harry potter

LeakyCon: A Magical World Fandom Convention

August 14, 2023

The Perfect Convention for Harry Potter Fans

This year was my first time attending LeakyCon, a fandom convention celebrating magical worlds such as the Wizarding World and Lord of the Rings. Sticking to my love for all things Harry Potter, I wore my best Slytherin wear and enjoyed the fun cosplay from others at the event. The convention featured sessions, a marketplace, and – the best part – photo and autograph opportunities with magical world celebrities. WE MET TOM FELTON. Keep reading for more information about this annual event!

The LeakyCon Convention

I attended LeakyCon under a media pass, but single general admission tickets were around $90 after tax. While the convention provides an impressive lineup of sessions and speakers at LeakyCon, the add-ons are truly once-in-a-lifetime moments. As a long-life Harry Potter fan (even my 9th birthday party was Harry Potter themed!), I was beyond ecstatic to meet and get a picture with none other than Draco Malfoy himself, Tom Felton. He was so nice! Other magical celebrities in attendance included Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, and Miranda Otto.

Experience Add-On Costs

Add-ons included autographs, selfie photos, professional photos in front of the LeakyCon backdrop, and content creation opportunities with Harry Potter-themed content creators. Prices ranged a bit, but we paid $147.50 for one professional photo with Tom Felton and were able to have both of us in the picture (you can have 2 people/per photo ticket). Photo extras were exact cash or Venmo only. Extra printed photos were $15 each, a digital version was $10 each, and protective slipcases were $5 each. Worth it!

LeakyCon Marketplace

The marketplace selection at LeakyCon Chicago was awesome. There were so many great shops showcasing unique items to buy and take home. While most were Harry Potter themed, there were a few that had selective Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Stranger Things, and Disney-inspired items. I was excited to finally find and buy a Sirius Black wand. Many shops took both cards and cash for payment. Pictured are some of the (linked) shops I enjoyed!

My Slytherin Outfit

(These are affiliate links and help make the blog what it is! Thank you!)

Slytherin Nightgown (Longer in person. I had it hemmed.) | Deathly Hollows Necklace | White Sneakers

Upcoming Events

LeakyCon events are held in a variety of cities each year! Make sure to follow their social media and website for location announcements. Have you attended a LeakyCon? What’s your favorite magical world?

5 Ways to Celebrate Hogwarts House Pride Week

March 14, 2023

Hogwarts House Pride Week

Like many Millennials, Harry Potter was a vital part of my childhood. My 8th birthday party was Harry Potter-themed following the release of the first movie! My love for it started young, and now 20+ years later is still a huge part of my interests. The books, movies, and characters give me comfort and remind me that “happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light”, as said by Dumbledore. This is why I think that all Harry Potter fans should partake in Hogwarts House Pride Week each year from March 20-23! From local pop-ups to being within the comfort of your own home, there are many ways to celebrate.

5 Ways to Celebrate Hogwarts House Pride Week

Hufflepuff Pride Day is March 20, Slytherin Pride Day is March 21, Gryffindor Pride Day is March 22, and Ravenclaw Pride Day is March 23 each year. Below you will find 5 ways to celebrate Hogwarts House Pride Week and quick summaries of each house!

1. Have A Harry Potter Movie Marathon

Probably the most obvious option to celebrate Hogwarts House Pride Week is to have a Harry Potter movie marathon. If you don’t own them, all eight movies are currently free to watch on the streaming service Peacock. If renting is your only option, most of the movies are about $3.99 per rent on Amazon Prime or Google Play, making it affordable to choose a few to watch!

2. Read Your Favorite Harry Potter Book

It’s time to break out your favorite Harry Potter book and get comfortable reading! There’s no better way to get back in touch with the series’ roots and scenes that may have been left out of the movies. Books can be found for purchase or to borrow from your nearest library.

3. Get Sorted Into Your Hogwarts House

If you haven’t already been sorted into your Hogwarts house, you can do so online! The official sorting hat quiz is on Wizarding World’s website, but there are other versions that I like as well, including this quiz. These quizzes will ask you a variety of questions to determine which house your personality “belongs in”. Above, you’ll find my avatar profile picture from my Wizarding World account. You can sign up for their Harry Potter Fan Club newsletter here.

4. Find Out Your Patronus

Also on the Wizarding World website, those with an account can find out what their patronus is. A patronus is an advanced form of magic that takes on the form of an animal that best represents the person casting it. Knowing your patronus can be just as important as understanding your sorted house! You can find descriptions of all patronus results and characteristics in this list. I, myself, am a Bay Stallion!

5. Wizarding World House Pride Quiz Championship

In honor of Hogwarts House Pride Week, Wizarding World holds a house pride quiz championship every March. You must have an account and be officially sorted into a house on their site to play. The topics of the weeks vary and the points you earn go to your house for the final house cup. Good luck!

BONUS: Learn About Hogwarts Houses And The Four Elements

One of my contributed articles to MuggleNet.com as a freelance editorialist was about the four elements – fire, water, earth, and air – and how each matches up with a Hogwarts House. The descriptions of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw were created with these four elements in mind, which is a fact I love. Check out the article to find out each House’s element!

The Four Hogwarts Houses

Gryffindor House

Gryffindors are probably the most known out of the four Hogwarts houses. They are brave, daring, and charismatic. They have a strong moral compass, but their passion can sometimes cause recklessness. Notable characters include Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasly, and Neville Longbottom. Mascot: lion. Colors: scarlet red and gold.

Slytherin House

Slytherins often get a bad rep, however not all are evil. They are ambitious, adaptable, and clever. Many are misunderstood, hence the need for self-preservation, and can be fiercely loyal to a select few. As a Slytherin myself, I can relate to this description! Notable characters include Severus Snape, Leta LeStrange, Draco & Narcissa Malfoy. Mascot: serpent. Colors: green and silver.

Ravenclaw House

Ravenclaws are known to be intelligent, curious, and creative. They have a strong sense of identity, a desire to explore, like being seen as smart, and can enjoy isolation. Notable characters include my girl Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, and Moaning Myrtle. Mascot: eagle. Colors: blue and bronze.

Hufflepuff House

Hufflepuffs are empathetic, trustworthy, and humble. They are dependable, known to put others first, and can be overly optimistic. Notable characters include Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander, and Nymphadora Tonks. Mascot: badger. Colors: canary yellow and black.

Comment how you plan to celebrate below! Happy Hogwarts House Pride Week!

Harry Potter Magic at Play Chicago

November 24, 2022

Harry Potter Magic at Play

Calling all witches, wizards, and muggles! Harry Potter Magic at Play, a Wizarding World pop-up, will be in downtown Chicago November 2022 through September 4, 2023. Located at the Water Tower Place on Michigan Ave, the pop-up itself is on the second floor with an associated store on the first floor. The experience includes photo ops, interactive activities, merchandise, a Butterbeer Bar, and more. Read below for my favorite moments and things to know before you go!

Harry Potter Magic at Play Chicago Hogwarts boatride

The Photo Ops

The flow of the Magic at Play experience coincides with the flow of the Harry Potter movies. Your first stop; the Dursley’s house filled with Hogwarts acceptance letters. This is followed by Platform 9 3/4 and the first year’s boat ride to the castle. Next? The Great Hall where you can read about each of the four Hogwarts houses. Each room in the pop-up was detailed and matched the series we know and love. Scattered spots have a Magic at Play staff member taking professional photos that you can latter view and buy in the pop-up’s gift shop. Don’t worry, you can take pictures and videos with your phone anywhere!

Interactive Experiences

Aside from many photo ops, Harry Potter Magic at Play offers a variety of interactive experiences. My favorites were a Wingdardium Leviosa station and a LEGO avatar station. Here you’re able to choose your avatar’s Hogwarts house, skin and hair choice, and a Hogwarts-themed backdrop to then view on a large screen. It was a fun, quick activity that I enjoyed very much! In Snape’s potions class you’ll find items that you can both see and touch. In the Quidditch room you’ll test your throwing and quick response skills. Lastly, the Triwizard Tournament maze awaits you at the end of the experience.

Harry Potter Magic at Play Chicago Butterbeer Bar

Harry Potter Magic at Play Chicago Butterbeer Bar menu

The Butterbeer Bar

One of the best things about the Harry Potter Magic at Play pop-up is the Butterbeer Bar, located in the first floor store. It offered not only Butterbeer, but also popular Harry Potter treats such as a Chocolate Frog and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans. I got a 4-pack of Butterbeer and the Niffler’s Bounty Cupcake to-go. The space is a very small pick-up setup and does not have any seating. I’ve included the menu and pricing for reference.

Thing to Know Before You Go

Located at Water Tower Place, 2nd floor (835 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611)
General admission is $42.50 for Adults and $32 for Children (ages 3-9)
Allow yourself time to wait in line to get in (we had tickets and had to wait 20 minutes)
Coat and stroller check is available for $3 per item
Cash is not accepted, only credit or debit cards
Pets: only service animals are allowed
The experience is ADA accessible
Packages are available for private parties and events
The Magic at Play gift shop offers clothing and items for each House, pins, wands, and more

Which Hogwarts House Are You?

Slytherin: Ambitious, adaptable, clever. Many are misunderstood, hence the need for self-preservation, and can be fiercely loyal to a select few. Notable characters: Severus Snape, Leta LeStrange, Draco & Narcissa Malfoy. Mascot: serpent. Colors: green and silver.

Ravenclaw: Intelligent, curious, creative. They have a strong sense of identity, a desire to explore, like being seen as smart, and can enjoy isolation. Notable characters: Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Moaning Myrtle. Mascot: eagle. Colors: blue and bronze.

Gryffindor: Brave, daring, charismatic. They have a strong moral compass and their passion can sometimes cause recklessness. Notable characters: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom. Mascot: lion. Colors: scarlet red and gold.

Hufflepuff: Empathetic, trustworthy, humble. They are dependable, known to put others first, and can be overly optimistic. Notable characters: Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander, Nymphadora Tonks. Mascot: badger. Colors: canary yellow and black.

Don’t know which house you’re in and want to find out? Take the official Wizarding World sorting hat quiz here. If you don’t want to make an account and do that, this house percentage quiz and this Wizardmore sorting quiz are some good ones!