Harry Potter Birthday Party

I have to admit it, I'm a Harry Potter fan.  I've read all the books, more than once; we've got all the movies; I've been to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Edmonton Science Centre and I'm thrilled that my boys enjoy the books and the movies too.  Austin has begun the process of reading the books, so that as he finished each one he can watch the movie.  Even Josh has been motivated to pick up the books and read them again.  So when it came to picking a theme for Josh's 8th birthday, I encouraged him to choose Harry Potter.  Although I was sick with a cold and a major headache, and although my husband and middle son went off to see a Saskatchewan Roughrider game - free tickets and first time at a CFL game, who could say no? - it was a lot of fun and John N and my Mom were a great help.

So here's the party plan we put into play:

Drinks:

• Spellbound Magic Drink - Our guests were spellbound when they witnessed my ability to turn an ordinary beverage into an enchanted drink that crackles and spits! We poured apple juice into everyone's cup and then add a few Pop Rocks to each, causing them to crackle, pop and spit. The little magicians loved it!
• Magic Potion - I started with cherry and grape Kool-Aid which I mixed mix with one and a half cups of water and poured into an ice cube tray to freeze solid the night before the party.  At the party, after several rounds of Muggle Quidditch they were ready for a drink.  We put 1-2 flavored ice cubes in each glass of juice. The ice cubes then dissolved and the drink magically changed color and flavor before the kids' eyes.
• Butterbeer – What is a Harry Potter party without Butterbeer.  The basic recipe we used was 1 cup cream soda; 2 Tablespoons butterscotch syrup; ½ Tablespoon butter; 1/2 teaspoon of rum flavouring.  It was good, but not a super big hit with this age group, or maybe they had just had enough to drink by that time.

Party Food:

·         Snake eyeballs (grapes)

·         Lizard tongues (cucumber slices lengthwise)

·         Goblin fingers (baby carrots)

·         Magic Wands -(chocolate covered cookies)

·         Logs and bugs - celery stalks filled with peanut butter with "bugs" (raisins & nuts) all along the length of the stalk

·         Slytherin "Snack"ers - (flavoured crackers)

The Cake featuring a Gryffindor scarf, a magic wand, the sorting hat, Harry's glasses, a broom, a golden snitch, and Hedwig the owl

Decorations:

·         Hanging from the ceiling have lit candles that appear to be floating. These can be done by using battery operated tea lights inside a paper tube and then suspended with pins and fishing string from the ceiling.

Games:

Sorting Hat         {Entrance Hall}

After kids arrived, we put them into two teams (Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw) using the sorting hat.  [Paper cone taped on fedora hat]

Muggle Quidditch  {backyard}

One bucket on each end of the yard; one keeper, one chaser, one seeker.  The keeper is like the goal tender; the chaser tries to get the ball in the bucket;  the seeker runs after the snitch (John N) and tries to grab the tennis ball in a sock hanging from the waist. 

Potion Mixing  {deck table}

Kids mix a variety of items to make a gooey mess and watch what happens.

Ideas:  hydrogen peroxide & iodine & soap, vinegar & baking soda, soap, corn syrup & flour, corn starch & water, food colouring

They loved it and asked to do it again.

Note the caldrons on the table.

Casting Spells  {backyard}

A version of dodgeball.  As the ball is thrown the thrower must yell a spell.  If the ball hits you, you must do something to match the spell.  Expelliarmis = drop the ball; stupefy=5 jumping jacks; arividerchi = somersault; Hit by a spell 5 times = you’re rushed off to the medical ward.

Dark Arts Defense  {backyard}

We inserted small pieces of wrapped candy into black and dark colored balloons before inflating them. Then tell the kids that these balloons belong to the dark side (Voldemort and the Bogarts) and that they need to stomp out the dark side by popping the balloons.  The prize is the candy from the balloons. 

Hunt the Poltergeist

During the casting spells game, suddenly the little wizards were attacked by water balloons.  As hard as they tried, they couldn't find out where the balloons were coming from.  Even John N went up on the roof to look for the source.  After playing games, eating food, and opening gifts they were ready for a serious hunt, so they proceeded outside only to get thoroughly soaked by the poltergeist holding the water hose.  Thankfully the mom's just laughed when they came to pick up their child who was drip drying on the deck and attempting to use the towel(s) I had run inside to assist.

Loot Bag:

My husband did some shopping at a candy store in Regina for supplies and after spending $98, the kids took home bags containing  Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Jelly Beans, gummy slugs, a Harry Potter pin, and my special helpers discovered chocolate frogs with collector cards.