Though the final Harry Potter Festival may have happened last year, the First Witches and Wizards Festival was held in Chestnut Hill, PA on the 19th and 20th of October 2018. It was a bright autumn day, brisk but sunny, making it the perfect day to walk around Chestnut Hill. The shops on Germantown Avenue set up tables to sell Harry Potter and magical paraphernalia from jewelry, clothing, accessories, and, of course, Butterbeer.
While the festival is no longer called the Harry Potter Festival, the event has been such a hit that the community decided to keep running a magical themed festival during this time. With the crackdown done by Warner Bros on the licensing of the festival, the event is no longer allowed to be called the Harry Potter festival and be themed solely on Harry Potter. The event organizers and businesses still try to put on a ‘magical’ weekend, despite the controversy.
Even with the street not closed to traffic this year, that did not stop attendees from donning their most wizard-like costumes and clothing and flooding the sidewalks along the street.
One mother even dressed up her newborn as a mandrake in a pot to disguise the front-facing baby carrier and add to her own costume of Pomona Sprout. Along the street there were many magical displays that let you make or buy magic themed products, performances from circus artists, and even Quidditch matches going on at Chestnut Hill College.
Many businesses ran with the theme as well. Many of the niche clothing stores had tables set up selling Harry Potter themed jewelry and clothing. The stationary store even had Harry Potter themed playing cards and other paper goods.
From the beer garden, hayrides left periodically to take visitors around the festival. The beer garden had more than just beer (butterbeer and alcoholic beer) though, with a table of creatures like Rose the Tarantula and others, food stands, and crafts.
The kids area was filled with different assortments of bounce houses, a playground that could only be described as magical, and tables where kids could make their own wands, sand art, and other such crafts.
The event attracted all different groups of people from families, to children, to college students and adults. Many were dressed up, but almost everyone was partaking in some part of the festival, whether that was getting some refreshing butter beer to drink as you explored the streets, or sitting and watching a performance.
Whether you were there because you’re a fan of Harry Potter, Hocus Pocus, or magic in general, Chestnut Hill does not disappoint. Young or old, a die-hard fan or just attending for the social aspect, there was something there for everyone!
