Wizarding world comes to GR

The wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter will come to life at the Sweetwater County Library Saturday.

Youth Services Manager Becky Iwen said the annual Harry Potter event is scheduled to take place Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the library.

“It’s an outlet to explore literature a little deeper and bring it to life,” Iwen said. “It’s a great event for all ages.”

This year, the library event is focusing on the “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” book by J.K. Rowling.

Patrons will have the chance to make some of the memorable moments in the book happen. Iwen said they can make their own golden snitch and see it fly, attend the Yule Ball and compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

The golden snitch is what Harry Potter is always trying to catch in the game of quidditch.

Those who are under 17 and want to compete in the tournament will have to wear beards to fool the cup into thinking they are of age to compete. In the book Fred and George Weasley are not of age so they drink and aging potion to put their names in the cup. At first, they think it worked, but then they get zapped; and they quickly grow old and have long beards.

“We will be giving out wands again this year,” Iwen said.

She said a true wizard will need a wand and they will also need to make a visit to the sorting hat to determine which of the four wizarding houses they will be a member of.

Participants will also have the chance to meet some of the famous characters from the book and get their autographs.

They will also have the chance to join the Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare, S.P.E.W., which is a group Hermione Granger founded in the book. It was in response to what she believed was a gross injustice in the treatment of house elves at the Quidditch World Cup.

The Quidditch World Cup had the two best quidditch teams competing. The scenes described in the book left quite an impression on the readers.

“It’s a scene of the book that really lit up the imagination,” Iwen said.

These are just a few of the things the library will have for patrons on Saturday.

Iwen said participants will want to make sure they bring their cameras because there will be a lot of photos opportunities.

“It’s a great event for the library because we like to see people here at the library enjoying the space and having fun with us,” Iwen said.

Those who would like to volunteer can contact the library.