The guest list
Before there can be any party, there must be a guest list – that alone can make or break an event. Harry tended to have rather rubbish birthdays when he was with the Dursleys, but things significantly improved when he could celebrate with his favourite people. Our first party tip? Don’t create a party full of Muggles that get you down – fill it with people who will help bring the magic.
Speaking of which, you have to actually invite the guests. While there are many ways to do this (though we wouldn’t recommend owl post), there is one wizarding invitation that trumps them all… the Hogwarts acceptance letter. Imagine your guests’ faces as they open your invitation that seems like one of their very own – we’d bet Galleons that you wouldn’t get a single no.
Every party needs a theme
Isn’t Harry Potter a theme on its own? Absolutely! A Potter party combining all your favourite things into some sort of wizarding world mashup would be spectacular. Yet, as the wizarding world is so vast and varied, it would be equally cool to home in on a particular element.
Such as the Hogwarts houses. Bedeck every available space in the house colours, encourage some friendly competition and give every guest the opportunity to show off their house pride.
Or if you want your party to be a little bit more lowkey, a birthday at The Burrow would be the cutest theme! Imagine everyone in their Weasley jumpers, with thoughtful decorations that look like they were made by Molly herself and a homecooked family feast… so wholesome it hurts.
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Right at the other end of the scale, if you’re into spookiness, jump scares and wear a lot of black, the Dark Arts would be a thrilling theme for your birthday. With Dark Marks and Death Eaters, your soiree will be a haunting memory for many – which is just the way you want it.
Decorations
Once you’ve got your theme locked down, it’s time to think about bringing it to life with some carefully curated party decorations. From making your own Patronus lights to building your own Hogwarts castle, we’ve got plenty of crafty ideas to get you started right here.
There are also plenty of ideas for jazzing up your party to be found in the pages of the Harry Potter books. Dobby’s decorations were a particular highlight. Strings of golden baubles adorned with Harry Potter’s face – inspired! Why not create something similar with the faces of all your guests? Or, as the guest of honour, put your face on every single one? You’d be unforgettable – no Remembrall needed.
Your party outfit – maroon dress robes forbidden
Deciding what to wear to a party can be stressful – throw in a theme (and a world as rich as the magical one) and you end up feeling Confunded. Never fear! We’re here to help streamline your thoughts so you can put together a top tier outfit.
Obviously, there is always the option of wearing your classic Hogwarts school robes from the Harry Potter Shop – show off your house pride in an outfit that makes you feel like a true Hogwarts student.*
Or for a homemade twist, why not ask everyone to come dressed in something that represents their house? Perhaps your Gryffindor friend will come dressed as a lion. Maybe your Ravenclaw buddy will find a spectacular hat in the perfect shade of blue and bronze? One thing is for sure, your party will end up a joyful sea of vibrant colour.
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If you want to get a little more specific, you could come dressed as one of the characters – and a convincing costume doesn’t necessarily require much effort. Got a wardrobe full of black? Severus Snape! Do you wear glasses, own a red lipstick to draw a scar and have messy hair? Harry Potter! Own a pink bow? Dolores Umbridge!
However, there is one item every witch or wizard needs and that is a wand – especially one that has been created exclusively to celebrate Harry’s birthday. With an elegant design based on the Patronus Charm, and available for one year only, this limited time only wand by the Noble Collection is exactly what you need for your Potter party.**
Let them eat cake
A birthday party without a birthday cake is simply just a party – it’s a critical (and delicious) component. Although Harry’s formative years were sadly cake-less, things changed once he joined the wizarding world… immediately in fact. Anyway, it turns out there are plenty of wizarding bakes to be inspired by!
When Hagrid burst into the Hut-on-the-Rock, armed with a pink cake with ‘Happee Birthdae Harry’ in bright green and a huge secret, Harry’s life changed forever. As a symbol of his best birthday (nothing beats finding out you’re magic) and as one of the most iconic birthday cakes ever, you couldn’t go wrong with recreating it. Plus, this is a cake which is easy enough to make at home! If it’s rough around edges – it’s supposed to be! It’s authentic…
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If that sounds great but you think it needs a little something extra – like even more cake – you could take inspiration from Harry’s 14th birthday in Goblet of Fire. While we’re not saying you should have a dour Dursley-themed party (or hide cake under the floorboards), it could be fun to emulate the year of four birthday cakes! Like Harry’s friends sent them to him, your friends could each bring a different cake to your party – wizarding bake-off anyone?
Finally, if you’re looking for a showstopper, then look to Mrs Weasley! Her beachball-sized, Golden Snitch cake was described as ‘amazing’ by Harry. If you were to have one, not only would it wow your guests, but it would be a guaranteed conversation starter.
Picking out that perfect present
While there is a lot to think about as the party host, there are challenges that also come with being a guest – especially getting that gift just right. Luckily, as you are attending a Harry Potter party, you can feel confident that the birthday person is a fan. A wizarding present would be right up their street.
Allow us to lend a helping hand and point you in the right direction. To celebrate the Boy Who Lived’s birthday, the Harry Potter Shop has currently got 20% off everything for Harry Potter Fan Club members until 3rd August. If you’re not a member already, there is still plenty of time to sign up. Whether you want to buy a Time-Turner necklace for Hermione’s biggest fan or a trunk for someone who is desperate to go back to Hogwarts, you know it’ll be a hit.
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And don’t forget the birthday card! While they can be easy to overlook, to paraphrase a very wise wizard, words are our most inexhaustible form of magic. A well-written message can make the humble card the most meaningful part of a present – extra points if the design is personalised too!
Like the Happee Birthdae Harry card from the Harry Potter Shop.* If you’re in the UK, you can order this 2D version of Hagrid’s world-famous bake and personalise the card to have the name you want on the front and your own thoughtful message on the inside.
It’s all fun and games
There are so many fun ways to add a wizarding twist to your party games – here are a few to spark your imagination.
The first thing to happen when a new pupil arrives at Hogwarts is their Sorting. You could do the same as your guests arrive at your party, perhaps by pulling their house from a magical-looking hat? Or, if you haven't already, you could always take part in the official Sorting Ceremony right here on HarryPotter.com. Once Sorted, each house could play party games as a team – earning house points to win the House Cup!
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If eternal glory is the aim of your party – host your own Triwizard Tournament! Have a scavenger hunt to find the Triwizard Cup. Set up a mini obstacle course to rescue the Golden Egg (bonus points if you can convince someone to dress up as a protective dragon). Or bob for apples in a nod to the Great Lake.
Making things a little more musical, imagine how epic it would be to have a wand battle dance-off. Channel your favourite character, throw some excellent wand shapes and add your own flair. If you’re more of a reserved music lover, you could play musical statues to the incredible Harry Potter film score.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with the basics. For example, swap your very Muggle ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ for the very magical (and trickier) ‘pin the heads on Fluffy’. If you keep an open mind, you’ll find magic even in the most Muggle of places. Plan your party with that attitude and it’s bound to be a rip-roaring success.
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* Merchandise purchased via the Harry Potter Shop is subject to availability and stocks are limited. The Harry Potter Shop is operated by Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden Limited. Before making any purchase from the shop, please ensure that you read and are happy to agree to their terms of purchase. Any issues with your purchase should be directed to Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden Limited.
20% Fan Club Discount: Ends on 3rd August at 23:59 + EST / BST / JST
** Certain products referred to in this article are offered for sale by third parties and are subject to availability. Before purchasing from the third party, you will need to agree to their terms of purchase which you can find on their website. Any issues with your purchase should be directed to customer services teams at the respective third party – you can find contact information on their website.
