Anyone else's towns go crazy over Harry Potter?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 07-16-2007, 07:18 PM

Because apparantly my new town does. A town of about 23,000. They have activities all day Saturday with all the merchants participating. They completely shut down the downtown streets at 3:30 on Saturday so that the festival can really take over. It goes until the bookstore sells it's books at 12:01. I think it is all crazy! Anyone else's towns do things like this?

jennifer

**Michelle68** · 07-16-2007, 08:00 PM

Those are some SERIOUS Harry Potter fans you have in that town, Jennifer!

I live in a large city, so even though we have some pretty rabid fans here who get dressed up and camp out at the bookstores for the chance to be among the first to buy the book, it's nothing like what you describe your town is doing. The craziest our town gets is during Fiesta and whatever costumes anyone wears then has a lot to do with how much beer they've consumed.

Your new town sounds like an interesting place. Enjoy the festival, if you go!

--Michelle

**Missy** · 07-16-2007, 08:05 PM

The bookstores all over the place are doing things. As is the Walmart. Some sort of kids parade through the asiles, games, etc.

**Neeley** · 07-16-2007, 09:14 PM

We live in a town of around 202,000. The city itself does not do anything, but the bookstores do and many people have really big parties to celebrate.

We are going to the party at Books-A-Million on Friday night. We plan to get there around 9:00 and stay until we can pick up DD's book at 12:01.

**baxjul** · 07-16-2007, 09:19 PM

Our libraries are having midnigh parties, from 10 - 1am. I've never even read one of the books, so I'm not really interested.

**HandyMom** · 07-17-2007, 01:53 AM

The library had a discussion group meet tonight for Harry Potter fans. The Meijers store is having a special dress up contest, treats and prizes starting at 11pm to 2am on Friday and you can get $5 off Harry Potter's new book with an additional $30 purchase. I don't know what the other merchants are doing because I don't shop walmart.

**miss_thrifty** · 07-17-2007, 09:26 AM

thats cool about your town. I dont think anything is going on in ours.

**Katybird** · 07-17-2007, 10:53 AM

I don't think I have heard of any other towns going all out for a town sponsored Harry Potter celebration but I think it is nice that they are sponsoring something that has gotten so many people reading.

**i.m.cheap** · 07-17-2007, 11:04 AM

My dd is a huge Harry Potter fan (the books only, she refuses to go see the movies!). We went to a "book release party" last year. After waiting at the book store for three hours, then we had the "privilege" of waiting another hour in line to purchase a copy of the book.We might skip the party this year, and just go buy the book somewhere the following day.

**nancycg56** · 07-17-2007, 12:20 PM

I think what your town is doing is kind of nifty

I know our library, WM, B&N, are all doing something but I didn't really pay attention to what exactly they were doing.

**karone** · 07-17-2007, 03:14 PM

our library is having a little party. i will probbably go after merrick is asleep. i cant remember which yr they did it but for one of the older books they showed the first movie and had a contest where u could win a copy of the book.

**i.m.cheap** · 07-21-2007, 01:57 AM

I went to Wal-Mart at midnight to pick up a copy of the book for Molly. It was nice, no lines or waiting, and they had some freebies, like posters, bookmarks, and bracelets for everyone buying the book. A good price on the book, too. It was $17.88.

**DJ1972** · 07-21-2007, 02:11 AM

My friend and I were in Barnes and Noble earlier, all the kids in costumes were soooo cute. Then we went into to walmart at midnight and bought the book, we were in and out in less than 15 minutes.

**Neeley** · 07-21-2007, 02:43 AM

We went to Books-A-Million. Just like with the previous release parties, it was jam packed. The line to claim your book went through the store, out the door and down the sidewalk. However, they pre-sold the books. Whether your book was purchased months ago or earlier in the evening, you were issued a ticket to claim your book. So everyone was able to get their book and get out the door in no time. Within 20 minutes everyone had their copies in hand and were on their way home.

Right now my two kids are in DS's room, taking turns reading it to each other. If history holds true, DD will have the book read before tonight. She won't sleep until she finishes it and then she will sleep for a day or so.