Harry Potter and the riddle of the disappearing festival
IT is one of the most successful book and film franchises in the world.
So when organisers of a community event picked the world of boy wizard Harry Potter as its theme, they should probably have expected a bit more interest than normal.
Yesterday, those behind the Bearsden Festival had to cancel the celebration after thousands of fans vowed to attend.
They said the safety, parking and licensing implications of the event growing so big meant they had to shelve their plans.
But the decision angered fans of JK Rowling’s hero – with some complaining that they had booked hotels and flights to attend.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book, the organisers hoped to have themed food and drink outlets and even a Quidditch tournament.
The event planned for Bearsden, near Glasgow, was only announced a week ago and soon attracted more than 10,000 people to its Facebook page.
On Wednesday, March 22, a post on the site read: ‘Set aside the last weekend in June for Bearsden’s own Harry Potter Weekend.
‘Traders, churches and other organisations coming together to create some magic with fantastic beasts, butterbeer, Quidditch, films, Marauder’s Maps and a whole lot more.’
Another post titled ‘Bearsden’s Diagon Alley’ – named after the street where wizards buy their wands in the books – said: ‘Potter Burgers will be available at the great Forbidden Forest BBQ and there will be a Room of Requirement at Cafe Creme.’
But, earlier this week, the first signs of a problem appeared.
A message on the site stated: ‘This is designed as a local event in Bearsden rather than something like T in the Park. We don’t have the capacity for something that size – nor the budget.
‘We never imagined (foolishly perhaps) that people would be prepared to travel from down south and across from Ireland and even from the Netherlands for a Harry Potter festival. Clearly someone has missed a trick here!’
Yesterday, the group confirmed that the event’s popularity had surpassed their expectations.
A statement on Facebook said: ‘We have taken the decision to cancel. We are a group of five local folk so please understand this has taken on a life of its own which is bigger than we can manage.’
Potter fans took to social media to express their dismay.
One Bearsden resident, Jillian Reynolds, said: ‘Maybe next time don’t put it all over Facebook advertised as something that is obviously going to attract lots of people. Very disappointing.’
Rosalba Franchi, from Clydebank, said: ‘What a pity! Such a disappointment but well done for your good intentions.’
Heidi Catharine Thomassen said: ‘No! We have ordered flights from Norway that cannot be cancelled.’
Police confirmed that the event had been cancelled.
Nobody answered a contact number on the website last night.