When you’re a kid, birthdays are magical. Friends and family come together to celebrate, there’s lots of yummy food, plenty of cake, and gifts to boot. But what if you could make a birthday even more enchanting? Well, you can with a Harry Potter theme! From homemade treats to themed activities, there are endless ways to turn a birthday celebration into a magical Harry Potter event. In this article, we'll provide you with some tips and inspiration on how to throw your own epic Harry Potter party.
Harry Potter Party Foods
Courtesy @nicolesgotcakes/instagram
The wizarding world is known for its delicious food, and you can recreate some of these magical treats for your party. Here are some homemade favorites:
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Harry’s 11th birthday cake: Take inspiration from Hagrid’s cake and create your own version with personalized decorations. Make it extra special with your birthday wizard’s name. Check out Nicole’s Got Cakes for a copycat recipe.
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Treacle tart: If your little wizard isn’t fond of cake, try making this sugar syrup tart. The sweet filling with fresh lemon zest and juice is a crowd-pleaser. Find the full recipe on Bake at 350.
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Slytherin’s serpent sandwich: Get creative and make a snake-shaped stuffed sandwich. You can customize the fillings to suit your wizard's taste.
Courtesy Maria Elizabeth Diaco
If you're short on time or prefer semi-homemade treats, here are some ideas:
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Honeydukes display: Create a sweet shop display with Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Exploding Bon Bons, and Acid Pops. It's a setup that will make everyone jealous.
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Flying brooms: Elevate pretzel sticks by tying green shoestring licorice around one end with a piece of black shoestring licorice.
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Aragog cupcakes: Transform store-bought chocolate cupcakes into Hagrid's giant spider. Just roll them in chocolate sprinkles, add mini M&Ms for eyes, and black licorice pieces as legs.
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Cauldron cakes: Pick up a pack of two-bite brownies and add a few pipings of red or orange frosting to the top.
Harry Potter Party Drinks
Courtesy Maria Elizabeth Diaco
Don’t leave your little witches and wizards parched! Serve up some magical beverages:
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Butterbeer: A Harry Potter party isn't complete without butterbeer. Learn how to brew the best butterbeer recipe outside of Universal Studio.
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Polyjuice potion: Whip up a witchy punch that will delight your guests.
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Gigglewater: Wrap an ordinary water bottle with a themed label for a laughter-inducing beverage.
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Pumpkin juice: Serve this gourd-flavored beverage, sweetened with brown sugar and apple juice, warm or chilled.
Harry Potter Decorations
Courtesy Rhonda John/Thrify Little Mom
Transform your home into Hogwarts with these decoration ideas:
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Platform 9 3/4: Create a faux-brick wall at your entrance for a magical welcome. Hang a brick wall backdrop or make your own using an old sheet, red paint, and a rectangle sponge.
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Dementor swarm: Repurpose a grim reaper Halloween decoration or costume into a haunting dementor. Just make sure to have plenty of chocolate around to ward off its effects.
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The Great Hall: Turn your dining table into the Great Hall. Hang battery-operated tapered candles from the ceiling at different lengths and set the table with a dark tablecloth and plastic goblets.
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Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom: Give your bathroom a Harry Potter touch by writing a memorable phrase on the mirror and adding faux snakes around the sink.
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Snape’s potions: Serve your beverages in a cauldron for an authentic touch.
Harry Potter Goodies
Courtesy Maria Elizabeth Diaco
Let your guests take a bit of magic home with them. Here are some goodie ideas:
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Hogwarts’ Owlery: Gift each attendee their own mini plush owl, such as Hedwig, Pigwidgeon, or Errol. You can even attach a small thank you note to their wings.
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An Ollivander wand: Give your little witches and wizards a magical wand experience. Hide wands around the house or have them choose from a Sorting Hat-like bag.
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Honeydukes gumdrops: Make and wrap Quick & Easy Gumdrops as a homemade gift. Add a Dumbledore touch by using moon and star bags.
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Magical goodie bags: Fill classic goodie bags with Harry Potter-themed treats like glasses, temporary tattoos, broom-shaped pens, and wands.
Harry Potter Games and Activities
Courtesy Debra Hawkins/Housewife Eclectic
In addition to traditional activities like cutting the cake and opening gifts, add some Harry Potter-approved fun to the party:
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Sort into Hogwarts Houses: Instead of using a Sorting Hat, surprise your guests with sorting hat cupcakes. Each cupcake will reveal a house color when bitten into. Check out Housewife Eclectic for instructions.
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Wanted posters: Create "Undesirable No. 1" posters for each guest by taking their photo and attaching it to Ministry of Magic-issued posters.
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Game of Quidditch: If you have older guests who are up for a more complicated game, organize a Quidditch match. Check out the official US Quidditch website for rules and gameplay.
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Potions class: Let the partygoers create their own potions by mixing essential oils with a carrier oil. Provide rollerballs with potion labels and emphasize that they are for rolling on the skin, not eating.
Harry Potter Party Extras
Courtesy Maria Elizabeth Diaco
Take your Harry Potter party to the next level with these spellbinding touches:
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Hogwarts letters: Send Hogwarts-themed party invitations using envelopes, string, seals, and glue dots. You can also write or print your own invitations.
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A Potter playlist: Set the mood with the iconic Harry Potter movie scores. Create a playlist and let the magic fill the air.
Make your Harry Potter party a truly memorable experience by incorporating some of these ideas. From the decorations to the activities and treats, your little wizards and witches will have a magical time. So, put on your robes, grab your wands, and get ready for an epic Harry Potter birthday party!
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