Make Sure Your Harry Potter Party Passes Everyone's O.W.L.S!

These days, parties aren't just about getting everyone together for good food, good entertainment, and a good time. Many people plan parties for weeks-sometimes months-on end. The growing trend for any party nowadays is a theme- i.e., pirates, toga, luau, etc. Themed parties-although they are a lot of work-are a very exciting and memorable event, and the key to their success is originality. After all, how fun would it be to attend party after party with the same games, food, and theme?

For years, I have tossed around the idea of throwing a Harry Potter party just because. I still haven't gotten around to it, but I do still have all of my ideas thrown together for one! If you are dead set on having a Harry Potter themed party, it's quite easy to plan if you let your imagination take you away! There are many ideas for activities, games, food-even costume! Here are just a few of the ideas I've come up with for a successful and unforgettable Harry Potter Party!

Activities/Games

• Scavenger hunt of all things Harry- Whether you have to create some of the items on your scavenger list, or you find them at a local store, a scavenger hunt of all things Harry is a fun and exciting way to pass the time and make some great memories! Find a local park, stores around town, a mall, your home, or make it city-wide- and send your friends on a mission looking for specific objects you've picked for them to find. Set a time limit for the scavenger hunt, offer a prize for the winner(s)-whatever you desire!
• Try ground Quidditch- Although we won't actually be able to experience the rush of flying high on our Nimbus 2000's chasing the Golden Snitch-you still can have just as much fun playing ground Quidditch with everyday househould brooms and mops! Having played ground Quidditch before, I insist everyone try it at least once! There are many resources online for directions on how to play. http://www.bhg.com/crafts/party-ideas/activities/how-to-play-quidditch-at-home/
• Harry Potter Charades- Sure, you've played general charades before, but have you tried Harry Potter charades? Most may think that conforming the game to just all things Harry Potter would make for a very challenging, short game-but boy are they wrong! Any Harry Potter enthusiast can tell you that there are plenty of things to act out from the Harry Potter series-you just need to let your imagination take you wherever it may-even if it means you need to channel Snape for the evenning!
• Wand Making- No, it's nothing like stepping into Ollivander's and having a wand choose you, but at least you will be able to carry out a few basic spells! Simply go to your local craft/hobby store and grab: pipe cleaners, craft sticks, glitter, charms, pom-pom balls, yarn, embroidery string, straws, and whatever else may catch your eye. You will definitely give Ollivander's a run for popularity!
• Hold A Potions Making Contest- Even though these potions may not give you luck, or make that special someone fall in love with you-they still will allow you to prove your potion making skills! Use anything from chocolate syrup, sprinkles, ketchup, chocolate chips, etc.-and let the potion drinking commense! If you really want the potion making to be as realistic as possible, and you are planning to have your Harry Potter party around Halloween-run to your local dollar/deal store and grab plastic cauldrons!
• Ask Everyone To Wear Their Dress Robes- and have your own Yule Ball! Complete with dancing, rivalry between friends, and you are all set! Divide friends up into groups from all competing Wizarding Schools during the Tri-Wizard Tournament-and let the dancing commence!
• Allow Yourselves To Be Sorted- Hold onto your seats and allow the Sorting Hat to sort you and your guests into their respective houses! Find an old hat, a chair or stool,and find recordings of the hat (from the movie) yelling out each house name. Dim the lights, and see what fate the Sorting Hat brings to you! Have the person being sorted turn around on the chair/stool and close their eyes. The guests awaiting their turn then write down their choice of house for the person in the hat and hold them up for you (the host/hostess) to see and tally up the votes. Once the votes have been tallied, play the clip for the chosen house, and allow the guest to hear the Sorting Hat's decision. After everyone has been sorted, hand out their respective house ribbons/buttons, and let the house rivalries begin!

Food/Drinks

• Dine With Friends In A Great Hall Feast- Set your dining room table up with whatever chairs you can find, and decorate the table with whatever goodies you think would appeal to your guests and get ready for a stomach full of tastiness! Line your dining room with candles, alternating them with high/low spots, and light them to add to the ambiance of the moment.
• Serve Pumpkin Juice- The preparation for this will take a couple of hours before your party, but if you want to give guests a treat that they will never forget-those couple hours will be worth your time! Serve chilled, or heated and prepare for pumpkin deliciousness! http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html#pumpkinjuice
• Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean Fiasco- Run to your local grocery or candy store and stock up on Jelly Belly's Bertie Botts Beans! Place in interesting dishes and locations throughout your party and brace yourself for the unpleasant surprises you may find!
• Butter Beer Delight- Make sure to have a bowl filled with chilled butter beer for all of your guests to enjoy! This tasty beverage is definitely a must for all guesses to enjoy! Heck, why not even try a game of Butter Beer Pong? http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html#butterbeer

There are many, many more recipes for foods/beverages strictly Harry Potter-so don't limit your guests tastebuds!

http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html

http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/index.shtml

Hopefully, some of these ideas will help you plan the best Harry Potter party the wizarding world has ever seen! Remember, never let your imagination fail to exist-it can carry you a long way! One thing with any party though, is to make sure that its always- Mischief Managed!