Scholastic is going all out to celebrate the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Their latest announcement is the opening of “Harry Potter Place,” a “magical and interactive street celebration for kids and adults” at Scholastic’s headquarters in New York City. Harry Potter Place will be on Mercer Street (between Prince and Spring streets), and will be open to the public from 5 to 11PM.
Harry Potter Place will feature “a giant Muggle Board where Harry Potter fans can share personal messages about the Harry Potter books. Muggles will also be mesmerized by the twenty-foot high moving Whomping Willow, and entertained with activities and entertainment including: face-painting, wand-making, fire-eaters, magicians, jugglers, and stilt-walkers. Harry Potter fans of all ages will also be able to have their photos taken with the cover art from Deathly Hallows in the special Deathly Hallows Gallery.” And of course, they’ll have a countdown clock marking the time until the official release, at 12:01AM on the 21st.
The Knight Bus, a replica of the “violently purple” triple-decker bus featured in the books, will end its seven-week national tour at Harry Potter Place. It will arrive for an 8AM press conference, and will be parked in front of Scholastic at 557 Broadway from 10AM to 6PM. Fans will be able to board the bus to “create a 20-second video expressing their thoughts about the Harry Potter books. Each participant will receive a unique password to view their video at www.scholastic.com/harrypotter.”
The Scholastic Store, at 557 Broadway, will be open on 20 July from 9AM to 11PM “for pre-purchases of the book. Pre-purchased books will be distributed starting at 12:01AM, capping the exciting day at Harry Potter Place.”