It’s bittersweet. Your heart swells, but it aches, too. There are only two “Harry Potter” movies left. The saga that defined your youth is parachuting to its final destination into collective pop culture memory. So you need to celebrate this momentous occasion. But how? Faster than you can say (insert spell name here), the Avenue has you covered.
1. Go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando
In this place, the magic is in the details. The snow-topped Hogsmeade Village, Hogwarts and the Hogwarts Express are all here in painstakingly intricate detail. Things to look out for: an animated Marauder’s Map, the actual Time-Turner Hermione used in the movie and J.K. Rowling-sanctioned Butterbeer (try it frozen). There is no better way to get into the spirit of Pottermania than to visit the quintessential manifestation of the franchise, which just happens to be a road trip away.
2. Throw a party
Who doesn’t love a theme party? Poorly recreate Harry Potter dishes from Internet recipes concocted by people with way too much time on their hands. Have all the movies playing on a loop in every room of your house and try your hand at the ultimate Potter drinking game, “The Wisest Wizard.” You stack empty beer cans on top of each other after you drink them, and whoever has the tallest staff wins the award of wisest (drunkest) wizard.
3. Get book smart
Believe it or not, some people don’t know the pure, unadulterated glory that is sinking into a “Harry Potter” novel and losing two weeks of your life. Seriously, the movies are good, but they pale in comparison to the original material. In fact, have a Potter book-reading marathon that lasts from now until the movie comes out.
4. Dress up like the characters
Sure, you’re probably not going to live it down. Yes, it is super nerdy. But you only live once, one day at a time. Why not do some real living and dress up like Hagrid for the premiere? You can get your girlfriend to dress up like Snape and really get the party started by ferociously making out in front of your fellow Pottermaniacs.
