Harry Potter Festival lets attendees ride ‘Hogwarts Express’

Hogwarts Express. File photo

Admission to the prestigious Hogwarts School of Wizardry is still a far-fetched fantasy for most “Potterheads,’” but a small college in Philadelphia, USA, is offering fans a chance to ride one of its most iconic attractions.

From Oct. 21-22, Philly’s Chestnut Hill College will open its gates to the public for its annual Harry Potter Festival.

Those who wish to take part in the two-day festivities will hop aboard “Hogwarts Express”-inspired trains near the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, where Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Dumbledore look-alikes will be on board to greet and escort passengers to the festival.

Aside from getting the chance to ride the iconic locomotive, festival-goers will be sorted by the Sorting Hat, practice their spells in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, and cheer on their house at the “Brotherly Love Cup” Quidditch tournament, Huffington Post reported.

The entire campus, which holds resemblance to a modern-day Hogwarts, will also be hosting a Harry Potter conference for die-hard fanatics.

A photo posted by Amy Marie (@muggleamy) on Oct 17, 2015 at 7:22pm PDT

The entire Chestnut Hill neighborhood will also be shutting down traffic to a six-block area to pave the way for Hogsmeade-themed shops and allow attendees to participate in a butterbeer pub crawl.

Admission to the street fair, academic conference and quidditch tournament is open to the public, but a $10 (P465) registration fee is required.  Khristian Ibarrola