harry potter party ideas?

[mtemm]

my DD(almost)9 is having a birthday sleepover with a few girls. She and a couple of her friends have gotten into the harry potter books this year so she has decided she would love a harry potter theme for her party. Any ideas for fun snacks, etc? I'm off to check out pinterest now, too, but know the folks here often have such good ideas thought I'd check in here, too.

thanks!

 

[Southernmiss]

Tie candlesticks to the light above the cake table

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Butterbeer would be the first item on my list.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

I had a HP party for my son years ago.

I remember goodie bags of: small pouches that I sewed together and added a ribbon pull (if not a sew-er I think walmart has some in the wedding supply aisle) and putting in gold coins (Natural candy store has excellent organic DARK or milk chocolate coins) And getting Jelly Bellys for the Bertie Botts (but now they have bertie botts easily available)

Did a castle cake and added HP figurines to it, pretty easy. I think many store bakeries have HP as a choice now.

For games I did HP trivia contest, you can find lots of misc facts online and make it either true/false or ABC answers so the kids don't feel dumb with no answer at all.

Maybe do a craft where they make their own wand with chopsticks and then paint, markers, glue, glitter, jewels feathers, etc

Maybe a scavenger hunt around your house or yard: I'd have a theme for each team like all the pets/owls of the series, the teachers of Hogwarts, or the Weasley family. I'd gather pics from the internet and add any words to make sure they were identifiable. Once I had the same number of objects (pictures) I would hide them around the house, yard. and team up the girls to find their theme. you could tell them exactly what they are looking for, or just the theme and how many they are looking for.

You can also make a version of quidditch with a basketball hoop and ball (maybe other kids will be tossing nerf ball while trying to make shot) Or you can use nerf ball in the house with buckets or laundry baskets.

For the games you can do prizes or to save $$ you can print out award certificates.

Oh boy I have so many ideas, I love planning parties!!!!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

My daughter had one just for fun last year, as a way to get to know people better, we had recently moved here.

We made butterbeer, they made magic wands using sticks we found on a walk........decorated with glitter, jewels, ribbons.
I bought all kinds of strange to them candy from Great Britain that I found at World Market. That was fun, watching them try the candies.

I'm a face painter also, so I did scars and dark marks on all the girls. You could do the same using your own makeup.

Then they had a movie marathon. It was easy, and they still talk about how much fun it was.

If we were doing it again, I would want them to make their own Howlers. I found instructions on Pinterest. You could probably find tons of ideas there.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

If you are looking for food ideas:

Chocolate Frogs - make yourself if you can find a frog candy mold otherwise check Jelly Belly website
Cauldron Cakes - plenty of pics online, just a cupcake decorated into a cauldron
Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans - Jelly Belly website
Golden Snitch's - I've seen people make them from Ferrero Roche candies

 

[dwfanatic]

At my son's HP party, I made chocolate covered pretzel wands(white and dark chocolate), then dipped in sprinkes, chocolate chips, crushed candies, etc. They were yummy!

 

[laurajetter]

Oh my, check this out! Go to Pinterest.com and type in "Harry Potter Party"... there are so many cool ideas!!! I love theme parties, good luck with your plans!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

My only snack idea is a beverage. I would make homemade Butterbeer. Get some Cream Soda and some Butterscotch Ice Cream topping and make your own BB.

 

[mtemm]

so many great ideas, thanks!!!!! love them!

now I need to get busy and create some invites.

 

[jojosam]

DD turned 9 3/4 a few weeks ago, so we decided to have a few friends over for an afternoon of all things Harry Potter. I downloaded labels (Butterbeer, Bert Botts, etc) to attach to the various snacks. Hung bats from the chandelier and rats on the table (all from my Halloween decorations). Chose awesome sticks from the backyard and provided paint, glitter, etc, so they could make their own wands (DD did this for her wand and Hermione costume at Halloween). Decorate your own cauldron cupcake. I printed a dictionary of Latin, Greek and other languages for the girls to write their own spells. Pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles for edible magic wands. We watched the first movie while we ate lunch. DD has a snitch game that is like 20 questions so the girls played after the movie.
All this for a 4 hour play date... had this been her actual birthday I would have done A LOT more, but this was just the right amount for an afternoon with friends.

 

[PollyannaMom]

DD turned 9 3/4 a few weeks ago, so we decided to have a few friends over for an afternoon of all things Harry Potter. I downloaded labels (Butterbeer, Bert Botts, etc) to attach to the various snacks. Hung bats from the chandelier and rats on the table (all from my Halloween decorations). Chose awesome sticks from the backyard and provided paint, glitter, etc, so they could make their own wands (DD did this for her wand and Hermione costume at Halloween). Decorate your own cauldron cupcake. I printed a dictionary of Latin, Greek and other languages for the girls to write their own spells. Pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles for edible magic wands. We watched the first movie while we ate lunch. DD has a snitch game that is like 20 questions so the girls played after the movie.
All this for a 4 hour play date... had this been her actual birthday I would have done A LOT more, but this was just the right amount for an afternoon with friends.

What a cute idea!! I wish I had heard it before my niece turned that age! She loves Harry Potter.

OP - I agree that Pinterest will have tons of stuff.

There are several ways to make make wands. We've done paper mache around dowels, strung wooden beads on skewers, etc. There is one with hot glue that I think I saw it on Pinterest. - I'm sure it will turn up when you search.

If you don't want to do a butterbeer recipe, you could do "fortune-telling fizz". (It doesn't actually come from HP, but would fit in well enough as "divination class".) You put a few drops of food coloring in the bottom of plastic cups ahead of time - different colors in different cups, and let it dry. Right before you serve them, hide the color under ice cubes. Pour ginger ale (or similar) in front of the kids, and everybody's soda will magically turn a different color.

 

[classyseoul]

These are some great ideas

 

[marcyinPA]

Definitely butter beer. My friend makes it every year for our Harry Potter theme night at church youth group. It's yummy!

 

[funhouse8]

my daughter made these Butterbeer cupcakes. They looed good and were yummy too.
http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/butterbeercupcakesbyamy.shtml