The day has finally arrived — the official release of J.K. Rowling’s final installment in her Harry Potter book series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is scheduled for midnight tonight (unless of course you received one of those magical early copies that have been floating around). For all you D.C. area Potter nerds out there (and as we already know, there are a whole lot of you) looking to celebrate tonight, here’s some area events worth considering.

  • The Borders in Silver Spring has a rather massive party set up for tonight — including closing down Ellsworth Drive and turning it into a Diagon Alley, with other businesses participating as well — McGinty’s will become The Leaky Cauldron, Ben & Jerry’s will transform into Florean Fortescue’s, and so on. Whole Foods will also be having a 2 hour event in front of the store where people can brew their own butterbeer and build a wand from chocolate. Live music, magicians, and face painters will be on hand, and of course a costume contest inside the Borders. Everything kicks off at 9:30 p.m.
  • The Arlington/Courthouse and Old Town Alexandria branches of Olsson’s Books are hosting parties featuring costume contests, refreshments and prizes at midnight gatherings for people picking up their pre-orders, starting at 9 p.m.
  • Old Town is going all out for the book release, with street festival up and down King Street. Merchants will transform themselves into magical sweetshops, a care of magical creatures shop, and a Gringott’s Bank. Marauder’s Maps will be available at Goldworks and also be handed out up and down King Street at the start of the evening, or download a map from children’s bookstore A Likely Story. 8 p.m. to midnight
  • Politics and Prose will have a magician, jugglers, a costume contest, and Bertie Bott’s beans (selected flavors only) on hand from 10 p.m. to midnight, plus Potter trivia questions.
  • Barnes & Noble stores throughout the area are holding in-store scavenger hunts, raffles, and jelly bean competitions. Check with your local branch for details.
  • Books-A-Million in Dupont Circle will host a midnight party with costumes, a trivia contests, and wand making lessons.
Filed Under: Bertie Bott, books, children, contest, contests, Deathly Hallows, dupont circle, events, harry potter, king street, kingstreet, live, live music, maps, money, music, old town, old town alexandria, people, politics, silver spring, spring, whole foods, wholefoods,