Harry Potter exhibit making world premiere at Franklin Institute
“Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever presented about the Wizarding World, is making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, through Sept. 18.
The behind-the-scenes exhibition celebrates the iconic moments, characters, settings and beasts as seen in the films and stories of “Harry Potter,” “Fantastic Beasts” and the expanded Wizarding World, including “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Visitors can get an up-close look at everything from original costumes to authentic props as they embark on a personalized journey through magical environments using immersive design and technology.
The 18,000-square-foot exhibition features 21 galleries, including The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Hagrid’s Hut, Hogwarts Houses and Newt’s Suitcase. Guests will transition into the exhibition from the iconic King’s Cross Station, where they will complete their Visitor Profile, selecting their Hogwarts house, wand and Patronus as they set off on their personalized journey through the experience.
As visitors explore each gallery, their interactions are captured using RFID wristbands to deliver unique experiences linked to their visitor profile. They will get an up-close look at authentic props and original costumes from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films.
Gallery highlights
• From Page to Screen showcases an original first edition of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” encased in a Gringotts-inspired vault and surrounded by inspirational video and literary quotes, reconnecting guests to the story as they are introduced to the exhibition.
• Hogwarts Castle features an immersive multimedia experience with iconic elements like the Whomping Willow, Dementors and the Marauder’s Map, where guests will see their name appear, prompting them to continue their exploration of the exhibition.
• The Great Hall is a projection-mapped space that allows visitors to celebrate magical seasonal moments on its majestic grounds.
• The Hogwarts Houses gallery sets the foundation for the exhibition experience, allowing guests the opportunity to experience more personalized moments with the house they select during their preregistration. While guests may gravitate toward one house, this gallery will enable visitors to experience all of the Hogwarts houses in a celebratory hall featuring an iconic Sorting Hat, perfect for photo ops, while surrounded by freshly designed house crests on meticulously created stained glass windows.
• Hogwarts Classrooms are filled with iconic props, creatures and costumes. Visitors will interact with magical lessons and games through digital touchscreens to reveal behindthe-scenes
secrets about iconic classroom moments. They will brew potions in the Potions Classroom, predict the future in Divination, pot a mandrake in the Herbology Greenhouse, and use their digital
wand to defeat a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
• Hagrid’s Hut & The Forbidden Forest offers an interactive Patronus charm experience. Guests will then uncover iconic creatures, such as Centaurs and Acromantula, hidden in the forest and explore inside a recreation of Hagrid’s Hut.
• Newt’s Suitcase photo opportunity allows guests to step inside his enchanted case and be surrounded by creatures seen in the “Fantastic Beasts” films.
“Harry Potter: The Exhibition” is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and requires special timed tickets; advance reservations are strongly recommended. Daytime tickets: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., cost $43 for adults and $39 for children, which includes admission to The Franklin Institute. Evening tickets: 5 to 8 p.m., cost $30 for adults and children.
For more information, visit www.fi.edu.