Muggles and wizards alike flocked to the Penn Museum on Sunday afternoon to play Quidditch on the grass, take their O.W.L Exams and make potions with Professor Snape.
The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology was transformed into Philadelphia’s own Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to host “Harry Potter and the Magical Muggle Museum.” Under the instruction of professor of Anthropology Louise Krasniewicz, students from the class “Mythology and the Movies” organized the event for wide-eyed children of all ages.
Upon entering the museum, the Harry Potter theme song was heard emanating from an electric violin. Students, children and even faculty members sported costumes portraying their favorite Harry Potter characters.
In the various stations, Harry Potter fans could decorate wands, dare to try one of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans and be sorted into one of the Hogwarts Houses by a life-sized, human sorting hat. Kids signed up to join Dumbledore’s Army and battled each other in Defense against the Dark Arts Lessons using Wii consoles.
One of the more impressive displays of the event was the second floor’s replica of Diagon Alley. Set pieces were donated to the museum by a family who created a mock Diagon Alley in their house. The pieces resemble the actual stores in the book like Ollivander’s and Weasley’s Wondrous Wands.
Not only did Krasniewicz’s students have to set up and run the event, they also will write an essay about what they learned about fan culture and society.
College senior Lauren Stewart said, “Everyone is required to [participate in the event] in the class, but it’s fun. I would’ve done it anyway even if it wasn’t required.”
This is the third year that Harry Potter activities filled the various floors of the Museum and the grass outside. While families were charged admission, PennCard holders, museum workers and children under five took part in the fun for free.
“It’s nice that we have this in the museum,” added Martekuor Dodoo, a College sophomore and Harry Potter fan. “The museum’s architecture is such that it even looks like the Harry Potter set.”
