Harry Potter rides his Firebolt broomstick into a whirlwind of wizardry, evil and the fight for good one last time this Friday. While it may not actually be the death of Harry Potter, as many are speculating, this week marks the last time J.K. Rowling will release a tale of the bespectacled icon. Her latest and final addition to the seven-part series is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
Amid anxious youth who have grown up with the captivating novels, Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books and the Los Altos Village Association have scheduled a Downtown Harry Potter Celebration Friday on Main Street just hours before the final book in the series is released at the stroke of midnight.
Beginning at 7 p.m., downtown Los Altos will mimic the hustle and bustle of Platform 9 3/4 en route to Hogwarts. The celebration will include a Harry Potter costume contest, a scavenger hunt and puzzle games.
In honor of the midnight release of Harry’s seventh and last adventure, LAVA’s Friday Night Outdoor Movie will feature “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.” Because of the celebration, the movie will begin at about 9:15 p.m., later than usual. The movie should conclude close enough to midnight that eager Wizards and Muggles can walk to Linden Tree, 170 State St., in time to pick up their preordered books or purchase one of the extra books Linden Tree will have available.
When the clock strikes 12:01a.m. people can pick up their novels and find out, once and for all, what is to become of the schoolboy wizard.
Scavenger Hunt gamers will be given a sheet of clues that lead to 15 participating downtown Los Altos stores. Each store’s window display will hold a cleverly hidden clue that participants must identify.
“I think one of the fun things is the treasure hunt because it gets people to go around the village,” said Linden Tree owner Dennis Ronberg. “The clues won’t be perfectly obvious. We hope we can hide it a little bit.”
Participants have one week to complete the scavenger hunt. The person with all the correct answers will receive a gift certificate.
Chairs and blankets for comfort can be brought for the outdoor movie and a little extra cash will purchase an exclusive Harry Potter sweet: Bertie Botts Magical Beans Ice Cream.
A hardcover copy of the novel can still be preordered from Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books for $34.99. The book also will be available at Main St. Cafe & Books, 134 Main St. in downtown Los Altos.
For more information, call 949-3390.
