Harry Potter Birthday Theme
Harry Potter Party
What could be more magical than a Harry Potter Party? This party is sure to please both the younger children and older kids or teens alike. Due to the enormous popularity of the books and movies, it’s no wonder why Potter Parties are among some of the most requested and highly-searched of all the theme parties. Find out how you can make your Harry Potter Birthday enchantingly Hogwarts!
Planning
It’s best to begin planning for the party at least 4 – 5 weeks in advance. This will ensure that you have enough time to send out invitations and purchase or make the decorations.
The first consideration that often comes up when planning a birthday party is where to have it. Your backyard or even inside of your home can be magically transformed into whatever you want with just a few choice decorations.
If you plan on making the decorations or invitations yourself, be sure to allow enough time to gather materials and complete the crafts. For those of us on a more pressing time schedule, there are companies that offer everything from pre-assembled Harry Potter birthday kits to plates, cups, trinkets and party favors—just be mindful of the shipping dates/times.
Tips
- This is a fantastic party for kids of all ages because Harry Potter appeals to many demographics and there are nearly inexhaustible amounts of ideas.
- Consider renting rarely used items such as tables/chairs or karaoke machines from party rental supply stores to save money.
- Allow for extra guests by having a little extra food or a few extra goodie bags on hand.
- Encourage guests to come as their favorite Harry Potter character. You can also hand Harry Potter glasses and wands or stuffed owls to guests as they enter the party.
- Celtic instrumental CDs can assist with setting mood.
- Don’t forget to send thank you notes to all those who attend.
Invitations
You want your guests to anticipate their Hogwarts education long before the party has arrived. Make sure to mail the invitations 3-4 weeks prior to the event.
For these invitations, think—wizards and wands, magic and mystery. Word the invitations in the flowery language of the books. Be whimsical and hint to the festivities ahead.
Here are some invitation ideas:
- Sit down with the birthday wizard and write a spell-like invitation. Make sure it rhymes and cordially invites guests to participate in the celebration! This can be written on a scroll made of beige, heavy card stock and tied with a red or gold ribbon.
- Another interesting idea for an invitation is to write them in invisible ink. You can send a pack of invisible ink markers and a decoder pen along with the invitation and instructions for guests to reveal the party details.
- If time doesn’t permit you to make your own invitations, don’t feel bad. There are more Harry Potter invitations available online than you can wave a wand at!
Potter Party Decorations
Undoubtedly, your Harry Potter fan will be the most invaluable resource for decorating ideas. The books and movies are also great ways to familiarize yourself with all things Hogwarts Academy. Many of the decorations can be made by hand with little effort, or purchased online. A few key and strategically placed items can make a world of difference.
Here are a few decorating ideas to get you started.
- The color scheme for this party should focus around gold/yellow or red/scarlet. Try mixing several solid colored balloons with a Harry Potter Mylar balloon. Streamers and all other decorations should remain true to the color scheme.
- Banners enhance the festive mood and help transform the party location. This simple decoration is often forgotten, but makes a huge difference. Birthday banners are easy to make, or if you’re pressed for time, or you really want to impress your party wizard, try getting a personalized birthday party banner.
- Clear glass jars can serve double duty as “apothecary jars” and help set the ambience. Be creative when labeling the jars or selecting what to put in them—think mad scientist’s lab!
- Hang cardboard, foil covered or painted cutouts of stars, crescent moons and lightening bolts from the ceiling or trees (if outside).
- Place signs around the party area such as “Hagrid’s Hut” or eat party foods in a room decorated like “The Great Hall”.
- A few plastic cauldrons with dry ice and a little water will create a mysterious smoky effect.
- A well placed broom or two and a few bats suspended in doorways can have a subtle impact on mood as well.
- Greet guests at the door with a sign that says “platform 9 ¾”- Potter fans will “get” this extra touch!
Foods
Fortunately, when it comes to food, this wonderful series of books has an array of goodies to eat. A simple web search will reveal lots of interpretational recipes of the Harry Potter vittles mentioned in the book. If you aren’t so inclined to do the food preparation yourself, by all means have it catered or even make it a potluck. When filling out the invitations encourage guests to come up with Hogwarts inspired main dishes, salads and beverages.
If you want to come up with some small snacks or ideas on your own in addition to standard party food, here is some food for thought!
- Bowls of Bertie Bott’s Everything Flavored Beans- Jelly Belly jelly beans in assorted flavors make excellent snacks.
- Fizzing Whizbees Levitating Sherbet Balls- simply freeze scooped balls of rainbow sherbet on flat trays. These have the powers to make you levitate! Serve in little cups to eliminate mess.
- Éclairs- made for the party by Hogwarts House Elves.
- Serve mugs of butter beer- root beer
Game/Activity Ideas:
With a Harry Potter themed party, the possibility for games and activities are endless. Some games involve the use of flying brooms so they have to be modified for backyard fun. These exciting games are sure to keep even the most squirrelly of Hogwarts students entertained!
- Try playing a version of Quidditch- Harry Potter’s most beloved and favorite game. Start by providing guests with a ball, broomsticks, and a large area to play in to play in where nothing can become damaged. Divide the group into two teams, and set up goals on opposite sides of the playing area. The object of the game is to get the ball over their goal line. Allow a set amount of time for this.
- Fill a mason jar up with an assortment of jelly beans and label it Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. Be sure to count out the correct number of jelly beans and have party guests try to guess the correct number of beans. Before the cake is cut and presents opened, reveal the correct number of beans to the lucky partygoer!
- Think you know all there is to know about Harry Potter? Then have a Harry Potter trivia contest. There are numerous sites online where you can find Potter trivia and be sure to offer prizes such as a goblet or light up Harry Potter wand.
- Have a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans sampling contest. Pass around cups of jelly beans with one flavor at a time. Have the children taste the jelly bean then write down which flavor they think it is, younger kids may need assistance with this part. Continue to do this for each flavor of jelly bean. The winner is the one with the most correctly guessed flavors.
- Don’t forget the piñata. Few parties are complete without one and what better choice than a wizard hat piñata? Imagine all of the smiles and giggles as the goodies come pouring out when one lucky kid breaks through. Children are typically lined up shortest to tallest.
Favors/Goodie Bags
Harry Potter fans will appreciate party favors that are uniquely Harry Potter. Trinkets like wands, temporary tattoos, stuffed owls, and Harry Potter glasses make the perfect treats for Hogwarts students tired after a day of festivities.
Have a magical time!
Here a Couple Harry Potter Birthday Party Videos:
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