2015 Chestertown HP Festival

October 2-3, 2015

Grab your wand, hop on your broom, and come for a weekend of magic at the second annual Chestertown Harry Potter Festival on October 2-3, 2015. Explore our colonial river town and join us for spectacular activities and events, for children and adults—wizards and muggles alike.

EVENTS AT HOGWARTS (The Garfield Center)

Friday, October 2
6:00-9:00pm: Festival Kick-Off Party at “Hogwarts” (Garfield Center for the Arts). Trizwizard Kick-off, magic, trivia contest, wizard rock, and costumed fun! (Pay at door: $5 for adults, free for 12 and under)

Saturday, October 3
10:00am-3:00pm: New multi-tiered Scavenger Hunt throughout downtown businesses dressed as Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley establishments. Collect your map at Hogwarts (Garfield Center for the Arts), complete the hunt, and win a prize. (Free)
10:30am-Noon: Kids’ Hogwarts Experience*-AM Session. A chance to wear the Sorting Hat and take classes with local wizard Professors. Tickets-$25 advance purchase. (For wizards 8-12 years old)
12:30-3:30pm: Visit Hogwarts Potions Class (presented by Radcliffe Creek School) and The Room of Requirement. (Lobby, Garfield Center for the Arts). Free.
4:00-5:30pm: Kids’ Hogwarts Experience*-PM Session. A chance to wear the Sorting Hat and take classes with local wizard Professors. Tickets-$25 advance purchase. (For wizards 8-12 years old)
6:30-9:30pm: All-Ages Wizard Dance Party at Hogwarts (Garfield Center for the Arts). Tickets- $5 at the door. Under 12 must be accompanied by a fully qualified wizard.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR 2015

Friday, September 4
5:00-7:00pm: Harry Potter Trivia Night. Enjoy September’s First Friday activities in Downtown Chestertown and start getting geared up for the festival. Test your knowledge of Harry Potter at this family-friendly event at Chestertown’s “Flourish and Blott’s” (The Bookplate) -Free.

Wednesday, September 30
5:30-7:00pm: Harry Potter Read-a-Thon. Sign up to read or come listen to favorite passages from the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter fan-fictions, and other Harry Potter related reading material. (Kent County Public Library-Free) For more information visit: Harry Potter Read-a-Thon & Fan Extravaganza

Friday, October 2
2:00-4:30pm: Film showing: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at Kent County Public Library (Free)
4:30-5:30pm: Authors of “Harry Potter and the Art of Spying” will lead a spirited discussion. For all ages at The Bookplate (Free)
6:00-9:00pm: Festival Kick-Off Party at “Hogwarts” (Garfield Center for the Arts). Trizwizard Kick-off, magic, trivia contest, wizard rock, and costumed fun! (Pay at door: $5 for adults, free for 12 and under)

Saturday, October 3
9:00-11:00am: Quidditch-Session I, including all-ages participation as well as college-level exhibition (Free)
9:30-3:00pm: “Ollivander’s”-Local furniture craftsman Robert Ortiz opens his studio to host wand crafters. Vendors will help you find the wand that “chooses” you. Wandlore discussion, wand measuring and more (Free)
11:00-2:00pm: Film showing: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at Kent County Public Library (Free)
10:00am-3:00pm: New multi-tiered Scavenger Hunt throughout downtown businesses dressed as Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley establishments. Collect your map at Hogwarts (Garfield Center for the Arts), complete the hunt, and win a prize. (Free)
10:30am-Noon: Kids’ Hogwarts Experience*-AM Session. A chance to wear the Sorting Hat and take classes with local wizard Professors. Tickets-$25 advance purchase. (For wizards 8-12 years old)
11:30am-2:30pm: “Durmstrang Outdoor School” on the Chester River. Themed visits aboard Echo Hill Outdoor School’s historic wooden boats the skipjack “Elsworth” and buy boat Annie D, at the town pier.  (Free)
Noon-4:00pm: Potter In the Park (Themed food and vendors, activities and entertainment in Fountain Park, including dueling, face painting, magic, wizard rock music, crafts, photo opportunities and more. (Free)
12:30-3:30pm: Visit Hogwarts Potions Class (presented by Radcliffe Creek School) and The Room of Requirement. (Lobby, Garfield Center for the Arts). Free.
1:00-2:30pm: Hogwarts Lake Cruise* (River Packet themed cruise on the Chester River-Advance purchase ticketed event)
1:00-3:00pm: Washington College features the Dr. A. J.  Delario Magic Collection. See rare books unearthed from the Restricted Section. No invisibility cloak necessary. Presentation to include demonstrations by Washing College student and magician Ian Flinn and Archivist/Special Collections Librarian, Dr. Heather Calloway. Located at the Kent County Historical Society (“Bathilda Bagshot’s Historical Society”). (Free)
Throughout day: Triwizard -themed street theatre skits. Consult your map for locations and times (Free)
3:00-3:45pm: Costume contest in Fountain Park (Free)
4:00-5:30pm: Kids’ Hogwarts Experience*-PM Session. A chance to wear the Sorting Hat and take classes with local wizard Professors. Tickets-$25 advance purchase. (For wizards 8-12 years old)
4:15-6:00pm: Quidditch-Session II, including all-ages participation as well as college-level exhibition (Free)
6:30-9:30pm: House Party at the Leaky Cauldron*-Show your House colors! Themed food and drinks, wizard wrock dance party, trivia contest and more. Tickets-$30, advance purchase. (Pub event for adults 21 and over)
6:30-9:30pm: All-Ages Wizard Dance Party at Hogwarts (Garfield Center for the Arts). Tickets- $5 at the door. Under 12 must be accompanied by a fully qualified wizard.

The festival aims to celebrate the spirit and theme of Harry Potter while promoting our local community and its arts. This year’s festival will benefit the Garfield Center for the Arts and the Kent County Fund through the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

http://www.chestertownhpfest.org/