Welcoming Sentiments

Out of all the parties I’ve planned, this Harry Potter birthday party has definitely been my favorite! There are just so many creative directions you can take, and the possibilities are truly magical. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything we did—from the invites to the decor—so you can create your own little slice of the wizarding world

A Magical Gaming Truck Surprise

For this party, JP had just one big wish: a gaming truck—which feels like every 8-year-old boy’s dream, right? While we usually don’t use our garage for entertaining, it ended up being the perfect setup. The gaming truck parked at the end of the driveway, which gave the kids easy access to take breaks without coming in and out of the house.

Delivering Invitations by Owl Post

This part was so much fun—and totally worth the effort!

I created the invitations in a Word document and printed them on parchment-style printer paper. For labels, I used Avery labels printed with each guest’s first name. Then I rolled the invitations like scrolls and sealed them with the label.

To make it extra magical, we delivered the invites attached to balloons decorated to look like owls!

How We Did It:

• I filled balloons with helium (I used to keep a helium tank on hand—super helpful for kids’ parties!).
• A scroll alone didn’t weigh the balloon down, so I added a little sand from our sandbox inside a separate balloon.
• I cut out owl silhouettes using my Cricut and applied them to the balloons just like I would on a tumbler.
• I tied black curling ribbon around both the scroll and balloon.

Before we assembled, I texted parents to make sure they’d be home within the next couple of hours—this way the balloon would still be inflated when it arrived. JP had a blast doing the “doorbell ditch” deliveries—we rang the bell, ran back to the car, and zoomed away!

Yes, it took planning and time, but it was completely worth it.

Platform 9 ¾ Photo Spot

No Harry Potter party is complete without a nod to Platform 9 ¾. I found a photo backdrop and balloon arch kit online, which made the perfect entrance into our “wizarding world.”

We also had a Hogwarts 4D puzzle that JP and I had worked on together (okay, mostly me!), and it made a great decorative addition to the cake table.

Cake & Cupcakes: Simple, Sweet & Spellbinding

We ordered our cake and cupcakes from Creative Cakes in Tinley Park. I’ve started doing a small cake for candle-blowing and cupcakes for the kids—it makes serving so much easier and helps cut down on cost.

The bakery suggested red and yellow swirled frosting for the cupcakes instead of solid colors (less dye = less mess), and I thought that was a great idea!

The Leaky Cauldron Snack Table

For food and drinks, we set up our very own version of The Leaky Cauldron—because where else would you dine in Hogsmeade?

Since it wasn’t a meal-time party, we stuck to snacks and drinks. I used a brick-print plastic tablecloth and created a Leaky Cauldron logo with my Cricut, applying it directly with vinyl.

A lot of the props and decor were reused from Halloween or other events—you can check out more about that in this post. It’s always nice when decorations can serve more than one purpose!

A lot of the decorations and props on this table were from Halloween. You can read more about the trunk or treat and those items at this blog post.

Honeydukes Candy Bar Party Favors

Instead of goodie bags, we set up a Honeydukes candy bar where kids could fill their own bags. It was a huge hit!

I made Harry Potter-themed thank-you stickers with my Cricut and placed them on simple black gift bags. Here’s what we included:

• Golden Snitch – Lindt white chocolate truffles with wings cut from gold cardstock
• Sorting Hats – Milk chocolate Hershey’s Kisses
• Gringotts Gold – Foil-wrapped chocolate coins
• Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans – Jelly Belly mix
• Magic Wands – Pocky sticks (we packaged them in small treat bags)
• Jelly Slugs – Gummy worms (also in individual bags)

DIY Hogwarts Decor on a Budget

This party ended up happening right after we moved my mother-in-law into independent living. We were clearing out her home and had just finished a garage sale. I saw the leftover decor items—candles, vases, pots—and got inspired.

I spray painted many of them black and used them as props. I even painted taper candles and hung them from the ceiling with fishing line to create the floating candles from the Great Hall.

She also had an old lantern and a pot that, once painted, looked just like a cauldron—a perfect touch for our magical setup.

Budget Tip:

Check your local thrift store (or even your own storage!) for items you can repurpose. It’s a great way to add charm without spending a fortune—especially for party decor you might only use once.

Final Thoughts

This Harry Potter party was full of magic, creativity, and memories we’ll never forget. It took time and planning, but it was so worth it—especially seeing the excitement on JP’s face and hearing the kids’ reactions throughout the day.

Whether you’re planning your first Potter-themed party or your fifth, I hope this post gives you plenty of ideas and inspiration. And remember—you don’t need a wand to make magic happen… just a little creativity and love.