Ride The Hogwarts Express to a HARRY POTTER FESTIVAL Mary Zakheim September 6, 2016 Travel News This. Here. Is. REAL. For two days in late October, the charming Philadelphia neighborhood of Chestnut Hill is set to magically transform itself into a Harry Potter wonderland for kids (and adults) still trying to get over the disappointment of not receiving their Hogwarts acceptance letter this past summer. I Wizard’s gotta eat!!! #harrypotterfanfest #cake @chestnuthill_pa A photo posted by Darian Davis (@gildas20) on Oct 17, 2015 at 7:17am PDT SOLEMNLY OH NOEZZ #chamberofsecrets #spoopyscurry #harrypotterfanfest @mizubaka A photo posted by Rana Gainer (@ranagainer) on Oct 16, 2015 at 7:43pm PDT SWEAR So many muggles and would-be wizards out for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class during the Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival. Yup, that’s Harry versus Draco! #harrypotterfanfest #visitphilly #philadelphia #philly A photo posted by Uwishunu Philly (@uwishunu) on Oct 17, 2015 at 2:29pm PDT THAT I I need this in my life. It will be posted right outside my house A photo posted by Jarilyn (@mrs_bale) on Oct 18, 2015 at 8:56am PDT AM UP Take me back ⚡️⚡️ A photo posted by Jarilyn (@mrs_bale) on Oct 18, 2015 at 7:25am PDT TO NO Hogwarts for sure. #harrypotterfanfest A photo posted by Quinn Palmer (@qpalmy) on Oct 17, 2015 at 9:56pm PDT GOOD Apple Butterbeer from McNalley’s. #harrypotterfanfest #harrypotterweekend #butterbeer A photo posted by Mickey Collins (@cooler_monsters) on Oct 17, 2015 at 5:21pm PDT Are you freaking out yet? Because we are. Since 2010, Chestnut Hill has devoted itself to recreating the magical world of Harry Potter for fans of all ages with its wildly popular Harry Potter Festival. And this year takes the cake. The Cauldron Cake, if you will. Complete with a Butterbeer pub crawl, a passionate Quidditch championship, a Harry Potter conference, the chance to be sorted by the Sorting Hat, meet-and-greets with character look-a-likes, a place to practice your wand skills (the Room of Requirement?) and much, much more. He was just the cutest thing. #gryfindor #harrypotter #animals #animalphotography #dogs #photography #chestnuthill #chestnuthillcollege #pennsylvania #harrypotterfanfest A photo posted by ♥♡♥Lauren♥♡♥ (@redwoodwalkers) on Oct 17, 2015 at 8:20pm PDT Though most of the events are free, like the Harry Potter conference, the Quidditch tournament and a ride on the Knight Bus, some events require a couple of Galleons to participate, like the Butterbeer Pub Crawl (the tickets for which go on sale September 28th, so mark your calendars!). Butterbeer!! 🍻 #harrypotterfanfest #chestnuthill #harrypotter A photo posted by kimchatty (@kimchatty) on Oct 17, 2015 at 4:55pm PDT Perhaps the best part of the entire weekend is the transformation of the city’s SEPTA metro system into the Hogwarts Express train. We’ll just drive, though. #flyingfordanglia #harrypotterfestival #hpfo15 #harrypotterodense #fordanglia105edeluxe #flyingford #flyingcar #harrypotter #odense #weepingwillow #mykiddo A photo posted by Katrine Nordland (@katrinenordland) on Oct 17, 2015 at 7:36am PDT And the fact that an entire 6-block radius will be pedestrian only and will be set up to resemble the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. What’s the point of having the Great Hall in a brewery if there aren’t beers?! Fortunately Iron Hill made two specialty brews for the event: Voldemort’s Wrath IPA and Dumbledore’s Dubbel. I’m not an IPA fan so I opted for the Dubbel which was delicious. If not a beer lover they also had HP themed cocktails. I had a sip of my neighbor’s Adult Butterbeer which was quite tasty. 🍻✨💫 #ironhillbrewery #chestnuthill #travel #hp #harrypotter #harrypotterfestival #beer A photo posted by Natalie Aja (@natalieaja) on Oct 21, 2015 at 9:20am PDT So dust off your robes, straighten your hat and get ready to Apparate to the weekend of your dreams!
