Return To Hogwarts: The Back-to-school Gathering For Harry Potter Fans

Is the end of August giving you the back-to-school blues? If you're a fan of the Harry Potter series, take advantage of this time of year to celebrate the Return to Hogwarts! Potterheads from around the world gather on September 1st for grand celebrations in various cities. Here's everything you need to know about this event you won't want to miss.

What is the Return to Hogwarts?

The Return to Hogwarts is the largest annual gathering of fans of the Harry Potter series, also known as Potterheads.

This global event, also known as Back to Hogwarts in English, is organized by Warner Bros to mark the start of the school year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

When is the Return to Hogwarts?

There are several important dates in the Potterhead calendar: Harry Potter's birthday on July 31st and the start of term at Hogwarts on September 1st!

To celebrate the return of students to the castle, the Back to Hogwarts event takes place every year on the first weekend of September.

This year, this major international event is scheduled for Saturday, August 31st and Sunday, September 1st, 2024.

What do the Return to Hogwarts celebrations consist of?

For Harry Potter fans desperately waiting for their Hogwarts acceptance letter, the global Back to Hogwarts event is an opportunity to immerse themselves once again in the magical world of their favorite saga.

For one weekend, Potterheads from around the world are invited to walk in the footsteps of their favorite witches and wizards by participating in various events.

Among the activities scheduled to celebrate the return to Hogwarts are:
• film viewing marathons;
• fan gatherings in costume;
• Quidditch-themed activities;
• Lego building workshops;
• the chance to drink butterbeer while waiting for the live countdown at 11 a.m.

In an Olympic year, the Back to Hogwarts 2024 event is themed around sports, specifically Quidditch, the wizards' favorite sport!

Where is the Back to Hogwarts event taking place?

Until 2023, fans of the Harry Potter series used to gather at King's Cross Station in London at the famous Platform 9 3/4 to celebrate the Return to Hogwarts. The station staff would then make a fictional announcement about the departure of the Hogwarts Express!

This year, the official Wizarding World website advises Potterheads against visiting this iconic location from the series, so that the influx of thousands of fans does not disturb other station users.

To ensure everyone can enjoy the magic of this event, Warner Bros and the Wizarding World have announced a virtual event on the official Harry Potter YouTube channel.

Simultaneously, events are being organized in cities around the world, in the UK as well as in New York and Lyon. As you can see, fan communities are celebrating the magic of Harry Potter all over the planet without needing a Portkey!

What are the celebrations for Back to Hogwarts in France?

As the city of Paris hosts the Summer Olympics this year, the Back to Hogwarts events will not take place in the French capital in 2024.

This year, French Harry Potter fans have a rendezvous in Lyon, specifically on the esplanade of Part-Dieu. A Quidditch Fan Zone will be set up there on Saturday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Porte de la Lanterne.

Come test your chaser skills in a shooting area! Chase the legendary Golden Snitch in a wind tunnel specially designed for budding seekers! Immortalize your exploits at the champions' photocall, brandishing the Quidditch cup dressed in your house colors!

In this fan zone, you can also discover a photo exhibition from the films of the saga and admire the actual Quidditch shoes of Viktor Krum lent by the Miniature and Cinema Museum of Lyon. In addition to sports challenges, you can participate in creative workshops, games, and much more on the esplanade of Part-Dieu.