Hey, muggles! Get ready, Harry Potter is coming back to Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, this fall.
Harry Potter Festival Fast Facts
Harry Potter Festival dates are set for Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22.
For the first time, Germantown Avenue will turn into a six-block street fair for the Harry Potter Festival on Saturday, October 22.
The super-popular pub crawl will return on Friday, October 21; Tickets go on sale on September 28.
The Harry Potter Festival has always been a hugely popular and spectacular festival in Chestnut Hill. This year, though, the festival returns on October 21 and 22 with more than ever before.
New This Year
In previous years, the festival has filled the sidewalk along Germantown Avenue and certain parks and public spaces around the street. But this year, Germantown Avenue from Rex to Willow Grove avenues will be shut down to vehicular trafficand open up to festival-goers only on Saturday, October 22.
That’s right, the streets will be closed this year to create an even more festive festival atmosphere. Awesome, right?
(Photo by A. Sinagoga for Visit Philadelphia)
For the first time, Germantown Avenue will be shut down to traffic for the annual Harry Potter Festival.
Harry Potter Pub Crawl
Beyond the street festival on Saturday, October 22, the Harry Potter festivities kick off on Friday, October 21 with the annual (and quick-to-sell-out) Harry Potter pub crawl (yes, butterbeer!) in Chestnut Hill.
Pub crawl tickets will go on sale on September 28 and will include to-be-announced perks. Those who do not purchase tickets for the pub crawl can still visit the participating bars in Chestnut Hill and join the fun.
Stay tuned for more on this blockbuster fall festival and check out the festival preview video below.
Calling all wizards, muggles and lit lovers: The annual Harry Potter Festival returns to Chestnut Hill next month, October 16-17.
Get ready to dust off your wands, Harry Potter fans.
The huge annual Harry Potter Festival returns to Chestnut Hill Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17 for two days of events that magically morph the already-charming town into the fictional world created by author J.K. Rowling.
Coinciding with two Chestnut Hill College happenings, the weekend welcomes the annual Harry Potter academic conference on Friday and the fifth annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Quidditch Cup Tournament on Saturday.
Beyond the academics and sports, Harry Potter Festival Weekend happenings in the neighborhood range from a bar crawl and film screenings to sorting hat demonstrations and a scavenger hunt.
Harry Potter Pub Crawl, Friday, October 16
UPDATE: The Harry Potter Pub Crawl is now sold out.
For those more interested in raising a goblet of butterbeer, the annual Harry Potter Pub Crawl returns on Friday, October 16.
From 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday night, ticket-holders to the annual pub crawl will pop in and out of pubs along Germantown Avenue like Tavern on the Hill, McNally’s Tavern, Iron Hill Tavern,
Campbell’s Place, Chestnut Grill and El Poquito.
Tickets to the super-popular pub crawl are $25 and limited in quantity.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 23 at 9 a.m., and this event sells out annually, so mark those calendars now.
Costumes are highly encouraged, and tee shirts, wristbands and glow wands will be distributed to all participants.
To register for tickets to the Harry Potter Pub Crawl,check here for a link to purchase tickets online this Wednesday, September 23 at 9 a.m.
UPDATE: The Harry Potter Pub Crawl is now sold out.
The Harry Potter Pub Crawl returns in 2015 on Friday, October 16. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 23. (Photo courtesy Chestnut Hill Business Association)
More on the annual Harry Potter Festival, below.
Harry Potter Festival, Saturday, October 17
On Saturday, the entire community embraces the transformation into Hogsmede with activities like the Hunt for the Horcrux scavenger hunt, a fall maze at Woodmere Art Museum, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, sorting hat demonstrations, fortune tellers, specialty food and drink and so much more.
A 5K fun run kicks off at 8 a.m., the 5th Annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Quidditch Tournament runs all day starting at 10 a.m.
To create an immersive atmosphere, Chestnut Hill neighborhood businesses, shops and restaurants on and around Germantown Avenue transform into familiar locales from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade like the Leaky Cauldron, Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop and Weasley’s Wizarding Wheeezes.
The Harry Potter Festival turns Chestnut Hill into Hogsmede for an entire weekend, complete with Quidditch match! (Photo courtesy
Getting Around and Staying Over
Don’t worry supplying your own broom. Transportation to and around the festival is easy with special service from SEPTA and a complimentary Knight Bus Trolley in Chestnut Hill.
Really, true fans should make a weekend out of the festival and stay overnight in Philadelphia. Check out visitphilly.com for super deals on hotel stays and the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package.
For a sneak peek of festival happenings, check out the video above.
Stay tuned for more on this annual celebration of the enchanting world of Harry Potter.
Harry Potter Festival 2015
When: October 16-17; Pub Crawl, Friday, October 16, 7 p.m. UPDATE: The pub crawl is now sold out; Festival & Quidditch Tournament, Saturday, October 17
Harry Potter Festival Weekend consists of tons of events hosted by both the town of Chestnut Hill and Chestnut Hill College. It’s going to be an epic event! (Photo courtesy Chestnut Hill Business Association)
with the "Hogwarts" train arriving from
Jefferson Station in Center City.
The train arrives at the Chestnut Hill West Station
at 9:45 am sharp!
Music...characters...prizes!
