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