Wizards, witches and muggles alike had a magical time enjoying holiday festivities at the Yule Ball in the University Union on Thursday night.
Roughly 120 people attended the Harry Potter-themed party, hosted by the Binghamton University Bookworms Club. People were encouraged to come in proper wizard attire, and although nobody wore their dress robes, several people wore fake round glasses, drawn-on lightning bolt-shaped scars, temporary tattoos and Hogwarts House apparel.
John William’s iconic “Harry Potter” theme music set the tone as guests entered, and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry crest was displayed around the room.
“I just love Harry Potter, I want to join every event that’s related to it,” said Jialan Lin, a junior studying psychology. “I’ve been reading the books since I was seven.”
The decorations, which included Sirius Black wanted posters and “Weasley is Our King” signs, appealed to fans of both the books and movies, bringing in references from Hogwarts to Diagon Alley.
Several other student organizations on campus volunteered to support Bookworms’ event.
KnitWits, the University’s knitting club, sold handmade tote bags, scarves, hats and key chains for Gryffindors and Slytherins alike. Olivia Han, the president of KnitWits and a junior majoring in computer science, said KnitWits also made the magic wands at the Sorting Table, where the Sorting Hat placed them in one of the four Hogwarts Houses.
The Binghamton Paranormal Association held a divination class, where they read tea leaves, and Tastebuds, a campus culinary organization, served treats from the Hogwarts Express and Honeydukes, like Butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, and licorice wands, not to mention Dumbledore’s favorite lemon drops.
Bookworms also set up their own activity tables, providing ingredients for people to make their own potions and quizzing guests about Harry Potter book trivia.
Around 8 p.m., people split into groups for a large-scale trivia game based on the series. The first place team won a copy of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and second and third places won Barnes and Noble gift bags. After trivia, the a cappella group “No Strings Attached” sang about “Hoggy Warty Hogwarts” while performing the Hogwarts School Song.
Shelly Rose, a graduate student studying biomedical anthropology, came with her husband and young son.
“We’re both fans,” she said. “My son’s favorite part is the wand.”