Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Harry Potter Party: Games, Food, and Decor

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% mine.  For more information, please visit my Disclosures page.

Y'all must know by now I love a good themed birthday party.  See, for example, our Arctic Birthday Blast, Pirate Party and Star Wars Party.  It was no different when Biggest asked for a Harry Potter party this year. Holy goodness, it was so much fun.  Most of these ideas I got from Pinterest, for original sources please click through to my Party On Boys Pinterest Board.

DIY, Tips & Tricks, How To, Ideas, FREE Printables

When our guests first walked in, we first led them into Diagon Alley, where they shopped for their wand at Ollivander's.

Diagon Alley

Ollivander's Wand Shop

Ollivander's Wand Shop

To encourage them to hit Diagon Alley first, I had blocked off the other side of the foyer using a black plastic tablecloth and plastic chain:

Decor, Decorations

Decor, Decorations

I made the wands following the tutorial over at Give Peas a Chance.  I really shopped and shopped for good chopsticks to use and settled on these:


They turned out so cute!

Wands, Wand Shop, DIY

Wands, Wand Shop, DIY

To make them, I first used hot glue to add dimension.  Then I sprayed them with Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint, and used brown and gold acrylic paints for the details.

Wands, Wand Shop, DIY

The kids loved picking out their own wand and even the grown-ups were impressed!

In Diagon Alley the kids could also eye the sweets at Honeyduke's, but a sign informed them the store was closed "until all the snitches are found."  What could that mean?  We all wondered.

Honeydukes, Harry Potter Food

So, after picking up their new wand, they were ready to head to Hogwart's through Platform 9 and 3/4:

Platform 9 and 3/4, Brick Wall Decor

I got this brick-patterned plastic sheeting from Amazon and it worked great.  I had to tape a couple of sections together to make them tall enough, so bear that in mind when you are shopping.  But it was waaay easier than painting fabric myself.

Once at Hogwart's, I led the kids through a series of fun activities and games.  First, they had to be sorted.  I made our sorting hat with an old witch hat and some paper grocery bags.

Sorting Hat

I should have done underneath the brim, too!!!

Sorting Hat Game

I decided to give the kids some control over which house they would get, by creating a spinner and letting them have two spins.  That way, no one would have to get Slytherin;)  To make the spinner, I used a spinner from Twister, took the plastic spinny thing (it's technical name) off, and attached my own design with tape.  It worked great!  I loved it so much that I made you a free printable, just click here:

Once the child spun twice, our Sorting Hat announced the result (through a hidden baby monitor nearby).  The nine-year-olds immediately realized where the voice was coming from but my six-year-old was still wondering that evening...so I call it a success.

Next up, was Charms Class where the kids had to use their wands to keep balloons up in the air.  It was so. much. fun.  I think they could have just done that for two hours and been happy.

Charms Class

Sidenote: check out the cute Hogwart's decal!  I got it as a set with the Gryffindor decal pictured later in this post, and they are both affordable and gorgeous.  You can get them by clicking here.

Next we headed to the Great Hall for a snack.  The Great Hall was maybe my favorite part.  I loved how my floating candles turned out.

Great Hall Floating Candles

Great Hall Floating Candles

I saw these several places online but never saw a great tutorial, so I will bring that to you tomorrow. (Update: you can see how to make the candles by clicking here.)  I also used plastic tablecloths to make the House Banners.

For snacks we had Golden Snitch Cake Pops:

Golden Snitch Cake Pops

Golden Snitch Cake Pops

These were the first cake pops I ever made, so I read a lot online and ended up using this cake pop pan and I am so glad I did!  It wasn't easy, per se, but much easier.  I also really liked this tutorial from Homemaker Chic. Follow her advice on modifying your cake recipe and especially adding shortening to the candy melts.  I just used yellow candy melts and gold sprinkles, then stripped and cut cheap craft store feathers for the wings.

Golden Snitch Cake Pops

Golden Snitch Cake Pops

We also had Huffle Puffs, and Witches' Brooms and Hats (thanks Mom for helping make these!)

Snacks, Food, Huffle Puffs

Snacks, Food

Snacks, Food, Witches Brooms, String Cheese

Snacks, Food, Witches Hats

UPDATE: I now have a free printable of the food labels available here!

Our drink was Polyjuice Potion (lime sherbet and Sprite).

Snacks, Polyjuice Potion

After snack it was on to Potions Class, where each child received a teeny cauldron for his or her potion. We mixed up Horklump Juice and Ground Unicorn Horns (Vinegar and Baking Soda). They never seem to get tired of watching stuff fizz up like that!

Potions Class

Potions Class

Potions Class

UPDATE: I now have a free printable of the potions labels available here!

Once they were done with Potions, I asked them to make sure they sent my son a Birthday Wish through the Owl Post:

Owl Post


Owl Post

I found the printable sign at Jonesing to Create.  I had the various cages on hand, but looked high and low for an owl.  I ended up with a stuffed Hedwig, which I bought here. She doubled as a birthday gift for my son, and he loves her.

Owl Post

Toward the end of the party, I announced that I'd received my own Owl Post saying that nine golden snitches had gone missing, and released the kids to find them scavenger-hunt style.

Snitch Hunt

For these snitches, I spray-painted practice golf balls gold, then threaded through a length of tulle using a skewer.  So easy.

DIY Golden Snitch

It was quiet for 30 seconds before they started running in to trade in their Snitches for a bag of treats from Honeyduke's.

Honeydukes, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Flavour Beans

They each got Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

Honeydukes, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Flavour Beans

 These are both wonderful and terrible.  With flavors like Dirt and Vomit, but also Cherry and Blueberry, there is something for everyone!  You can go on your own disgusting culinary quest right here.

Chocolate Frogs

I also made Chocolate Frogs.  They were super easy using this candy mold. And we had Wingless Snitches made from Ferraro Roche chocolates and plain gummy worms labeled "Blood Worms."

Finally, the kids spent some time in the Gryffindor Common Room (our playroom) before heading home.

Harry Potter Party

It was really so much fun.  Well worth the effort for those smiles!

Harry Potter Party

Harry Potter Party



P.S. For all the FREE printables mentioned in this post, please click here, and then share my post so others can benefit and enjoy!

P.P.S. Lovin' the Linky's at:


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9 comments:

  1. Amazing party, with so many details! Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! Do share if you try any of these ideas:)

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  2. Amazing party, with so many details! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Amazing party and ideas! i want to see the tutorial for the candles, if it's not too much to ask! :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Carol! Here is the link to the tutorial for the candles: http://thatmommyblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/harry-potter-floating-candles-tutorial.html Have fun!

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  4. do you have the printable or link for the labels for the bottles of Ground Unicorn Horn & Horklump Juice??

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    Replies
    1. Hi Carmen! I would love to share those with you! Please email me at thatmommyblog{at}gmail{dot}com and I will send you the PDF. If others are interested I could also set these up as a free printable, but just haven't done so yet. Thanks!

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  5. What are the witches hat snack made from?

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    Replies
    1. Crescent rolls but only rolled halfway, and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar:)

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