Plans are falling into place for this year's edition of the annual Uptowne Halloween Howl shopping promotion.
The event takes place Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to at least 4 p.m.
This year, and possibly for several years to come, it will have a Harry Potter theme. Kids and adults are encouraged to dress up for the occasion.
For the day, 50th Avenue will be known as Diagon Alley, the place where in the books and movies, kids bought their magic wands and other accessories.
Uptowne Olds committee chair and RIPS Audio Video owner Leon Durand says various businesses along 50th Avenue are adopting names of businesses in Diagon Alley.
"Ours, for instance, is going to be called The Leaky Cauldron. We kind of thought that fits with hot tubs," he said with a laugh.
Events begin at 10 a.m., at which time Mayfair Cinema will show Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first film and book in the series. At 1 p.m., it will show Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II, the last in the series.
As in past years, children are encouraged to go trick-or-treating in businesses sporting black and orange balloons. Durand said some will also host related games and contests.
Trick-or-treating is slated to run 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., but that's not written in stone, Uptowne Olds co-ordinator Dalaura Glubrecht said.
"If kids come at 10 a.m., we're not going to say, ëno, you have to come back at 1,'" she said.
Durand said the Kensington area in Calgary held a similar Harry Potter-themed event and organizers were overwhelmed with the response. He's anticipating a good turnout here as well.
"We typically get over 200 kids in our store for Halloween treats. We'll probably expect to get a lot more than that this year, so we'll be ramping up to get considerably more," he says.
"I know when I was talking to Dalaura, she figured she was going to have enough treats for 600 kids."
Costume judging will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Shrieking Shack (the former Brick building).
In addition, the Boys and Girls Club will have a haunted house set up in the Shrieking Shack.
People can play magical games and drink butter beer at Pandora's Boox. They can also enjoy a pint of butter beer and decorate Halloween cookies at Cocoa Tree Bake Shop.
Divine Crystals will be conducting a wand making workshop and a swish and click class.
"At the Mountain View Museum there'll be magic wands, face painting and then photo opportunities with your favourite Harry Potter character. We have the cardboard cutouts so you can put your face in there," Glubrecht said.
In Centennial Park, from 1 to 4 p.m., the train that pulls kids around will be active again and renamed Hogwarts Express for the occasion.
Plans also call for the washroom wall to be renamed Platform 9 , the place where kids get on the train to go to Hogwarts, the school where they learn magic.
In the movies and books, kids get on to Platform 9 by running with a shopping cart full of their clothes and possessions into a wall. A shopping cart will be in place for that. Kids can get their photos taken as they pretend to run with the cart through the wall on to the Hogwarts Express platform.
As part of the festivities, the Christmas village was set up in the park last week.
Glubrecht said the events will occur rain, snow or shine.
"People are starting to get into it and that's great. That's what it really boils down to. Let's make this thing bigger every year," Durand said. "I think it's a cool idea and I think it's something we can definitely build on and make it a bigger event, year by year."
"People are starting to get into it and that's great. That's what it really boils down to. Let's make this thing bigger every year."LEON DURAND UPTOWNE OLDS COMMITTEE CHAIR
