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A Harry Potter Birthday Party

Becky Branch Photography

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

My girl LOVES Harry Potter, sooooo when she started planning for her 8th birthday party (2 months before her 7th birthday party), naturally she was all in on a Hogwarts-themed fete. And having been to a number of Harry Potter-themed events at area libraries and museum, I had a bit of an idea of how she would want it to go down – and that definitely included messy science experiments. Uh, that’s so not happening at my house. (Can I get an amen, moms?)

Kid at harry potter party

My first – and thankfully last – phone call was to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. We have come to enjoy their REEL Adventures in Science programs where they pair a Harry Potter movie with science activities based on the events in the movie. They’re REALLY well done with all the staff dressed as characters from the books, the movie is shown in IMAX, it’s just fun for the whole family. I had my fingers crossed that even though Harry Potter (strangely) wasn’t on their list of themed parties offered, they might by some stroke of magic, oblige our request.

Annnnndddd they did. WHEW!

Michief managed (literally) and onto the other stuff like party favors and decorating.

kids at a harry potter party costumes

The good thing about choosing a party theme as popular as Harry Potter is that there are a TON of great ideas on the interwebs that you can borrow from. The bad thing about choosing a party theme as popular as Harry Potter is that there are a TON of great ideas on the interwebs that you can borrow from! I quickly deduced that I was about 24 months behind on planning for this if we were to do everything that we loved, and then dissolved my stress by giving into the idea that this could be a recurring party theme (I mean, there ARE 8 movies!) and pinned all the glorious ideas that I couldn’t find the time to execute on. (Link to that board at the end, additional resources, as well as affiliate links.)

So let’s get to Pottering…

We started with invitations sent via Owl Post.

hogwarts owl post party invitations

For the kids who were somewhat near us, we delivered these covertly. The Cupcake would drop the note on the front porch, ring the doorbell and run back to the car so we could get away before the recipient saw us. It was So. Much. Fun! (See how I made the invitations here.) The letter inside invited her guests to Hogwarts orientation where they would be sorted into their houses upon arrival.

parchment style harry potter invitation
great hall for harry potter party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

As the kids arrived at the party, they entered a door that we had hung a Brick Wall Backdrop Party Accessory (1 count) (1/Pkg) brick wall backdrop with a 9 ¾ (downloaded from google images) on it.

entrance to harry porter party

Sirius Black (aka Big Daddy) sorted the first years to their houses with the help of the sorting hat.

sorting hat harry potter party

After sorting, they found their tables in the “Great Hall.” Each seat had a cauldron full of a special snack mix that corresponded to their house colors, a broom pencil (DIY here) and a house ring.

harry potter party cauldron snacks

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

caudron snacks at harry potter party
harry potter party place setting

Image credit: Becky Branch Photography

The museum even provided color-changing cups for their drinks, and there were plenty of golden snitches for snacks too!

Tables at Harry Potter Party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

And they might have had their fortunes read by Professor Trelawney.

Madame Trelawney at Harry Potter Party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

We went with a “potions class” theme for the party (the tables were dressed with various potions – get labels here) and the museum was a perfect partner for this.

Potions class at Harry Potter party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

wizarding world
harry potter potions

Image credit: Becky Branch Photography

“Professor Sprout” (complete with mandrakes) taught the kids how to extract DNA from a strawberry,

Professor Sprout at Fort Worth Museum of Science & History

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

DNA experiment at Harry Potter Party Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

then followed up by making ice cream with liquid nitrogen. The “students” were mezmerized.

Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

On the cake table, the first years were able to choose a wand (instructions here),

Olivanders wands at Harry Potter party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

and their own potion to take home with them.

Harry Potter potions

(Get these mini potions labels here. Print on sticker paper. Remove the store stickers from Bath & Body Works hand sanitizers and stick these on.)

harry potter mini potions

In keeping with the theme, I “potterized” the Cupcake’s requested (and purchased) peanut butter chocolate cake with my own fondant, disco dust and Potter Topper,

harry potter birthday cake

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

and had a Honeydukes goodie bag for each guest.

Honeydukes goodie bag for guest

The treat bags contained: a bottle of Butter beer*, (non-alcoholic butterscotch “beer”), Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Honeydukes chocolate bars (get the file for the candy wrappers here), and chocolate frogs that I made from this candy mold, and put into these DIY boxes.

what's in the harry potter goodie bags
harry potter party favors
harry potter party chocolates

*Note: If you are local to DFW, you can find butterscotch beer at (sometimes) SPECS, Rocket Fizz, or Lolly and Pops.

 When you have a group of first years this cute, you have to have a great photographer! Becky Branch did an amazing, incredible, awesome job capturing the moments of our special day!

Group photo at Harry Potter Party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

Family photo at Harry Potter party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

Want more party ideas? Follow my Potter party Pinterest board!

harry potter birthday cake party

Image Credit: Becky Branch Photography

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