Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Charity / Fandom / News

Ghoulishly Good “Potter”-Themed Halloween Display in Austin, Texas

by Helena Everett · October 29, 2021

It’s that spooky time of year again when things tend to go bump in the night. Strange and sinister events often happen on Halloween in the wizarding world. A troll was discovered in the bathroom, the Chamber of Secrets mysteriously opened, and Nearly Headless Nick celebrated his 500th deathday party. And of course, it’s the day when Sirius Black broke into Gryffindor Tower. But that doesn’t scare us, Muggles.

After all, Halloween is a perfect excuse for us to celebrate all things Potter. But some people take their love of the wizarding world and send it to the next level, like these Austinites who love to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve by creating Potter displays right outside their house.

 

 

Joel Pace has been putting up Potter-themed Halloween decorations outside his family home in Austin, Texas, since 2017. Pace started his decorating project “on a whim” to cheer up his wife, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This now-annual Potter display has grown year after year, getting bigger and better.

Pace’s usual Diagon Alley immersive display won’t be on show this year due to safety concerns as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Instead, last year’s Hogwarts Castle drive-by display will make a reappearance. There is so much to see here, such as the Great Hall, the Astronomy Tower, and the marble staircase, to name a few recognizable features. But the castle has also received new add-ons for this year, namely a bell tower and the incorporation of a new castle window, which will show various moving scenes.

Revealing that he often gets asked whether it is an inflatable display, Pace clarified that“it is not inflatable.“ In fact, each piece has been custom-made by Pace and his volunteers. The bricks are painstakingly carved and textured to make them look as lifelike as possible.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by DiagonAlleyAtx (@diagonalleyatx)

 

The Austin Potter-themed Halloween display is free to visit. However, the family asks visitors to consider donating to help raise money for these worthy organizations: Foster Angels of Central Texas, Variety of Texas, and ZACH Theatre – The Pre-Professional Company (PPC). Visitors donating over $30 can sign up to receive an original keepsake by professional photographer Casey Chapman Ross, who will be on-site on October 29 and October 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Visitors can see the display until mid-November. After that, the scene will be transformed from Halloween to Christmas and the Yule Ball. The family asks that people not visit on Saturday, October 30, since the neighborhood is holding a private event.

The daily light show, which will illuminate the display, commences at dusk (currently 7–7:30 p.m.) and runs every half hour until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 p.m. on weekends. Pace has advised that people who get out of their vehicles to view the display should wear masks and not congregate in groups. For all other information, check out the Diagon Alley Austin Halloween House Facebook page.

 

Testing light show. #hogwarts #HarryPotter #halloween2021 #halloween #quidditch #Austin pic.twitter.com/dkaWqjA7Ad

— DiagonAlleyATX (@DiagonAlleyATX) October 19, 2021

 

If you’re close to Austin, Texas, this is definitely a hauntingly Halloween must-see. We’d love to know what you think of it if you go.

 

Want more posts like this one? MuggleNet is 99% volunteer-run, and we need your help. With your monthly pledge of $1, you can interact with creators, suggest ideas for future posts, and enter exclusive swag giveaways!

Support us on Patreon

Social:

  • Next story US Quidditch Holds Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship
  • Previous story How to Plan a Date Like Luna Lovegood

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

July 2025

Sat, Jul 12

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie (UK)
Recurs yearly

2007

Harry and Dumbledore travel to get Slughorn
Recurs yearly

1996

Harry officially learns he inherited Grimmauld Place and Kreacher
Recurs yearly

1996

Sun, Jul 13

OWL results arrive at the Burrow
Recurs yearly

1996

Tue, Jul 15

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 movie
Recurs yearly

2011

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie
Recurs yearly

2009

WWoHP at Universal Japan's anniversary
Recurs yearly

2014

Wed, Jul 16

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book
Recurs yearly

2005

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

Sycamore wands are known to combust if they grow bored from a lack of excitement.

Potter History

July 23, 2010 – StarKid releases A Very Potter Sequel on their YouTube account.

Potter Quote

“Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.