Staunton, VA is throwing its second annual Harry Potter festival next weekend, and it is going to be amazing! Festivities start Friday night and continue all weekend, and most of the businesses in historic downtown Staunton are transforming themselves and offering all sorts of free and low-cost activities for the community.
I myself have spent most of the summer rounding up speakers for Mary Baldwin University‘s contribution to the weekend. Fittingly for the home of Mary Baldwin College for Women, on Friday night there will be a series called “Hermione’s Army” focusing on everyone’s favorite Hogwarts bibliophile and the female YA heroines she inspired: particularly Hogwarts Professor favorites like Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior. The keynote address will be given by none other than Dr. Lana Whited, noted expert in both Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. And I get to talk about psychology in both The Hunger Games and Divergent on the same night!
Then, on Saturday, Francis Auditorium will become Beauxbatons Academy, and host a day-long series of talks on a variety of Potter- and Potter- related topics. We’ll cover topics from Mary Julia Baldwin herself (and how she was like Dumbledore!) to the real Nicholas Flamel (courtesy of Dr. Whited, yet again!) to the wonders of owls to the language of runes. I am going to be offering a preview of my Chestnut Hill talk on scientific names inspired by the wizarding world and speaking about my own work Harry Potter and empathy.
In addition, we will have live owls and snakes, courtesy of the Virginia Wildlife Center. Local Potterphiles should definitely drop by for some learning. laughter, and Sorting Hat cookies.
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