Our epic magical Harry Potter party will practically transport you to Hogwarts! You’ll adore all the creative Harry Potter decorations, food ideas, and desserts that are perfect for all muggles, witches, and wizards.
I’ve dreamed of throwing an epic Harry Potter party for quite some time now.
I stood in long lines to be one of the first to get my hands on the latest Harry Potter book.
Midnight movie showings happened every time a new Harry Potter movie came out.
It’s safe to say that I’m a super fan!
Grab your Hogwarts acceptance letter, throw on your wizard robes, then get inspired by our Harry Potter Party!
VIDEO: Harry Potter Party
I HIGHLY suggest you watch the video below that I made of our epic HP party!
After you watch the video, keep reading to get all the fab details of our Harry Potter party, how I put it all together, and links to products used.
Don’t miss our awesome Fantastic Beasts party!
You are welcome to join the party, no matter which house the Sorting Hat placed you in.
My husband’s grandparents had the PERFECT large house for a Harry Potter party.
We threw an epic party before the home sold that I’ll never forget!
Use these ideas to create the ultimate Harry Potter birthday party, graduation party, Halloween party, baby shower, and more.
Magical Harry Potter Party
There are so many fun magical elements to this party!
I’m sharing plenty of adult Harry Potter party ideas, as well as ideas that work perfectly for a kids party too.
Creative Harry Potter Decorations
Our Harry Potter themed party has so many details that fans of the Harry Potter books and movies will appreciate.
The world of Harry Potter that J.K. Rowling created is not symmetrical, straight, or perfect.
I wanted my party to feel wonky, topsy turvy, and magical, just like Rowling’s wizarding world.
I decorated collected cauldrons, piles of packages, stacked owl cages, and chairs to decorate the spaces throughout the party.
It felt like it was truly a part of the mixed up magical world!
Our Harry Potter Christmas Tree with mini DIY Harry Potter brooms and DIY Harry Potter birthday cake ornaments are a wonderful way to decorate your home Harry Potter-style for Christmas!
This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I make a small percentage of any purchase made at no extra cost to you.
Wall Party Decorations
Harry’s wanted poster from the movies hung above the main party table.
The poster fit perfectly in the background inside an old ornate gold frame that belonged to my grandma perfectly!
A felt banner of each of the four Hogwarts houses was hung on both sides of the frame.
I bought the banners from Pottery Barn Teen a few years ago.
These house banners look very similar and cost MUCH less!
I hung a large, pretty Hogwarts banner with shiny gold print on it over the candy trolley I put together.
The Party Table
Our Harry Potter party table was filled with all sorts of wizarding world goodness!
Table Covering
Daily Prophet bed sheets we bought made the perfect tablecloths, and were stacked over a large black tablecloth.
The sheets featured headlines and articles from the wizarding world newspaper.
Harry’s house is Gryffindor, so I draped our Gryffindor blanket (another PB Teen score, but here’s a similar blanket) across the middle of the table.
Table Decorations
I sat my beautiful Hogwarts crest decoration from Universal Studios over the top, then added Dumbledore’s wand and a flying key I made.
Do you recognize the large golden egg that the Triwizard Tournament competitors had to retrieve from the dragons?
Yep, this was another souvenir I bought at Universal, but they sell the exact same one on Amazon.
Don’t visit Universal Studios without reading our 21 Magical Moments You Can’t Miss at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Mandrake Plants
I stacked the egg on top of some treats, which were stacked on a gold cake stand with mandrake plants (okay, they’re really peppermint plants) that I repotted.
I used hot glue to glue gun these cute labels onto the front of some cute little pots.
Each plant was placed inside planting pots with a free printable Mandrake label attached to the front, then placed onto a beautiful gold cake stand.
More Decorations Ideas
A Hogwarts student’s owl was inside his cage with a flying key perched right on top.
Learn how to make the cutest no-sew Hedwig baby owl costume for Halloween for your baby or toddler!
Wand boxes from Ollivander’s, black candlesticks, candles, a lantern, and cauldrons all adorned the party table.
My purple Advanced Potion Making book is a replica of the book shown in the movies.
I love the graphic design and color.
My potion bottles I made would have been perfect on the table!
They were made after the party, unfortunately.
Keen eyes will notice slippery slugs (toy slugs) crawling out of a small cast iron pot after Ron’s spell against Malfoy backfired.
Learn how to make your own DIY realistic witch cauldron from a cheap plastic one!
A dark wizard’s flask, complete with a skull on it, awaited its’ owner’s return, and was made by my daughter and I.
Harry’s iconic glasses, Dobby, and an ornate bowl sat on top of stacked trunks on the corner of the table next to a large cauldron.
Parcels wrapped in brown paper were stacked and tied with string, while awaiting their delivery to eager students.
Stacked metal buckets, baskets, and cauldrons stacked in front of the table were ready to be used by Hagrid, perhaps to feed his creatures or make a big pot of bubbling soup for his cozy dinner.
Enchanting Harry Potter Food Ideas
There are so many different unique and fun foods in the wizarding world.
I just had to share some of my favorites at our Harry Potter party!
You’ll love these tasty Harry Potter party food ideas.
Prophecy Harry Potter Cupcakes
These pretty cupcakes were my own idea and creation, and were definitely a labor of love.
I think they turned out amazing!
The beautiful blue balls on top were made to look like the prophecy orbs that were kept in the Hall of Prophecy of The Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic.
I got the idea from this snow globe cupcake recipe, but I made them my own way to create these wonderful Harry Potter cupcakes.
The orbs on top are edible, and are made from a gelatin and sugar mixture.
Sherbet Lemons
Although sherbet lemons were one of Dumbledore’s favorites, these sweet Muggle candies are better known as lemon drops here in the U.S.
I just had to include a bowl of these treats, since Dumbledore offered a candy to Professor McGonagall the night they dropped off baby Harry to the Dursleys.
Dumbledore also chose “sherbet lemon” as one of the passwords to his office, so we know he was a fan!
Crystallised Pineapple
Crystallised pineapple was Professor Slughorn’s favorite treat, so I definitely wanted to include it in our party.
Tom Riddle knew this and used these sweet treats to coax Slughorn into telling him about horcruxes.
Dried pineapple from the store in a fancy vintage dish looked amazing on the table, and couldn’t be easier!
Butterbeer Lollipops
Instead of serving the classic Butterbeer at our Harry Potter party, I decided to make some delicious Butterbeer lollipops!
I think they’re a fun take on this tasty iconic drink, even though they’re not in the books or movies.
I used my trusty homemade lollipop recipe my grandma gave me many years ago, along with a lollipop mold, yellow food coloring, and LorAnn Butterscotch and Butter Rum flavorings.
The taste was spot on!!
A wood stump from one of our trees made the perfect presentation for the suckers.
I drilled holes into the stump that were evenly spaced out, and placed the lollipops right in.
I varied the depth of the holes so that the suckers were all different heights, which made it more visually appealing.
Isn’t it fun?!
Must Have Harry Potter Drinks
It just wouldn’t be a Harry Potter party without some of the iconic drinks from the books, now, would it?
Blue Shimmering Pensieve Punch
My absolute favorite part of the entire party was the enchanting pensieve punch that was served in a wide pedestal punch bowl.
I wanted the punch to look like the magical liquid inside the perceive.
The punch looked TRULY magical as it shimmered and swirled, with a pretty pearly effect.
I’ll be sharing the easy recipe and directions for it soon.
Trust me, it’s worth the wait!!
Pumpkin Juice
Pumpkin juice is a must-have every time I visit Universal Studios Hollywood, so of course I made a batch using my easy and oh so tasty Harry Potter pumpkin juice recipe!
It tastes delicious served warm in a mug or cold over ice and is the perfect blend of sweet and spice.
Our pumpkin juice was served in our Harry Potter glasses that I bought at Universal.
Did you know that you can easily turn a real pumpkin into a drink dispenser? It’s easy!
Butterbeer
Although we didn’t serve Butterbeer at this party, it would definitely be a wonderful addition to any Harry Potter party served hot or cold!
We chose to have our Butterbeer in lollipop form for this party. 😉
Harry Potter Candy Trolley {Filled With Honeydukes Favorites!}
“Anything off the trolley dears?”
Harry Potter party just HAD to include my favorite Harry Potter candy, many that came straight from Honeydukes Sweet Shop!
My three-tier gold cart worked perfectly as a candy cart filled with colorful confections.
I hung our family’s Harry Potter lanyards (that we take with us to Universal Studios) on each side of the cart, just for fun.
Favorite Honeydukes Candy
The top shelf of our candy cart was filled with colorful rainbow lollipops in two different shapes and sizes, along with chocolate frog boxes, just like in the movie.
We have bought our weight in chocolate frogs on all our Universal trips, so I already had the boxes and chocolate frog cards.
I made the boxes of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, then put colorful Jellie Bellie jelly beans inside.
One of my pumpkin juice bottles and a package of Fizzing Whizzbees looked right at home with the colorful candies up on top.
Harry Potter Candy Jars
Two large glass apothecary jars were filled with purple taffy and bright pink gumballs on the second shelf.
A jar of U-No-Poo (from Universal) filled with green candies arrived straight from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, just in time for our party!
They cause constipation shortly after they are eaten by an unsuspecting witch or wizard.
Headed to Universal? Check out our top 10 things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood and helpful tips for a great day!
A niffler brought along some gold (chocolate) coins that he had hoarded.
My daughter and I made the niffler completely from scratch for our Fantastic Beasts party a few years ago, but you can buy one too.
I still can’t believe this little guy was created from a piece of foil and some fake fur!
Our green Honeydukes boxes added color to the shelf.
Fizzing Whizbees
On the bottom shelf I made a batch of round colorful Fizzing Whizzbees from the books.
They were placed in a large glass apothecary jar, ready for tasting.
Fizzing Whizzbees are colorful large sherbet balls sold at Honeydukes that would make a person float above the ground.
Pepper Imps
Our jar of Pepper Imps was a hit!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter version has a hot cinnamon flavor and are red, while the book version of Pepper Imps were small black peppermint treats.
Anyone who ate them breathed fire with smoke coming out their ears and nose.
Sugar Mice
Did you notice the white sugar mice (or mouse) on top of the Pepper Imps?
Sugar mice were from the HP books, and were candies that actually moved and squeeked just like real mice.
Our version is made from a chocolate mice mold and some white almond bark. Easy!
Harry Potter Extras
Did you notice the pillows and striped blanket behind the Harry Potter candy trolley?
We bought our Harry Potter bedding from Pottery Barn Teen.
The Dining Table
I’m proud of our Harry Potter dining table, even though it doesn’t have a starry enchanted ceiling like the great hall does.
Harry Potter Place Settings
Each place setting was placed on a brown parcel tied up with string that looks like it came straight from the Owl Post!
White owl plates were stacked on larger white plates, with a black napkin in between.
A wand sat down the middle of each owl plate.
We buy a couple of new wands from Universal Studios Hollywood every time we visit, so we have quite the collection!
A few chess pieces sat on the table, which were a subtle nod to Ron and his love of wizard chess.
We also had more sugar mice ready for party guests to snack on.
All of the houses (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin) were represented with colorful tumblers at each place setting.
Black glasses were tipped precariously sideways in each tumbler, each filled with a set of gold utensils.
Harry Potter Centerpieces
Did you notice the black glittery skulls on the dark gray tablecloth?
This fabulous fabric made the perfect tablecloth!
The skulls reminded me of the death eaters and their dark marks.
Two black candelabras held tall white taper candles down the center of the table.
Large red and yellow chunky candles were paired with some family vintage candlesticks.
In the center of the table was more pumpkin juice in a tall clear glass bottle.
The table setup reminded me a dark wizard dinner party with its’ dark and moody feel.
Gryffindor Common Room
My husband’s grandparents’ living room was very large, and had a massive brick fireplace and red-ish sofas next to a staircase.
It looked SO much like the Gryffindor common room!
I couldn’t help extending the party into this amazing space.
The Sitting Area
I dressed up one of the red sofas with a Gryffindor blanket and pillow to give the space a nice, cozy lived-in feel.
I added two Harry Potter striped quilts to the matching chair and second sofa.
They were draped casually to make them look like they had been used by Hermione as she curled up by the fire, studying for her next exam.
Gryffindor Common Room Fireplace
The Brick Fireplace
Our grandparents’ brick fireplace is absolutely huge, which made the space just perfect for the Gryffindor common room.
Can’t you image a group of students celebrating their latest quidditch win or relaxing by a crackling fire?
The brick fireplace was adorned with a large Hogwarts banner that hung above the center of the fireplace opening.
A Gryffindor banner hung to the left of the Hogwarts banner, while a few matching lanyards hung to the right.
Fireplace Hearth Decorations
An owl cage with an owl inside, stacked lesson books, brown parcels tied with string, a Hogwarts plaque, and stacked trunks all sat on the hearth.
Make your own fake fire prop with this fun tutorial!
Did you spot the lion?
Look very carefully on the wood box…
The dark red and gold chunky candles were just the right colors for their common room.
More blue prophecy cupcakes were stacked on a black cake plate, along with more Mandrake plants.
Neville’s plants perhaps?
A couple spare black cauldrons were placed just inside the fireplace, along with a stray wand left behind by a forgetful student.
Plenty of cut wood sat in the fireplace, ready for a cozy, crackling fire to warm up the room.
Gryffindor Decorations
Pepper imps, frog cards, tumblers, pillows, pumpkin juice, a lantern, and a candle were on display on the rug in front of the fireplace.
Some first year students might have stayed up too late trading frog cards!
A spilled box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans was tipped over on a side table.
A beautiful vintage dish was filled with more of the famously flavored jelly beans inside.
Harry’s wand, glasses, and a couple wizards chess pieces were there.
Perhaps a late night game of wizards chess with Ron?
I wanted the scene to look as realistic and “lived in” as possible.
These small touched made the party come alive!
Harry Potter Cupboard Under the Stairs
My husband’s grandparents had the perfect cupboard under the stairs.
The Dursley’s forced poor Harry to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs at 4 Privet Drive.
I just couldn’t resist setting up a little sleep area for Harry in my husband’s grandparents’ home.
When the cupboard door was opened, the large framed Harry Potter wanted poster was the first thing to see.
His house banner hung from inside a closet shelf in front of the poster.
Pillows and a Gryffindor blanket were there for Harry to sleep with, along with a bird cage, an owl, and a couple scarves.
Harry’s trunk, a candlestick, Harry’s Advanced Potion Making book, his iconic glasses, and some frog cards sat next to the wall.
Notice the Hogwarts Express Lego set on the shelf with the dementors getting ready to attack?
There’s even a tiny Platform 9 3/4 sign!
12 Grimmauld Place
It’s hard to believe that there was another perfect spot to photograph another scene for our Harry Potter party!
The Black family tapestry is something that fans of the books and movies are probably familiar with.
Their family tree was displayed on an old tapestry, which was passed down from generation to generation.
The tapestry was dark green with lots of thin branches, small white leaves, and Black family faces.
Their family home was located at 12 Grimmauld Place, then later became the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.
The bedroom had dark green wallpaper with small flowers and leaves with thin stems.
Their wallpaper reminded me so much of the tapestry!
I decorated a table, chairs, and the wall with Slytherin decor, since most of the Black family were Slytherin dark wizards.
A Slytherin blanket, pillow, and banner adorned the space.
An old trunk, stacked candlesticks, glasses, and bottles were stacked on the table, dusty remnants of the ancient family’s heirlooms.
It was an absolute pleasure to put this Harry Potter party together.
Obviously, we are big fans!
There was so much time, effort, and heart that went into this party.
However, the months of dreaming, planning, and creating were 100% worth it.
Our Harry Potter party ideas are easy to incorporate into your own Harry Potter themed party.
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