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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: 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
Muggle
Points: 7
Liz brown says:
Wish i could go, but a flight from france to chicago costs too much.
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 6:49 AM EST
Death Eater
Points: 6201
Voldemort's Heir says:
It's great to see such a big celebration for the Harry Potter series. It's good to see just how huge and well liked it really is.
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 2:55 PM EST
Squib
Points: 195
lxlWilliamlxl says:
Awesome! I can't wait for the new book release!!! Hey! I think I'm the first post, I'll fell so stupid if I'm not. I am so excited!
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 5:01 PM EST
Dumbledore's Protégé
Points: 3558
Harree Potter says:
I wish I could go. Wow. That is cool.
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 7:01 PM EST
Points: 13
Quill2006 says:
Wow. I went to school there. Literally the next stoplight from my high school is Randhurst Mall. And they're holding it there, and I can't go. ::cries:: I hope everyone has a blast!
Oh, and be careful at the Kensington/Rand/Elmhurst stoplight. It's the longest stoplight ever, and it's really confusing if you're not sure where you're supposed to turn left.
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 8:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 696
quidditch_seeker says:
That's pretty cool. I'm sure it will be really exciting. I haven't ordered the book yet, but I will probably just end up buying it at Costco when it comes out.
Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 9:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1664
Looooney says:
That would be so fun! but it's toooo far for me!! Have fun though everybody in the Chicago area! Any closer to the west coast?
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 4:13 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
If they had one of these in Dallas or Fort Worth, I would SO be there.
I will just have to be content to drag my husband to the local Barnes and Noble for the midnight release. I have already informed him that we will go, I will get the book, and then I will ignore him for the rest of the weekend while I read it. He just laughed and made plans to go visit some friends that weekend. :D
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 1:09 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 30
eagleowl16 says:
Darn! I'm going to be on vacation during the party!
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 5:43 PM EST
Squib
Points: 125
CS says:
It sounds like so much fun, but why can't they do that in more cities? I mean, why should some people have one of those parties while others can't and then they have to hear people rant about how awesome it was, which is adding insult to injury. I hope they organize a party like that out here, because that would be fun.
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 6:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 699
Toph Rox!!! says:
That sounds really cool! I want to go! Maybe more citys will do something similar for the release of seven.
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 10:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 741
Auror Tonks says:
Everyone is so lucky. Oh well. There's a time and a season for everything.
Posted Jun 17, 2005 at 10:52 AM EST
Witch
Points: 829
HPMommy says:
Wow, this sounds so cool! I wish there was something like this in my town...I'm sure that we'll have a party or something but not like this...this sounds amazing!
Posted Jun 18, 2005 at 12:09 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 31
Muggle1612 says:
This is so nice!!Wish I'm there!!But too bad its not in my country!!
Posted Jun 18, 2005 at 1:15 PM EST
Witch
Points: 558
Quagmire127 says:
Okay, I need to move to Illinois. This is incredibly cool.
Posted Jun 18, 2005 at 2:52 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 316
HP_fan_4ever says:
This is so cool! I wish i lived in Illinois. Well i hope everyone who's going have fun.
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 8:36 AM EST
Squib
Points: 129
Tonks921 says:
Man Im just going to books a milleon at midnight in funny cloeths.
* Angela *
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 11:56 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 83
HPfan2002 says:
I can't wait until the book party!!! It will be soooo much fun1
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 7:27 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 66
kristen_g14 says:
Wow. That is wonderful. O cant wait for the book to come out
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 8:03 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 63
taylor_bancroft says:
i live in oregon. i'm not going anywere. How sad.):
Posted Jun 20, 2005 at 12:43 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 63
taylor_bancroft says:
look i'm the first one on this page!HOORY FETUS!
Posted Jun 20, 2005 at 12:45 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 366
GryffindorsBeauty says:
I want to go!!! i live in london so i cant go!!!
Posted Jun 20, 2005 at 11:45 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 29
Professor Petruvius says:
I also want to go, but I live in europe, and according to potterparties.com, there is no party or something else for the new harry potter book in my country.
:-(
Posted Jun 21, 2005 at 11:01 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 29
The-Sorting-Hat says:
Why does nothing ever happen in Myrtle
Beach?! Especially like that. Im mad now. At least barnes and nobles is having a party i can go to.
Posted Jun 21, 2005 at 1:54 PM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
That is a fantastic event to be, that Spellbound! I wish I could be there... Everything sound great to me; the games and all. I envy you guys who is able to go there.
I'm so excited when I heard that some of hp online fansites are working together on this event. It's just like HP unites us. I hope after book 7 comes out and all the movies are completed, we will still hang around together through the websites.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:38 AM EST
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