February 5th, 2015, will see the first ever Harry Potter Book Night.

Organised by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, this event aims to give new and existing fans “a chance to share the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s unforgettable stories and, most excitingly, to introduce the next generation of readers to the unparalleled magic of Harry Potter. You are hereby invited to embrace the magic and banish the midwinter blues!”

Bookshops, libraries and community groups will be hosting early-evening events in celebration of the night and the publisher has a printable Harry Potter Book Night Event Kit available to download for free from its website – it offers everything you need to plan and host an unforgettable evening so if there isn’t an event you can join in near you why not host your own?

Click here to visit the website for the link to the Kit – that includes invitation templates, an event poster, games, activities and quizzes as well as ideas for dressing up and decorating the venue – which will be sent to you via email.  Elsewhere on the site you can also find reading certificates and discussion guides to download.

But Harry Potter parties in themselves certainly aren’t new.  As a journalist I was privileged to attend several midnight bookshop openings that marked the publication of a new title in the series and the excited anticipatory atmosphere of the wizard’s ardent literary fans was soon to be matched by his movie-going followers when his magical adventures were transposed to the big screen.  And, unsurprisingly, many parents have created themed birthday parties for their children to enjoy with their friends at home too – and even better are the ones that have shared their decorations with us!

Angie from Jonesing 2 Create also took advantage of free Harry Potter printables and decorations ideas from other sites for her son’s birthday party last year but took some time to make and share a few herself too.  Her blog post includes a happy birthday banner, Hogwarts Express platform sign, owl post sign, Whomping Willow sign, Honeydukes banner and sign, a link to potion bottle labels on Over the Big Moon and even an idea of how to make a Moaning Myrtle surprise for the bathroom.  

Dirt & Sunshine’s Kathy “created an over-the-top Harry Potter themed party” for her son’s sixth birthday in 2005 designing signs for Ollivander’s wand shop and its edible magic wands, platforms, Madame Malkin’s shop, the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, the Quidditch Field, Honeydukes Sweet Shop, Bertie Botts Beans and class signs for Spells & Charms, Defense of the Dark Arts, Divination, Transfiguration and Potions, as well as an invitation, books on spells, divination and magical drafts, labels for Dandelion Root bottle, Mandrake Root bottle, Phoenix Tears bottle and Purified Water bottle and a Hogwarts graduation certificate.

Colleen from Just Sweet and Simple used the release of the final film as her excuse to throw a Harry Potter Party and, as well as printable invitations, food and drink labels, signs and banners, she also links to 17 recipes online so you can recreate her Butter Beer, Chocolate Frogs and Herbology Bites.

And for even more Honeydukes sweet jar labels and Butter Beer labels head to A Typical English Home’s Harry Potter Party Printables post.

Have a magical time!

Do you love finding printables on the internet?  Do you have particular favourites?  Or have you featured some on your own blog?  Email karen.malpass@inkfactory.com with your links and we may be able to feature them in a future post.