  Cut out a shield shape and decorate it to say "Gryffindor" with crest like artwork.  Use this as your party banner. 

Get shiny blue or metallic paper and cut out many stars and lighting bolts.  Attach metallic curly ribbon (the kind you put on presents) to each star and lighting bolt and tape them to the ceiling so they dangle in mid-air. (Test the tape in an inconspicuous spot before taping the entire ceiling) 

If you have pictures in the room that can be taken down, affiliate them with straw brooms that have Nimbus 2000 (Harry's famous broom) written on the handle. 

In the doorway attach cranberry and gold streamers from the door casing to the floor to obstruct the view of the room and help darken it a bit.

Table:

Cover the table with a purple table cloth.

Sprinkle metallic star glitter all across the table top.  For a centerpiece use a lava lamp, and shiny balls. Cut out small stars and bolts and tape them to a few tap lights (Those rounded lights that work on battery...usually available at most home centers) They will cast shadows on the ceiling.

Party Games:

The children may not enter "Gryffindor" (the room with the cake) until they know the secret password.  Make a treasure hunt to discover the secret password.  Either make different treasure hunts for teams or have all the guests help the birthday child.

An example for a younger child's party would be something like..."You will discover the password to enter here, upon the magic box where pictures appear".   Tape the secret password answer card onto the television set.

Party Favors:

Get Jelly Beans, place them is a paper bag labeled "Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans". 

Each child needs a wizard hat.  Harry Potter party hats are widely available at most party stores.  We found them on-line at shindigz.com

Send them home with a few magic tricks.  These are usually available at party good stores.  We found them on-line at Oriental Trading

Harry Potter "Sorting Hat" available at shindigz.com