Parties for ‘Potter’: Scores of Fans Are Expected at Festivities Marking the Popular Series’ Final Book

At the stroke of midnight Friday, the seventh and final Harry Potter book, written by J.K. Rowling, will be released to the public.

Bookstores and libraries are marking the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" with parties and special events.

The book series follows the growth of young wizard Harry Potter, whose parents have been killed by evil wizard Lord Voldemort. The series began with Harry going off to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn how to use magic. The novels follow Harry as he grows into a young man and faces continued threats from Lord Voldemort and his followers.

The books have been wildly popular among teens and adults, selling more than 325 million copies worldwide, news wire services report.

They also have been a hit in Fort Wayne, where the Allen County Public Library and local retailers expect large crowds at parties Friday night. Here’s a preview of the local happenings: Downtown library

Potter party central this Friday will be at the new downtown library, 900 Library Plaza. They are gearing up for a gathering of 5,000 fans, many of whom will be dressed as characters in the books.

The fun begins with a pre-event concert and activities outside on the Library Plaza. Family-friendly music will be provided by the Kid Kazooey and the Ballroom Roustabouts.

"We wanted something silly and strange and weird, and I think he fits the bill," said Deb Noggle, children’s librarian at the Tecumseh branch and lead organizer of the night’s events.

Other activities at the pre-party include quaffle-throwing practice (a ball thrown through a hoop to score a goal in wizarding’s game of Quidditch), crawling through a giant spider web, and trading new or shiny objects with gypsies.

At 9 p.m., the main library — which will close for regular business at 6 p.m. Friday — will reopen. Partygoers stepping through the doors will find themselves in the Harry Potter books’ Diagon Alley, the wizard shopping district in London.

There, visitors can try 18 activities, including:

–Making a Weasley family clock.

–Visiting Ollivander’s wand shop.

–Stocking up at Honeyduke’s Sweet Shoppe.

–Learning the future at Trelawney’s Divinations and Fortune Telling.

–Watching magician Jared Mason’s magic show.

–Daring to go through the Restricted (Book) Section maze.

–Getting a lightning bolt tattoo.

–Having the U.S. Postal Service stamp an owl card with a special "Harry Potter" mail cancellation.

Noggle said the 18 stations will be three times the number of activities offered at the library’s last big Potter Party, which was held at the Georgetown branch for the 2005 release of Book 6, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

People also can enter a lottery to be among the lucky fans to check out one of the Allen County Public Library’s approximately 250 copies of the new Harry Potter book, Noggle said. The Bookmark bookstore also will be there selling the book at midnight.

Noggle said fans can get a jump on deciding what activities they want to try Friday night by donating an article of clothing to S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) barrels set out now through Friday at library branch locations. In the books, Harry’s friend and classmate Hermione Granger started S.P.E.W. to get better treatment and freedom for house elves.

Donated clothing will be given to local organizations that provide free clothing to needy people in Fort Wayne, Noggle said.

Each person who donates an item of clothing will receive an S.P.E.W. button and a library version of The Daily Prophet, the wizard newspaper, Noggle said. The newspaper will provide information about the 18 activities at Friday’ night’s party and where each activity will take place in the main library.

About 100 library staffers will be on hand to help everything go smoothly, Noggle said. Book characters, such as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, Rubeus Hagrid and Professor Severus Snape, also will wander the building to mingle with fans.

The event is paid for by donations from the Friends of the Library organization and the Allen County Public Library Foundation, Noggle said.

Other locations

–Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 4140 W. Jefferson Blvd., in Jefferson Pointe shopping center: The excitement starts at 8 p.m. Friday, culminating in the first sales of the book starting at the bewitching hour of midnight. Participants can dress as their favorite Harry Potter character for the Midnight Magic Costume Party. Activities include a scavenger hunt, magic-wand making, souvenir photos with "Harry Potter," wizard face-painting, fortune telling and more.

– Mitchell Books, 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd., in Covington Plaza shopping center: A magician will roam around the store doing magic tricks, and a few animals from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo will be present (although no three-headed dogs!). The fun starts at 9 a.m. Friday and goes right up to midnight, when the first books go on sale. Participants can dress up like their favorite Harry Potter character for the party.

–Borders, 4320 Coldwater Road. The "Grand Hallows Ball" starts at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The evening includes wizardly activities, games and giveaways right up to midnight, when the store can start selling the book.

–Meijer stores are hosting Harry Potter parties from 11 p.m. to midnight Friday. They promise costume contests, prizes, giveaways, treats and more. In Fort Wayne, the stores are located at 6309 Lima Road, 5909 Illinois Road and 10301 Indiana 37.