We’ve got the info on where in and around Westchester you can spend a spellbinding Friday night counting down to the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Our top picks in red.
Northern Westchester:
What: A Potter spelling bee, a costume contest, snacks, and a “great Snape debate,” where the likelihood of Snape’s turn to evil or good will be discussed. This will all be part of the store’s “Grand Hallows Ball” celebration.
Where: Borders,
,
When: Friday, July 20th, 9:30pm-Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (914) 241-8387
What: “Midnight Madness,” featuring Harry Potter Scene It at 8pm, a musical performance by Sweet Amaryllis playing inspirational songs at 8:30, a performance by the Black Hart Players, performers who usually entertain at Renaissance fairs at 9, a Harry Potter trivia contest at 10pm, a dramatic reading of the last chapter of the last Harry Potter book at 11pm, and a photo station, face painting, wand making, and trivia contests throughout the night.
Where: Barnes & Noble,
Route 6,
When: Friday, July 20th, 8pm-Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (914) 528-6275
What: A spelling bee, a raffle to determine who gets to be first in line, a costume contest, and a “great Snape debate,” where the likelihood of Snape’s turn to evil or good will be discussed. This will all be part of the store’s “Grand Hallows Ball” celebration.
Where: Borders,
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $19 if pre-reserved, $20.99 day of.
Phone: (914) 421-1110
What: A spelling bee, a crossword contest, a costume contest, fortune telling, face painting, drawing demonstrations, a raffle to see who gets to be first in line with the prize presented by the town supervisor, and a “great Snape debate,” where the likelihood of Snape’s turn to evil or good will be discussed. This will all be part of the store’s “Grand Hallows Ball” celebration.
Where: Borders,
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (914) 725-4637
What: Face painting, potion demos, trivia challenges, and a visit from the staff at the nearby
Where: The Scholastic Store (
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $26.43, but it must be pre-ordered.
Phone: (914) 725-7201
What: Midnight Opening
Where: Waldenbooks,
)
When: Friday, July 20th, Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (914) 937-3370
What: “Harry Potter Book Bingo Festival,” featuring Book Bingo, a game where readers match answers to Harry Potter themed questions to spots on a Bingo card, and lots of snacks.
Where:
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 4pm-6pm
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: N/A
Phone: (914) 422-1480
What: “Midnight Magic,” featuring wand and wizard-hat making, a scavenger hunt, Harry Potter games, face painting, tattoo art, Harry Potter trivia, raffles, and a special reading of the sixth Harry Potter book.
Where: Barnes & Noble,
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 7pm-midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99 ($18.89 for members)
Phone: (914) 397-2420
What: Crafts for kids, the opportunity to make a spell book, a trivia scavenger hunt, photo opportunities with a cutout of Harry Potter, and more.
Where: Barnes & Noble, Crossroads (Crossroads Shopping Center
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99 ($18.89 for members)
Phone: (914) 946-3337
What: “Animals of the Wizarding World,” a program where visitors can learn more about snakes, spiders, rats, and owls. Wizard costumes welcome.
Where:
)
When: Sunday, July 22nd, 2pm
Cost for event: $5 (members free)
Cost for book: N/A
Phone: (914) 723-3470.
What: “Stew Leonard’s Harry Potter Party,” featuring a costume contest, craft stations, food, and a midnight reading of the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Where: Stew Leonard’s (
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 10pm-1am
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $19.99 (which includes a free 2-litter bottle of Pepsi)
Phone: (914) 375-4700.
What: “A Hogwarts Open House and Harry Potter Book Release Party,” featuring fortunes, wand-making activities, costumes, desserts, trivia contests, and a countdown to midnight.
Where:
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-12:20am
Cost for event: Free, but registration is required
Cost for book: $34.99 if pre-reserved, but all profit goes towards library programs. Further, the library will be one of the few in the county to let patrons check out the book on its release date.
Phone: (914) 632-7878
What: Costume contests, a “Potter bee” spelling bee contest, Potter Bingo, a king and queen of the ball contest, free posters to all who pre-reserve the book, and a “great Snape debate,” where the likelihood of Snape’s turn to evil or good will be discussed. This will all be part of the store’s “Grand Hallows Ball” celebration.
Where: Waldenbooks,
When: Friday, July 20th, 10pm-Midnight, wristbands being handed out at 10am
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (914) 476-6900
What: Fortune telling, a challenge game, and other events.
Where: Barnes & Noble,
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 8pm-Midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99 ($18.89 for members)
Phone: (914) 771-6400 7716411
What: A “Potter-party” featuring, trivia, movies, a costume contest, snacks, and gifts for kids 6-15 years old.
Where: Just Books, Too (
, Old
When: Friday, July 20th, 8pm-12:01am
Cost for event: Prepayment of one book per family
Cost for book: $34.95
Phone: (203) 637-0707
What: Line quizzes, and other events depending on demand. This will all be part of the store’s “Grand Hallows Ball” celebration.
Where: Borders,
)
When: Friday, July 20th, 9pm-midnight
Cost for event: Free
Cost for book: $20.99
Phone: (203) 869-6342
