Magic abounds at Potter book release party
By Leigh Forster

A Harry Potter fan made it out to the book release party at Forster's Book Garden.

Muggles were given the opportunity to meet, mix and mingle with witches, wizards and an assortment of magical creatures July 20 at Forster's Book Garden in Bolton. On this night, the party of the year was thrown to celebrate the release of the long-awaited seventh book in the Harry Potter saga.

Spirits were so high that even the Dementors were smiling. As guests counted down the time to midnight, the hour at which they would finally be able to receive their book, they were entertained with many games and activities. Basilisks were slain, Fluffy was fed, Aunt Marge was inflated and deflated, memories were tested, "Potter Puzzles" were solved, Quidditch was practised, Delores Umbridge forced students to write lines and guests got to see how Dementors practice soulsucking.

Once each activity was completed, participants were rewarded with a treat or Potter memorabilia such as chocolate wands, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, bookmarks, door hangers, posters, scar tattoos or stickers.

These young women dressed up at the Harry Potter book release party.

Thirsty guests consumed gallons of Filius Flitwick's Favourite Fruit Punch as they waited for the moment to receive their book.

Volunteers shamelessly dressed themselves as Luna Lovegood, Pansy Parkinson, Professor Sprout, Madame Hooch, Sirius Black, Delores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, Professor Trelawney, Tonks, young Dumbledore, the very creative, James & Lilly Potter in the Mirror of Erised, various Hogwarts students and wizards trying but failing to dress like "normal" Muggles. The enthusiasm was shared by Potter fans, children and adults alike, who dressed as many other colourful characters from the books.

When midnight struck, customers rushed to pick up their books and were not kept waiting in line due to the infallible system that was set up just for this anticipated crowd. Most were out of line, book in hand shortly after midnight. We hope that when they think of book seven, they will remember the party.

We at Forster's Book Garden would like to thank our volunteers for a job exceptionally well done. We couldn't have done all the planned activities or so efficiently distributed the books without you! Thanks to the customers for their faith and loyalty to the series and of course, J K Rowling the author.

If you would like to send JK a personal message of thanks, Raincoast Books is producing a large, leatherbound book filled with 1,000 pages of thanks to JK. The pages will be available to sign in Forster's Book Garden until the week of Aug. 12, when we have to send them to Raincoast.

Thanks to everyone, and we bid Harry a fond farewell and hope you enjoy reading "The Deathly Hallows."

Congratulations to the winners of the contests: The Imrie family who won the wand, Julia Lagenza who won the passes to the new Empire Theatre and Spenser Borrie who was drawn for the Guess Who Dies contest.