Guys, it’s happening again! Time to brew up some Butterbeer and clear a spot on your shelf for the latest Harry Potter book, hitting shelves at midnight on July 31.
Well, it turns out this latest installment isn’t actually a book; Harry Potter And The Cursed Child was co-written by J.K. Rowling, dramatist Jack Thorne, and director John Tiffany, as a two-part play to be performed only in London’s West End, opening July 30. And to make matters feel even more exclusive, Rowling has asked those fortunate enough to have grabbed a ticket to refrain from spilling the proverbial beans (Bertie Botts or not), urging fans to #KeepTheSecrets.
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For those first wondering what this new Harry Potter business is all about, from what we can gather about The Plot That Must Not Be Mentioned, the story follows an adult Harry, now a husband and father of three, who works for the Ministry of Magic. Of course, Harry’s past comes back to haunt him per usual, and his son, Albus, has to deal with his family’s larger-than-life legacy. And while the story has been promised to make us cry, there is no doubt that either the play or the book will provide fans their usual, magical escape.
Despite the fact that you most likely won’t be able to apparate yourself over to London and conjure, or even buy, yourself a ticket, there are still plenty of opportunities to relish in the excitement of the latest release with other Potter fanatics.
Of course, Barnes & Noble stores across Westchester and the Hudson Valley will be hosting free midnight release parties starting on Saturday, July 30. The White Plains, Yonkers, and Palisades Mall locations are planning wizarding-related activities and giveaways, plus an all-day celebration starting at 9 am on Sunday, July 31.
Both the Greenburgh Public Library in Tarrytown and the Irvington Public Library are hosting their own Harry Potter parties for kids on July 26 and July 28, respectively.
The Voracious Reader in Larchmont is also hosting their own midnight release party, which owner Francine Lucidon says will be flooded with “a lot of nostalgia.”
“They’ve taken the story and continued it in a whole new format,” Lucidon continues. “That’s going to be really exciting. And, on top of the Millennials who grew up with this, there are so many new fans. The audience just keeps expanding.”
Lucidon explains that fans at her store will be sorted into their own houses, and their own (nonalcoholic) Butterbeer will be brewed in-house to get everyone in the proper spirits. “The world is in such chaos that people need an escape now more than ever,” she offers. “And the wizarding universe is so multifaceted, entertaining, and enchanting. We just need a little magic to save the day.”
