The Wizarding World of Harry Potter The Exhibition came to life on May 19th at Herald Square in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 18: Pete Yoder, VP Global Franchise Management & Marketing for the Wizarding World, HBO & Live Action Theatrical at Warner Bros. Discovery (L) and Tom Zaller, President/CEO Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. attends Harry Potter: The Exhibition Is Now Open In New York City on May 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Harry Potter: The Exhibition)
This interactive experience allows fans to come and be a wizard for a day, from playing Quidditch to casting a spell.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 18: A general view of atmosphere during Harry Potter: The Exhibition Is Now Open In New York City on May 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Harry Potter: The Exhibition)
The exhibition gives guests a unique personalized experience with RFID wristbands linked to their personal profiles. Throughout the exhibit, there are various highlights to look for.
Step into a Gringots vault and see a first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, surrounded by literary quotes and images to reconnect the guests to the book that started it all.
The famous Hogwarts Castle will let people live out their own wizarding story, with settings and objects well-known to fans being displayed. The Whomping Willow, Dementors, and the Marauder’s Map are shown in the gallery, with the map being personalized for each person and leading them into the next adventure.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 18: Guests attend Harry Potter: The Exhibition Is Now Open In New York City on May 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Harry Potter: The Exhibition)
Whether you’re a Gryffindor or a Slytherin, the Hogwarts House lets every person see how it is in every house in a hall where the Sorting Hat will be for an iconic photo moment. Each house’s crest will be painted with great detail on the stained glass around the hall.
The Hogwarts Classrooms will teach guests every lesson that Harry Potter and his friends had to learn during their time at Hogwarts. There will be digital touch screens where visitors can learn about behind-the-scenes moments, play games, and magical lessons. Lessons such as Herbology where you will plant a mandrake.
There is also the Divination class where they can predict the future.
They will have a chance to make potions in the Potions class, and the famous Defense of the Dark Arts class where you will get a wand to fight a boggart.
Visitors will wander into one of the iconic settings in the whole Harry Potter series, which is the Forbidden Forest. During this exhibit, they will have a special Patronous charm. In the forest, they will be able to see centaurs and other curious creatures seen in the movies.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 18: A general view of atmosphere during Harry Potter: The Exhibition Is Now Open In New York City on May 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Harry Potter: The Exhibition)
Hagrid Hut is also featured where guests can visit his hut and walk around.
The exhibition has a gift shop where exclusive merchandise is only sold there and nowhere else, where there is a variety of apparel, jewelry, and famous treats like Chocolate Frogs and Butterbeer.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 18: A general view of atmosphere during Harry Potter: The Exhibition Is Now Open In New York City on May 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Harry Potter: The Exhibition)
This exhibition was made by Atlanta-based immersive experience leader Imagine Exhibitions who is known for a multitude of exhibits like The Hunger Games: The Exhibition and Jurrasic World: The Exhibition. They partnered with Waner Bros, Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, and EMC Presents.