It’s pretty magical when you think about it. Harry Potter™: The Exhibition is currently happening in Sydney, Brussels, Prague and…Denver! How lucky are we? Find out what the interactive, hands-on event is really like, below.
SPECIAL TICKET OFFER IN JULY
Every year, fans around the world celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday on July 31. This year, Harry Potter™: The Exhibition is celebrating all week long with a special birthday ticket offer. For a limited time, guests can purchase $19.80 timed-entry tickets valid for visits July 27–31. The special birthday offer is priced in honor of Harry Potter’s birth year, 1980.
On July 31 anyone named Harry who presents valid identification* showing an eligible name in-person at the box office will receive complimentary admission to the exhibition. Eligible names include Harry, Harold, Harrison, Harriet and other recognized variations of the name Harry. Children without government-issued identification may present another form of identification or be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The offer is valid on July 31 only and is subject to venue capacity. It cannot be combined with any other offer and is valid for in-person redemption only.
The special birthday ticket offer is available for a limited time while supplies last. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit harrypotterexhibition.com.
*Valid identification includes driver’s license, passport, school ID, birth certificate or parent verifying a child.
And now, what it’s like to attend Harry Potter™: The Exhibition
Prepare to be transformed and magically delighted as you are whisked away to the land of Hogwarts and beyond. Your fellow travelers will be Coloradans dressed in their robes and scarves displaying which House they belong in. Full disclosure, I’m a bit ashamed to say that I am a person who has only seen one Harry Potter movie. I know! I’m embarrassed to say it but I have been on all of the rides at Universal Studios in Harry Potter Land. Does that make up for my missing out on this monumental time in history? I hope so. However, having said that, I truly enjoyed Harry Potter™: The Exhibition in Denver.
We arrived mid-day and found a quiet moment within the schedule and were pleasantly surprised that we were traveling with a small group to start our introduction to the attraction. A quick photo op at a backdrop with a Harry Potter logo and a red carpet (you can purchase the photo at the end of the exhibition) and then we were on our way.
The people working this experience are wonderfully suited and have an encyclopedic knowledge of these movies, its characters and the beautiful props that are directly from the movie. They motivated the group with their enthusiasm and trivia questions and had us ready to enter the maze of gorgeous rooms.
Upon entering, you can tell there’s a lot of care in the displays, decor and elements of design throughout. The care with which they present costumes and props is museum-worthy. It stirs up memories and glimpses from this franchise. The rooms have been miniaturized from their film sets BUT they are large enough to wander throughout and their recreation is clearly a labor of love with small details popping up in unexpected spots.
As you walk from room to room, the true fans of Harry Potter become apparent. Laughter and little sounds of glee emerge around every corner.
The digital games are interesting and varied and are built simply for children and casual fans. Kids raced from game to game to earn house points and beg for photos at the various photo ops throughout. There are a lot of opportunities for hands-on magic throughout which will keep younger kids enthralled while giving the older ones a moment of mastery.
It’s hard to believe that you’re in the old space that used to be the Ace Hardware off of Broadway and Alameda. The artists of this exhibition have completely transformed this building into a far way land. As a fan who knows very little, I enjoyed the startling change of environment from room to room. It was beautifully built and meticulously constructed for fans. It takes about 60-90 minutes to walk through but I think that timing may depend on the level of fandom. Upon exit, the gift shop was worthy of another fifteen minutes of your time. Well stocked with high-quality goods, it’s worth a double take and a half.
Towards the end, guests pass a Dumbledore quote about different places, different tongues and shared hearts, and I realized the exhibition did what it came to do. It brought friends and fans of Harry Potter together in our little corner of the world.
Harry Potter™: The Exhibition is running through the end of September at 417 S. Broadway in Denver. Hours vary and there are various levels of ticket price with different perks. Learn more here.
-By Jodi McDonough. Images courtesy of Harry Potter™: The Exhibition
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