Celebrate Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood

Last week, MuggleNet attended the opening of the all-new event Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (read our review here!), which included a beautiful light projection show on Hogwarts Castle.

President and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood Karen Irwin opened the evening:

We are delighted to welcome Christmas in [t]he Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a new Universal Studios Hollywood holiday tradition. Millions of guests visiting from around the world have already experienced the incredible offerings of this immersive land. This exciting new holiday program further expands the Harry Potter universe by bringing some of the holiday spirit from the films to life for guests to experience for themselves.

Fans will be able to experience this event throughout the holiday season – it takes place daily from November 24, 2017, through January 7, 2018.

 

 

The Hogsmeade storefronts are decked out in festive décor, and multiple times an evening Hogwarts will be illuminated by colorful projection mapping set to Harry Potter music with the light show “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” Meanwhile, the a cappella frog choir will perform all-new holiday songs.

The popular, seasonal hot butterbeer makes its return! And the Three Broomsticks will be serving special holiday-themed cuisine, including its new holiday dinner, featuring roast turkey, pigs in a blanket, vegetables, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and Christmas pudding.

You’ll also be able to purchase all-new custom-made Christmas decorations, including Hogwarts Castle snow globes, Hogwarts crest and House mascot ornaments, unique tree toppers, Christmas stockings and stocking holders, and a House pennant garland. Name ornaments will also be available and can even be customized.

Wouldn’t you love to see this ornament hanging on your tree?

 

 

Get a preview of Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter below! To learn more and get your tickets, visit the Universal Studios Hollywood website.

 

 

Press Release 1

Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates the Yuletide Arrival of the All-New “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” Bringing a Dazzling Light Projection Spectacular to Hogwarts Castle and Festive Holiday Entertainment and Décor to the Immersive Land

Universal City, CA, November 16, 2017 – Universal Studios Hollywood celebrated the opening of “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™,” transforming HogwartsTM castle with a breathtaking animated light projection show, choreographed to a musical arrangement from the Harry Potter movies as The Entertainment Capital of L.A. kicked off the yuletide season.

The evening program introduced Karen Irwin, President & COO, Universal Studios Hollywood, as she welcomed the land’s new holiday festivities. Following an original a cappella Frog Choir performance of “Christmas at Hogwarts,” Irwin and a group of children—clad in attire representing each of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry houses—wielded wands and cast a spell that revealed the light projection spectacular: “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle.”

“We are delighted to welcome ‘Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ as a new Universal Studios Hollywood holiday tradition,” said Karen Irwin. “Millions of guests visiting from around the world have already experienced the incredible offerings of this immersive land. This exciting new holiday program further expands the Harry Potter universe by bringing some of the holiday spirit from the films to life for guests to experience for themselves.”

The all-new “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” experience will take place daily from November 24, 2017, through January 7, 2018.

Hogsmeade village also shines brightly as the quaint town celebrates with festive décor uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts, along with holiday-themed fare served at Three Broomsticks and the eagerly-awaited seasonal return of hot Butterbeer.

The newly-introduced Holiday Dinner features a sumptuous roast turkey with gravy platter that includes pigs in blankets, a medley of vegetables, braised red cabbage and roasted potatoes served with cranberry sauce, along with Christmas Pudding.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, the familiar sounds of Harry Potter music will resonate throughout “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Multiple times an evening, colorful projection mapping will illuminate Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.”

The a cappella Frog Choir, comprised of Hogwarts students and their giant throaty frogs, will also perform original holiday [-]themed songs over the course of the seasonal event.

From stockings to ornaments, the addition of specialty keepsakes and gift-giving items complement the land’s immersive holiday festivities as the theme park continues to envelope [sic] guests in the captivating world of Harry Potter.

A wide selection of all-new custom-made Christmas ornaments created especially for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” [is] available this holiday season. Collectibles include a variety of decorative Hogwarts castle snow globes, Hogwarts crest and mascot ornaments representing each of the houses, as well as a collection of unique tree toppers and house pennant garland. Wizard robes and wands and an array of Quidditch game accessories are perfect for gift-giving.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, now enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks and Hog's Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with nine retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear, Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods and the Hogsmeade™ Station.

Additional information on Universal Studios Hollywood is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Join the conversation online using #UniversalHolidays and #WizardingWorldHollywood. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Press Release 2

All-New “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” Comes to Universal Studios Hollywood Bringing an Exciting Array of Keepsake Memorabilia and Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas as the Festive Holiday Celebration Continues at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

Universal City, CA, November 17, 2017 – The arrival of Universal Studios Hollywood’s first “Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” also brings an exciting selection of all-new themed merchandise inviting guests to cherish and share their Harry Potter experience far beyond their visit to The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

From stockings to stuffers, the addition of these specialty keepsakes and gift-giving items complement the land’s immersive holiday festivities as the theme park continues to envelope [sic] guests in the captivating world of Harry Potter.

Featured items include an array of all-new custom-made ornaments designed especially for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” A variety of decorative Hogwarts™ castle snow globes, as well as Hogwarts crest and Hogwarts mascot tree ornaments, are available in addition to a selection of Christmas stockings, stocking holders and a variety of unique Hogwarts-themed tree toppers and house pennant garland. Name ornaments will also be available or they can be customized. Items available for purchase are representative of each of the four Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry houses.

An original Hogwarts Express collection is also available featuring an array of holiday and everyday themed items. From Platform 9 ¾, Hogwarts Railways and Hogwarts Express train ornaments to stockings and holders, as well as themed scarves, hats and gloves to a selection of clothing and collector Hogwarts Express tickets.

For guests who prefer to channel their inner Slytherin, Professor Severus Snape’s dramatic full length wizard’s robe makes a grand debut, adding to the selection of existing house robes from the four Hogwarts’ houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. For fans of the popular Quidditch sport, a keepsake Gryffindor Quidditch robe scores as a must have and can be paired with either the impressive full size Firebolt or Nimbus 2001 broomsticks as well as select Quidditch accessories, including the coveted Golden Snitch, Quaffle ball and Bludger.

Several new interactive namesake wands are added to the collection, including the Cho Chang, Cedric Diggory, Yaxley and a new Death Eater wand.

Beginning on November 24, 2017 and continuing through January 7, 2018, the all-new “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” experience will resonate throughout the immersive land this yuletide season transforming the iconic HogwartsTM castle into a dazzling light projection spectacular, while the quaint town of Hogsmeade village shines brightly with décor uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, “The Magic of Christmas at HogwartsTM Castle” will illuminate Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with colorful imagery and impressive dimensional animations that dance across Hogwarts castle in tandem to a musical arrangement from the Harry Potter movies.

The a cappella Frog Choir, comprised of Hogwarts students and their giant throaty frogs, will perform all-new seasonal songs. Newly introduced holiday-themed fare and the seasonal return of hot Butterbeer will further complement the overall experience.

A special time in the Harry Potter series, the all-new “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” tradition invites guests to celebrate this part of J.K. Rowling’s story for themselves.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks™ and Hog's Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with nine retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear, Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods and the Hogsmeade™ Station.

Additional information on Universal Studios Hollywood is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Join the conversation online using #UniversalHolidays and #WizardingWorldHollywood. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Catherine Lai

I have been a fan of Harry since 2000, a fan of MuggleNet since 2005, and a MuggleNet team member since 2013. I believe in the power of stories to bring people together, and nothing does that quite like Harry Potter. I live in Toronto, Canada.