The boy who lived is turning 41 this year! Check out these tips to celebrate Harry’s birthday in the muggle world. And no, none of these require a trip to Diagon Alley!

Written by: Galen Berger – July 31st, 2021 8:33 am pst

Credit: Warner Bros. Media

Throughout their time at Hogwarts and beyond, Harry and the gang seemed to get into mischief quite often on the Leo protagonist’s birthday. Starting with Harry’s first celebrated birthday, his 11th birthday, July 31st became an important day for the series. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Hagrid famously tells the boy, “Yer a wizard, Harry ” and his life changes instantly from there. From then on, this became an important day for Harry, not only because of turning another year old but also because of the chaos that almost always inevitably ensued on the day. From blowing up Aunt Marge like a balloon on his 13th to the dementor attack on his 15th, he’s been through it! Try out these ideas for a fun celebration of Harry’s life to make up for all the bad birthdays he endured!

The Snacks

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Whip up some butterbeer with any of the fantastic recipes online! You can also purchase trolley snacks like chocolate frogs (Walmart or Amazon ) and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans (Jelly Belly or Amazon ).

The Games

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Set up a round of quidditch with your mates using this helpful guide! Or, you and your group can put your knowledge to this test and solve a mystery just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione with Harry Potter Clue.

The Experience

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For a truly magical celebration, book a ticket to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando or Hollywood. There, you can pick out a wand from Ollivander’s, fly with a hippogriff, or even dine at the Leaky Cauldron!

The Movies

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Call up your best Potterhead mates and set up a Harry Potter movie marathon! Pro tip: have each guest bring a Potter-themed snack. You can even set up a wizard-inspired room to make the viewing experience all the more magical! Check out Instagram accounts like @harrypotterbirthdayparties for more inspo!

While Harry’s birthdays throughout the books and movies may not have been his favorite days, you can follow these tips to make up for all those years of missed celebration. Round up your Potterhead crew and you’ll be having a blast before you can say Accio butterbeer!

About The Author:

Galen Berger is a film, television, and media studies and screenwriting student at Loyola Marymount University. She loves music, animals, hiking, and all things entertainment.

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