You’re invited to Hogwarts

Imagine a child’s excitement at receiving an invitation to spend the night at Hogwarts from Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

There’s no limit to how creative you can be when hosting a Hogwarts experience that your child and his/her friends will be talking about for months!!

Out of all the theme parties I have thrown for my children’s birthdays, this is still my favorite and the one the kids remember most. That could be because I, too, read all the books and am a huge fan of the series.

With the release of the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” movie coming soon, the timing is perfect for an evening of muggle-style magic.

The complete Harry Potter Party planning guide (PDF file) includes details on creating the invitation, decorations, games, activities, and party plan in more detail.

You can use all the ideas or just a few based on your budget. The decorations take some time to make, so plan and make items weeks ahead.

The following is a brief overview of the party

The Hogwarts Experience

Arrival

The children arrive via the Hogwarts Express through the invisible wall and ring the doorbell. In costume, you answer and introduce yourself as the Headmisstress and welcome them to Hogwarts.

Sorting Hat

The Sorting Hat decides which house each child is assigned (Gryffindor or Hufflepuff), and they receive a Hogwarts shirt for the appropriate house. A group “class” photo is taken with all of them wearing their Hogwarts shirts.

Craft project – Paint flower pots

Each child decorates a flower pot that will be used later in Charms class. The shirts double as protection for the kids’ clothes.

Believe me…this is phase one of the best part of the whole sleepover, but the magic isn’t revealed until later.

The Golden Snitch game

Order the pizza before starting the game.

Explain that there are ping pong balls hidden around the home (or outside) with points on them. To score points for your house, you must collect the balls and return them to be added to the scoreboard. The special “Golden Snitch” gets a bonus 100 points for the finder’s house. The house with the most points by cake time will win.

Give out some additional house points throughout the evening for “neatest eater”, “most creative painted pot”, or anything funny or crazy you can think of.

Dinner time

Pizza time! Ask if anyone would like some “Butter Beer”, and serve apple juice in a fancy pitcher. Pour it into their goblets in the Great Hall.

Charms class

Explain that you will be teaching Charms class in place of Professor Flitwick. If you have an older sibling/husband that wants to be Professor Flitwick, he can conduct the class. Each child will fill their decorated pot with some dirt and plant one seed. You can do this outside if you think they will be too messy.

Everyone is presented with a wand. As a new wizard they will learn their first charm, the “Growth Charm.” Make up a charm they have to repeat after you, and make it really silly.

Example: “Wiggily Wiggly Wabbely Fro…I wave the wand and the seed will grow.”

Have them repeat it several times while waving their wands over their planted seeds. Compliment them all on how well they cast their charms.

Place the pots on a counter or table where they will sit until morning…but make sure they are in view.

Phase 2 of the magic is complete.

Cake

Let everyone clean up and enjoy some cake.

Announce the winning house in the points contest.

Movie

A Harry Potter movie, of course, with some snacks. Print the group “class” photo for each child while they are busy watching the movie.

Sleep

When the last child goes to sleep, you will work the magic of the party.

Put a flower (that tray of flowers you were hiding) in each of the pots. When the kids awake to see them in the morning, they will be amazed…the Growth Charm worked!

Phase 3 – the magic is complete.

I think my son and his friends were in first/second grade when I did this party. I can tell you..they totally bought it…for awhile. It was so cute to see them discover that the flowers grew overnight, and the looks on their faces were priceless. I video taped the discussion about it over breakfast.

Child takes home:

• shirt
• wand
• group “class” photo
• decorated flower pot
• candy bag
• …and a great memory

Find all the details to create your own Harry Potter experience in this step-by-step guide (PDF file).

Other party ideas in a book specifically for Harry Potter parties. I wish that was around when I did my party.

4th of July Cookout

Why not invite a few friends over for a cookout?

The July 4th cookout party plan (PDF file) will help you throw a great cookout with ease.

Don’t want to do all the cooking?

Invite your guests to bring a side dish or dessert while you supply the main dish (hamburgers and hotdogs) and beverages. You will end up with a wonderful assortment of dishes, and no one is left with the burden of cooking everything.

Other resources for 4th of July fun

4th of July cake idea
Other July 4th ideas for decorating and cooking
4th of July crafts for kids

So you have 20 guests coming over in a few days for a party. Are you ready?

Create your plan of attack

Make a schedule for the three days leading up to the party and get as much done ahead of time as possible.

The key is leaving only the last minute things for the last minute.

3 days to go – Planning

Plan the menu

Create a menu for all the food and beverage items you will be making or ordering.

Make 2 shopping lists

The first shopping list is for things that can be bought ahead of time and the other for last minute shopping items, such as ice and bread, that must wait for the day of the party.

Decorations

Are you going to be decorating? Make a list of what you need to purchase. Check your supply for items such as plastic ware to avoid re-buying items you already have.

Music/activities

What will you be doing during the party? Is it outdoors? Do you need to set up a volleyball net? It is a child’s birthday party that requires a few games to play?

Think through your party and get things set up and organized ahead of time. If you are doing craft activities with kids at the party, make a list of supplies you will need.

2 days to go – Shopping

Prepare activities, crafts, and music

For example, if you need the volleyball net for an outdoor party, take care of setting it up today.

Take care of any preparations for craft activities, such as painting a base coat of paint on items that will be decorated.

Burn a party CD for background music.

Shopping

Get all the items on your first grocery list, the decorations, and any craft supplies.

Day before – Cleaning & Cooking

Clean the house and set up decorations

Get all the cleaning and decorating done the day before. If the decorations are indoors they can be set up.

Food preparation

If items can be made ahead, get them out of the way. For example, a pasta salad usually tastes better the next day.

PARTY DAY!

Last minute shopping

You are prepared to run to the store with your second grocery list.

Last minute food preparation

If anything has to wait for party day, take care of it as early as possible.

Outdoor decorations

Outdoor decorations can be set up as early as possible. Tape down table clothes and other items securely if it is going to be windy.

Relax

Leave some time to relax so you aren’t stressed out or tired. You want to enjoy the party, too. Take a power nap so you are well rested.

Hour before – final set up

Set out all the food and drinks.

Have fun!