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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!
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Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1749
TUCBIDG says:
That's awesome. Too bad I don't live anywhere near where it's happening. I'd go if I could though.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 6:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
awesome coool...go harry POtter.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 6:54 PM EST
The Golden Snidget
Points: 3157
Mrs. Phineas Nigellus says:
Only time I've ever wished I was anywhere but upstate New York. I love it here, but I'd kill to move to Illinois, a place where I know no one, have no clue what the weather's like, don't know my way around, just to go to that party. I wish I could go, I really do, but I guess I'll just have to read about it here and imagine I went. :)
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:10 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 468
Laura_Granger says:
Man, too bad i live too far away. That would be way fun to go to.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:12 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1158
Moonbake says:
Very cool! I wish I lived closer and able to attend!
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:14 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 18
gtkourounis says:
Well i wish i lived in chicago but i guess i dont anywyas. lewts hope parties will happen in canada
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:15 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 18
gtkourounis says:
There is only one answer to the people that dont live near chicago
ACCIO CHICAGO
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:20 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 18
gtkourounis says:
dont you guys think that HPANA rocks. Its such a good site. we should give these guys an aword for giving us all of this usefull information that would be quite hard to find without them.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:23 PM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
More Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince parties! Ah! i really wish I could go to this one ... it sounds like it'll be a blast. I hope everyone will have loads of fun! :)
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 7:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 537
Head Dementor says:
I wish I could go! *sobs* I signed up for the draw in Canada. (To go to Scotland and be there for the opening with J.K.Rowling) but chances of me getting it is very slim.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 8:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1918
not*so*sweet*strawberry says:
I really really wish i could go to a Harry Potter party... but no... I have to live in a small town...
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 8:26 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1465
Moon Dragon says:
I wish I could be there, oh well but atleast we get the book so I have no hard feelings.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 8:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 731
Captain Oblivious says:
I want to be there, but it's ok because I will have my own little party with all my friends, I'm not sure what to dress as, though.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 9:22 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 302
Stacki says:
I am extremely excited
I have gotten everything booked and ready for that night, with the HP books being delivered to our hotel!!! I hope everything goes well. I can't wait!!!
stacki
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 10:55 PM EST
Princess of Nargles
Points: 4137
hp_fan206 says:
Cool... if I go to Chicago that weekend, I'll definitely consider checking that out! As it is the date for my vacation is tentative, so I might not be able to go. Oh well, if not I'll stick to the nearest major bookstore.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 11:11 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2353
Loretta says:
I wish that we were having one in Nashville. It would be so cool to have parties at all the different book stores all around America.
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 11:20 PM EST
Points: 1
I am THE Longbottom says:
I wanna go!!!!!!!!!!! maybe Neville will be there! or other hard core Neville fans like me!!!!!
Posted Jun 7, 2005 at 11:59 PM EST
Squib
Points: 175
white_angel says:
Why are all these things done in teh US? Can't there be other places too? It is not like we do not have any Harry Potter fans in Canada!?
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 12:20 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 79
starXcrossed says:
I WANT TO GO!!!! but i dun live there... sighz.. whoever is going... enjoy yourself... i will satisfy myself reading the book...
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 12:55 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 443
Terri6589 says:
WHY IS NOTHING IN FLORIDA gawd I wish I was in Ny I know there are doing stuff there I hope every one going to these things has fun, ^_^
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 12:58 AM EST
Obsessive Genius
Points: 3175
FeeLinG_bLuE says:
oOo!!!!! I wish I could go to it!!!!!!!! =( Darn lucky people in Chicago!!! There must be something in California!! ;)
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 1:41 AM EST
Squib
Points: 132
funkymunky says:
Wow!! This looks kinda interesting!! I wonder if they'd have something like this in New Zealand...I doubt it though. *sob* *sob*
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 2:08 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 74
ziYai says:
*bangs head on wall* I can't go to that event, I live too far away from the venue! But seriously...That is soooo cool!!! If you guys would go, don't tell me. I'd probably be sooooo jealous...
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 4:43 AM EST
The Chosen One
Points: 9942
Gryffindor Dude says:
I live so close but so far away from Chicago... I mean some of you such as the people in California are really far away but I am only in Missouri but I can't go.
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 11:21 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1482
Xavier McCorkle says:
I wish I lived close eneough to go...sigh... oh well the local Barnes and Noble will have to do...sigh
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 11:21 AM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
How exciting!!!
You know, it seems to me that Jo realluy should do a midnight reading here in the U.S.
It wasn't until it hit the shelves in America that Harry Potter became the super sensational success that it has. She even said that herself on the Biography channel. The Harry Potter phenomenon went mad when Scholastic bought Sorcerer's Stone and the American public got hold of it.
I wouls fly anywhere in the country for the opprtunity to hear her read.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for book seven.
Posted Jun 8, 2005 at 11:59 AM EST
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