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Ready your Brooms! “Nighttime Lights” Returns and Holiday Plans Announced for Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

by Adam Poncharoensub · July 2, 2021

With the world slowly easing back into pre-quarantine normalcy, the second half of 2021 is looking to be incredibly promising. Witches and wizards will be especially excited to find that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort has some wonderful plans for the summer and winter seasons that will surely be magical. As of yesterday evening, Potter fans can finally glance back up at Hogwarts Castle overlooking the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and marvel at the return of the “Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” show. And if that isn’t reason enough to start planning your travel, it seems that plans for the holiday season have already been unveiled, and there will most certainly be decorations coming to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal Orlando Resort managed to reopen its doors last summer with several CDC-regulated restrictions to keep travelers safe. Unfortunately, one of those restrictions was the suspension of the popular light show “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle.” Debuting in 2018, the spectacle featured a breathtaking light show projected onto the side of Hogwarts Castle at Univeral’s Islands of Adventure. Lasting approximately six minutes, the show featured a voice-over performance of the Sorting Hat introducing the four Hogwarts Houses, set to John Williams’s wonderful Harry Potter film score. Shows typically start at dusk with performances occurring 20 minutes apart.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to catch it in the past, now’s your chance to head on over to the parks. It’ll be a great birthday present for Harry, we’re sure of it.

Otherwise, YouTube is yet another magical resource where you can watch the entire show from the comfort of your home.

 

 

Moving forward to the winter season, Universal Orlando Resort has also announced its plans for this year’s holidays. If you plan to attend during the holidays between November 13 and January 2, you’ll find that, as usual, the streets of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, and London will all be dressed up in festive decorations and lights to put you in the holiday spirit. Lastly, you’ll be able to enjoy special performances by Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees at Diagon Alley, while the Frog Choir will croak up the holiday stage at Hogsmeade.

Typically, Universal Orlando Resort replaces “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle” with a special Christmas-themed light show called “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” Unfortunately, the show hasn’t been performed since 2019. Last year, due to the pandemic, Universal Orlando Resort made do with a static projection over Hogwarts Castle in order to prevent parkgoers from gathering in a crowd to watch the show. At the moment, there is currently no official confirmation that the show will resume this holiday season, though, considering the return of “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle,” it seems pretty likely that “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle” will also make a return. Be sure to check back here on MuggleNet for any updates.

Are you excited about Universal Orlando Resort’s plans for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Do you think it’s finally time to plan a trip to Orlando? Let us know in the comments, and please tag us on Instagram in any photos or videos of the return of “The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle.”

 

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MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

September 2025

Tue, Sep 2

Faux Moody transfigures Draco into a ferret
Recurs yearly

1994

Gregorovitch is murdered by Lord Voldemort
Recurs yearly

1997

Harry gets the Half-Blood Prince's Potions book
Recurs yearly

1996

Trio breaks into the Ministry of Magic and acquires Slytherin's locket
Recurs yearly

1997

Wed, Sep 3

Harry buries Alastor Moody's magical eye
Recurs yearly
Harry's first detention with Professor Umbridge
Recurs yearly
Lockhart lets Cornish pixies loose in class
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1992

Thu, Sep 4

Ellie Darcey-Alden's birthday
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Young Lily Evans

Hermione forms SPEW
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1994

Moody's first DADA lesson
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1994

Fri, Sep 5

Harry hears the Basilisk in the walls for the first time
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1992

Ron's wand backfires as he tries to curse Malfoy; Eat Slugs!
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1992

Sat, Sep 6

Harry's first potions class, where he loses 5 points for Gryffindor
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1991

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, & Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (short stories; e-book) released - 2016
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2016

MuggleNet receives JKR Fansite Award
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2004

It’s high time I paid homage to the mighty MuggleNet. Where to start? I love the design, (I currently favour the ‘Dementor’ layout), the polls (I actually voted in the ‘Who’s the Half-Blood Prince?’ one), the pretty-much-exhaustive information on all books and films, the wonderful editorials (more insight there than in several companion volumes I shall not name), 101 Ways to Annoy Lord Voldemort (made me laugh aloud), the Wall of Shame (nearly as funny as some of the stuff I get)… pretty much everything. Webmaster Emerson, Eric, Jamie, Damon, Ben, Matthew, Rachel, Jaymz and Sharon, I salute you.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040907101729/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/fansite_view.cfm?id=15

Sun, Sep 7

Dumbledore shows Harry his first Tom Riddle-related memory: Bob Ogden's visit to the Gaunts
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1996

Hugh Mitchell's birthday
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Colin Creevey

Toby Jones's birthday
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Voice of Dobby

Mon, Sep 8

Educational Decree No. 23 is passed
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1995

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1992

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book (US)
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1999

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Ginny Weasley’s middle name is Molly.

Potter History

February 10, 2008 – Jim Dale wins a Grammy Award for his reading of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows audiobook.

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