Potter-mania to strike at bookstore

Who is the Half-Blood Prince? That's the question on everyone's lips this summer. On July 15, the Emporia State University 's Memorial Union Bookstore is inviting kids and teens to find out the answer and a whole lot of fun.

Although “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” won't be available until the stroke of midnight, Potter's fans can enjoy free activities from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“We will open at 9:00 p.m. As people arrive, we will assign them one of the Hogwarts houses as their team for the evening. The house teams will be Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin,” said Fawn Baker, MU Bookstore assistant manager. “We will also have a sale on all ESU clothing and gift items and there will be refreshments for all of our guests.”

Festivities feature making bookmarks, face painting, pin the horn on the unicorn, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean tasting and wizard hat piñatas and dragon egg piñatas.

Pottery with Pizzaz will be open for customers to paint select pottery pieces.

Scheduled activities include a Harry Potter spelling bee (one for ages 7-13 and the other for ages 14 and up) at 9:45 p.m.; a dragon egg hunt for ages six and under also at 9:45 p.m.; a pie eating contest at 10:15 p.m. and Harry Potter Trivia at 10:45 p.m.

“Points will be given to everyone for participating in the activities and also for winning the contests. After all of the games and activities take place, everyone on the team with the most points at the end of the night will win a t-shirt saying ‘ I was Potter'd at the Memorial Union Bookstore' ,” Baker said. “We have many prizes to give away for both adults and children- gift certificates to local restaurants, a month membership to Walburns Gym, all three Harry Potter DVD's, the set of all three Harry Potter movie soundtracks, Harry Potter chess, and more. At 11:15 p.m., we will begin drawing for the prizes and at midnight, we will begin selling the brand new book.”

The Memorial Union Bookstore is currently taking book reservations. If you are interested in reserving a copy, please email or stop by the MU Bookstore. The retail price is $29.99; however, the MU Bookstore is offering it at a competitive 40 percent discount. The book will be sold $17.99 through the first week of release.

For more information contact the Memorial Union Bookstore at (620) 341-5214 or e-mail mcrellmi@emporia.edu .

Last Updated July 2, 2007>