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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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Head Girl
Points: 475
Vortex7 says:
Oh, yeah? Well, let me tell you, people, all those lucky ones that get to go, I hate you! I'm so jealous I could die right now!
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 5:57 PM EST
St. Mungo's Mental Patient
Points: 41815
Phil_ says:
Looks like fun, Shame i can't go, looks like i might be working that day now..*sobs*
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 5:58 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 371
*)Blueyedwitch(* says:
Can someone take pictures that goes to this thing. Cause it sounds so exciting. I want to goooo.. No fair..
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 6:34 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 329
SorceressBlack says:
OH man that sounds like sooo much fun. I wish I lived there its gonna be HBP party central. Maybe I should get one started for the next book for us west coasters hehe. Well anyone who lives there and is going have fun for me ;)
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 7:35 PM EST
The Charmer
Points: 4130
Amarantine says:
How very cool...shame I'm in England...
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 8:08 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
Jamie loves Cedric says:
I really wish i could go but i can't go because it is too far but I'm glad someone gets to go.
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 9:39 PM EST
Student
Points: 257
Sarah Brucklehurst says:
Oh! I would love to go to this, but no way can I afford to go all the way to IL, even though it really isn't too far, only about 6-8 hrs of driving for me. But still, that would be awsome!
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 9:50 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 24
magic_lives_through_me says:
OH MY GOSH!!!!!! This is sooooooo cool! I only live like 3 hours away from chicago. I`ll also be able to crash out at my cousins!
Posted Jun 9, 2005 at 10:27 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1881
yeah...FULLY says:
That's so cool!
I wish they did something like this in my country!
~Imy~
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 3:37 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 23
Ced says:
That's great to hear that other places are also having a party for the release of the new book. Here in South Africa a few of our book stores are opening at 1am when the book is released world wide. So lucky for us we get to have a party too.
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 7:48 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 340
Julie Stone says:
I'm still interested in driving to IL for the party. Who's up for a roadtrip?
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 7:57 AM EST
Witch
Points: 654
Millennia says:
Looks like it will be a wonderful release party, nhowever, it is a bit disappointing that is is in Chicago. That is just too far to travel for a party. I will head down to my local bookstore and see what they have instore for us (no pun intended!)!
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 12:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
Ok, now I live in the right country, but on the wrong side of the Rockies! This is once again good for whomever lives there and sad for me.
Last time I went to a midnight release all of the mommies of the little munchkins all stared at me like I was some kind of, dementor or something. But there was great costumes!
Jekca
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 7:55 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 81
EvilG2 says:
OH MY GOD!!!! I love living in Illinois! I live about half an hour away!!! Wicked. I've already taken off work. Now all I have to do is figure out how to spend the day with so many festivities! :-)
Posted Jun 10, 2005 at 8:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 902
Potter_Pal says:
This Party looks awesome, I had to opt for the one in NYC since I will also be taking an exchange student to see some of the sights in NYC. I live in Atlanta and have yet to hear of any "big" release parties here. Mt. Prospect Rocks, Atlanta isn't so "hot" anymore.
Posted Jun 11, 2005 at 12:08 AM EST
Student
Points: 201
Analem says:
Cant wait for the hbp to get out hope it is as good as it is supposed to be for as long as we had to wait on it.
Posted Jun 11, 2005 at 12:40 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 20
Marina (lunatic!!!) says:
ooooh is so fantastic, but how I can do for the image thats appers with my comments, move...
:)
Posted Jun 11, 2005 at 1:24 PM EST
Points: 584
Chee-Chee says:
YES!!!!! This is so great- I live like 30 minutes from where this is!!!! YES!!!!
Posted Jun 11, 2005 at 1:27 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2624
ravenmadluna says:
Wow 10,000 people, that is soooo huge, and all just for a book! Amazing! I think ill just play it safe and stay at home and wait for my book to come in the mail patiently.
Posted Jun 11, 2005 at 2:53 PM EST
Student
Points: 286
zenith says:
Wow, that's so cool. I wish someone would do that in NZ but everyone would just scoff and not come anyway, although you might get a few of the littleies but not much else. If only i could afford to fly half-way across the world to se it......
Posted Jun 12, 2005 at 12:20 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1127
Elrond says:
Pitty I don't live around those parts, oh well. Books going to be great anyways.
Posted Jun 12, 2005 at 3:48 AM EST
Heir of Gryffindor
Points: 5731
Gryffindor Lord says:
That's really cool! That's nice of them to do that in their city, I hope they have loads of fun at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jun 12, 2005 at 1:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 778
stillDUMBLEDORESgirl says:
That is soo so cool. I wish I could go but it is way to far away. i live in Colorado and i'd would have to go all the way to Chicago. That is a really far way. hehe
Posted Jun 13, 2005 at 1:25 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 14
ron_is_cute says:
I can't wait for HBP to come out!!!
Posted Jun 13, 2005 at 10:02 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
Sound so cool and whatsoever..
i wish im not asian sometimes..
i wish i live near there
sarahpat
Posted Jun 14, 2005 at 2:46 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 368
callieee says:
That sounds so fun! I wish I lived nearby, I would definitely go.
Posted Jun 14, 2005 at 2:30 PM EST
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