Above / Anderson’s Bookshops are where many individuals were first introduced to Harry Potter nearly 18 years ago. Subsequent events turned downtown Naperville into magic with costumed kids having a great time.
UPDATE, July 31, 2016 / Here are a few photos from the midnight hour when folks waited to pick up the latest Harry Potter entry. And we wonder what columnist Genevieve Towsley would have had to say about all the action at midnight at the bookstores in downtown Naperville.
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Original Post / Anderson’s relationship with J. K. Rowling, author of the phenomenally-successful Harry Potter series, dates back to her first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Due to the admiring Anderson’s booksellers, and their success in putting that initial title into readers’ hands by personally recommending it, Ms. Rowling was surprised and delighted to find a welcoming and devoted crowd of 125 people on a Monday morning in October 1998 when she first visited Anderson’s for a booksigning.
“We sold hundreds easily within a very short time,” recalls Becky Anderson, one of the store’s owners. “We knew it was something special long before it was actually published.” Anderson’s booksellers were sure Harry Potter was something extraordinary right from the start!
With the publication of Book 3, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Ms. Rowling returned to an Anderson-sponsored event held at Naperville Central High School. About 2,000 numbers were handed out to claim spots to meet the author. But many more fans attended that day’s event.
Parties accompanied the releases of the remaining Harry Potter books up to and including the nearly 70,000 fans who descended on downtown Naperville in July 2007 for the final edition of the Harry Potter series.
All Day, July 30, 2016
This summer, Anderson’s is happy to continue its affection for Ms. Rowling’s creative literary career and her remarkable hold on readers, young and old. As the stores that introduced Harry Potter to so many readers, Anderson’s Bookshops adopted the slogan, “Where the Magic Began” because, for so many local readers, that is indeed the case.
Readers young and old can join the fun for what’s being called the eighth story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This play is currently slated to begin on the London stage on July 31, and Anderson’s, along with booksellers across the United States, is making the script available on that significant day as well. A release party, The Party That Shall Not Be Named, will include games, activities, and entertainment.
As in the Harry Potter books, where local Diagon Alley businesses like Flourish & Blotts bookshop; Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands; and the Eeylops Owl Emporium cater to the wizarding community’s needs with centuries of experience, Anderson’s has more than a century in business. Because the family-owned stores’ staff has a history of recognizing emerging talent, like J.K. Rowling, Anderson’s has involved other downtown businesses in the promotion as well in Naperville, Downers Grove and La Grange where Anderson’s bookshops are located.
Since April, Anderson’s have been busy pre-selling books for pick-up once Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is released at the stroke of midnight. We anticipate selling many more before and after the hour strikes.
In celebration of the new story’s launch, The Party That Shall Not Be Named will be hosted on Saturday, July 30 at all Anderson’s locations: 123 W. Jefferson Ave., in Naperville, 5112 Main St. in Downers Grove, and 26 S. La Grange Rd., in La Grange.
Activities and programs will begin at 1oPM in Downers Grove location, at 6PM in Naperville and at 6:30PM in La Grange. Enjoy trivia contests, wand-choosing, our prediction wall and entertainment. Costumes are encouraged for all three parties!
Flourish and Blotts, Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave.
ALL DAY
Magical Boutique-Harry Potter dress and accessories
Muggle Wall (Write what Harry Potter means to YOU!)
Horcrux Hunt search through 7 local stores
6PM
Azkaban Prisoners Line-Up Photo Opp (Bring Your Camera!)
Live Raptors
Wand Experience: The wand chooses you based on your unique physical and character traits. To benefit Kids Matter.
Intro to Charms Class (AKA- Spellcasting: 101)
Live Magical Portraits in Anderson’s Windows
Live Chess Game
Pottermania Trivia
Tattoo Station
Professor Trelawney’s Amazing Predictions (Your fortune is our specialty!)
6:45PM
Live Chess Game
7:30PM
Human Chess Game
Midnight
Ticket holders begin receiving their copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Anderson’s Bookshop-where the magic began.
Treats will be for sale.
Thousands of fans turned out for the earlier launch parties in Naperville, and all three Anderson’s Bookshop store locations are expecting a similar success on July 30.
For detail about each party, contact the individual stores for more information at (630) 355-2665 (Naperville), (630) 963-2665 (Downers Grove), or (708) 582-6353 (La Grange) or visit www.andersonsbookshop.com.
Submitted by Candyce Purdom for Anderson’s Bookshop.
Downtown Naperville hosts the Return of the Party that Shall Not Be Named
The Downtown Naperville Alliance has put together a 7-page PDF of all the events throughout the central business district, including check-in at Main & Jefferson, free trolley rides, carillon bell ringing at Moser Tower, wizardry at the DuPage Children’s Museum and a map. (For the best read, view the PDF on a large screen.)
- Local performances, costume contests and more at the Harry Potter Stage at Jefferson & Webster
- Quidditch games, Butterbeer tasting and photos
- Temporary tattoos and painting classes
- Wandmaking and spell classes
- Free Trolley Rides around Downtown from 5-11PM, compliments of the Main Street Promenade
- Check in at Main Street & Jefferson from 6-7PM
- Book release at Midnight
For a spot in line at Midnight, pre-order your copy of the book by calling Anderson’s Bookshop (630) 355-2665 or Barnes & Noble Naperville (630) 579-0200.
Submitted by Katie Wood for the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
Muggles unite at Nichols Library to celebrate ‘Harry Potter’ book release
Muggles of all ages can celebrate the midnight book release of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts I & II” at Nichols Library. In conjunction with other Potter-themed celebrations throughout downtown Naperville, Nichols Library will be open from 9AM Saturday, July 30 through 12:30AM Sunday, July 31, in anticipation of the book’s release at midnight so fans can pick up their copy.
From 6PM to midnight, attendees can win raffle prizes every hour – must be present to win.
Nichols Library Magical Events, Day & Night
‘Harry Potter’ Movie Marathon
9AM to 10PM at Gryffindor Room, Nichols Library – All ages
Hedwig Puppet Craft
1 to 3PM at Great Hall, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Wizard Training Camp
2 to 4PM at Hagrid’s Hut, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Hidden ‘Harry Potter’
Behind-the-scenes tidbits, hilarious inside jokes and other fascinating facts will delight Potter fans as pivotal scenes are explored from the films.
3 to 4:30PM at Hufflepuff Room, Nichols Library – Ages 10 and older
Fire-Breathing Dragon Craft
3 to 5PM at Great Hall, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Spell Training
5 to 7PM at Hagrid’s Hut, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Make Your Own Wand
5 to 7PM at Great Hall, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Potions Making
6 to 8PM at Slytherin Room, Nichols Library – 6th grade to adult
Create the Deathly Hallows with Doodle Pens
6 to 8PM at Ravenclaw Room, Nichols Library – 6th grade to adult
Harry Potter Trivia Contest
7 to 9PM at Hufflepuff Room, Nichols Library – All ages
Scavenger Hunt
7 to 9PM at Hagrid’s Hut, Nichols Library – Preschool to 5th grade
Photo of Your First Broom Flight Using Green Screen
8 to 10PM at Ravenclaw Room, Nichols Library – 6th grade to adult
Ollivander’s Wandmaking
9 to 11PM at Slytherin Room, Nichols Library – 6th grade to adult.
Submitted by Mary Rogers for Naperville Public Library.
