It’s Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – The Most Magical Place To Be For The Holidays

By Juliette Boland

[Nov. 20, 2018 – Hollywood]

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood where I was invited to a special sneak peek of “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle”, a holiday must-see for every Potterhead!

The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle – Universal Studios Hollywood

Who doesn’t want to spend their Christmas drinking hot butterbeer, shopping for Hogwarts house stockings, and listening to the entertaining a cappella Frog Choir, comprised of Hogwarts students and their giant throaty toads, harmonizing to our favorite holiday tunes? This Potterhead was in Hogwarts heaven checking out all the festive activities The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has to offer this holiday season.

The Frog Choir entertain us with a selection of holiday tunes.

The highlight of the night was an astonishing, luminous light spectacular that has to be seen in person to be believed. It was truly magical and made me feel like I was smack-dab in the middle of a Harry Potter movie!

A captivating light projection show at Hogwarts sure to please any Potterhead!

As night fell on Hogsmeade village, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” illuminated Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with the most beautiful colorful images and impressive animations, including familiar Potter characters, that danced across Hogwarts castle in tandem with a musical arrangement from the Harry Potter films. It brought chills hearing those familiar tunes I grew up listening to. It truly was a sight to behold as magical, echoing ghosts whispering “Merry Christmas” glided across the castle grounds and then a gleaming, decorated tree emerged from the magic of Christmas ending in an explosion of fireworks. Hogwarts illuminated in a way that Dumbledore, most definitely, would have approved.

Along with these festive experiences, you and your family can enjoy the thrill of eating delicious holiday treats, along with Harry Potter snacks we all know and love (cough, chocolate frogs, cough).

No trip to Honeydukes is complete without picking up a chocolate frog and box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans!

What magical treats await you at Honeydukes this holiday season?

You can also take pleasure in a delightful stroll down the snowy streets of Hogsmeade village, passing by décor uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts. We all love a good shopping spree! You could buy your loved ones Harry Potter themed gifts, because this year, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a wide selection of collectibles, such as custom-made Christmas ornaments, decorative Hogwarts castle snow globes, and unique holiday tree toppers.

You mustn’t leave until you’ve experienced the beautiful glistening snowfall in the middle of Hogsmead Village. It was so real, I was sure I’d see Harry, Hermione and Ron coming out of The Three Broomsticks, butterbeer in hand.

Speaking of butterbeer, enjoy a delectable holiday menu at Three Broomsticks™, with seasonal food and beverage offerings including a Holiday Dinner and hot Butterbeer™. I enjoyed an early Thanksgiving turkey dinner there and it was delicious!

The Three Broomsticks is a perfect place to relax over a Potter-esque dinner and hot butterbeer!

Christmas at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the perfect holiday activity Wizards and Muggles can enjoy together. Personally, I found this experience completely magical and memorable. You can definitely feel the Christmas spirit – from the welcoming Universal staff to the Harry Potter-loving customers. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins all come together to enjoy the great festive atmosphere created by Universal Studios Hollywood.

WATCH my sneak peek coverage of “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle” including my chat with Stephen Siercks, Director of Entertainment of Universal Studios Hollywood, who gave us some great insight on how The Magic of Christmas is created for Hogwarts™ Castle. Enjoy! Expecto Patronum!

Thank you to Universal Studios Hollywood, for inviting us to cover Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle happens daily through January 6, 2019. Don’t be a Voldemort…buy your tickets NOW! For more information visit: http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Happy Hogwarts Holidays!
Juliette

Juliette Boland is a Senior at Orange County School of the Arts in the Musical Theatre conservatory where she is a member of the Journalism staff. Juliette is a four-time Los Angeles Press Club award-winner, a Harvard Prize recipient for Achievement in Arts and Entertainment and a proud member of Los Angeles Press Club.