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JUNE 6, 2005 at 12:07 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Spellbound!
After months of planning, we're proud to be able to finally release Spellbound2005.com
, information about our huge Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince midnight release party in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The mall, two cities, the visitors' bureau, area businesses and even the mayor have helped us bring this thing to life. Read all about it in the official press release:
Midnight release party at Chicago-area shopping center to draw 10,000 attendees. City officials and area businesses lend support to make memorable event.
MT. PROSPECT, IL -- Award-winning Harry Potter fan sites today announced Spellbound!, an event to celebrate the release of JK Rowling's sixth novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, on July 15 at Randhurst Shopping Center in Mt. Prospect, IL.
Attendees of Spellbound! will be enchanted by live music performances, a land-based "Quidditch" game developed by USA Team Handball, a virtual reality experience, costume contests, prize giveaways, trivia, scavenger hunts and more.
Wizarding World Press will present its unique life-sized wizard chess, a game that attracted thousands in 2003. HP Fan Trips, a group focused on Harry Potter-themed travel, is providing its "Quidditch" and virtual reality games. Musical talents Harry and the Potters, Tony Goldmark, Luke Ski and others will perform live on stage.
Online Harry Potter fan sites MuggleNet and HPANA along with Wizarding World Press have been developing the event over six months. WWP, publishers of the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter, was created by fans and actively supports the online fan community. Both HPANA and MuggleNet have been awarded a Fan Site Award from author JK Rowling herself, and the webmaster of MuggleNet was recently invited by the author to conduct an interview at her Edinburgh home on July 16.
Area hotels have provided convention space and large discounts for travelers and will host several of the Spellbound! attractions. Beyond Boundaries Travel has negotiated rates and is the event's official travel agency. Fans who stay in certain hotels can pre-order the book directly from Spellbound! for delivery shortly after midnight.
"It's a great honor to be the only shopping center in the country associated with the group of organizations that have produced this world-class event," said Margaret Lannen, General Manager for Randhurst.
City officials in Mt. Prospect and Prospect Heights are eagerly anticipating the festival.
"We could not be more excited to host such a wonderful event," said Patricia Wharton, Executive Director of the Prospect Heights Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The economic impact and national notoriety this event will have on our communities is outstanding," said Prospect Heights' City Administrator Matt Zimmerman. "Our city is thrilled to be hosting this event in conjunction with Mount Prospect," added mayor Rodney Pace.
Randhurst Shopping Center, located in Mount Prospect, IL is a 1,021,000 million square foot shopping destination with a variety of national and local retailers offering merchandise, services and entertainment options. The center includes such retailers as Carson Pirie Scott, Home Depot, a 16-screen AMC Theatre, Old Navy, Borders Books and Café, Costco and Jewel-Osco.
Fan sites DanRadcliffe.com, Veritaserum, Harry Potter Fan Zone and others are contributing to the event by operating some of the specific games and contests. Thanks also to The Leaky Cauldron for their support.
Visit the official site to register and learn more about the event!
Reader Comments (364)
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Prefect
Points: 383
Arkanoid says:
In Chicago Professor Emiru... I guess not... actually, I'll be on a small Danish island, that probably doesnøt even have a proper book store *sigh*... but I hope I can work something out with my normal bookstore, so they'll send it to me or something.
It's a shame, though, that the release parties in Denmark are quite small... except for the one in Copenhagen, when the danish edition are released... that usually quite big.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 11:55 AM EST
Divine Intervention
Points: 2619
PhantomFingers says:
I hope there's something going down in my city, I'm getting so jealous!!!! Ha!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 808
Lirael says:
I wanted to do the same at my bookstore, but all the big ones are advertizing in ways I can't afford :(
Chicago sounds like fun!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:05 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1380
Chadick says:
That is really fantastic! Hope I could be there too what with Wizard's chess. Can't wait for the book!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:14 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 357
fair fairy says:
Really coooooooooolll.It is fantastic for those who can enjoy these events...hhhhhhh{sigh}
I can just pray that somehow i will be able to attend the party of seventh book of Harry Potter.
It is really fun if you know that there is going to be a party,but beleive me it is no fun when you know that someone is having party somewhere else and you could only read about it in the news paper the very next morning ,, AGAIN {sighs}.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:18 PM EST
Squib
Points: 138
Luna86 says:
That's asome!!! I feel so jealous!! Nobody do this things in my country!!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 863
CursedForever says:
well thats quite cool for them. But I'm in Britain...
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:24 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 340
Julie Stone says:
That sounds like so much fun! It might even be worth a trip to Illinois! Minnesota isn't that far I think.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:29 PM EST
Points: 3207
IRockedDanLastNight says:
Oh my gosh!! That all sounds so fun! But I am going to be gone when all that happens. I'm going to be in Europe on a delegation trip and I know they wouldn't let me leave.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 874
Together Forever, H/Hr... says:
I am so mad my mom just said I could have gone if I wasn't going to be at horse camp.... erg! I am really mad but I am Happy for thise of you who can go, HAVE FUN! I live in Louisville so I am only a few hours away...
DanRad820
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:41 PM EST
The Warrior Sorceress
Points: 3333
Devilish Katlyn says:
Oh, I wish I could be there!
I don't think there's a single thing going on in AZ. If there is, I'd definitely want to be there!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:50 PM EST
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Points: 2606
hplover234 says:
That is so cool!!!!
I wish I could go.
I know my mom would never let me but it looks like it is going to be totally awesome.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:50 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1344
ResidentGhost says:
I live only a 1/2 hr away from Randhurst Mall! I really wasn't into all the online fanfare when the last book came out so imagine my surprise when I found out they had done this in Oak Park last year. I think I amy have to make a special trip out there in July!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:53 PM EST
Magical Experimentalist
Points: 6699
Preet says:
Oh cool cool! We, in India have no such luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:56 PM EST
Queen of the Yarn Ball
Points: 3829
red&gold says:
YEAH!!! Hop skip and a jump away from me... Can't wait!!! It looks like a lot of fun... It is a VERY big mall... I wonder where exactly it will be in the mall...
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 12:59 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 722
Seeker04 says:
Man I wish there were fans like that in Miami, FL because I dont ever see a party like that happening down here. So to all those who will be there have a glass of butter beer for all of us wishing we were there and have a great time!!!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:00 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 327
LovingGeorgeWeasley says:
Wow, that sounds so amazing!! If i had the money and could afford to take time off of work, i would definitely be there!! But unfortunately I'm stuck in Burlington, where nothing seems to be happening... Does anyone know if there's anything going on near Toronto?
Cheers *S*
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:00 PM EST
Muggle Representative
Points: 9117
The Lime says:
Loony_Lupin - If I go, I wont buy it before I get back to Denmark, cause I want the english edition, not the american!
Arkanoid - I'm also supposed to be on a little danish island in that week, but might convince my mum and dad..
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:03 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Oooooh!!!
This is so great for those who actually get to go! It sounds amazingly amazing! I wish every city in the world would have a party like that!
July sixteenth.....I can't wait! Just 39 1/2 days!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:03 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1023
hpff_#1 says:
I really wish I could be there that sounds only too cool. If there was one in Ga then I'd be there with the best costume ever.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:07 PM EST
Ethereal Fairy
Points: 3077
harrypotterfreak_4life says:
Awww man I wish I could go it'd be awsome. But I hope they have a blast though.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:08 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 372
Kahla says:
Sounds AWESOME!! Too bad I live in Louisville and can't go. Here's an idea: Have the one for the seventh book in Louisville so I can go! Please!!!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:15 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 80
Dobby Girl says:
It's great that a city would do something to conmemorate the release and that everyone would get entertained.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:23 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 340
magiviking says:
That's really cool. I wish I could go, it sounds like a lot of fun.
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:25 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 479
jenjen220 says:
WOW!! That sounds absolutely am AmAzInG! I really wish i could go!! But theres no way to get there. Too bad I don't have a broomstick and could just fly there...
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 771
Weasley Witch says:
Cool! Why can't they have a huge launch like that in the UK? Sure, I know there are a few but they're all in Scottland, none where I live (in a little village near manchester, england)!
Still completely awesome!
Posted Jun 6, 2005 at 1:43 PM EST
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