大象传媒

Visit Hufflepuff Village

Runology, quills, edibles, Hogwarts-style wares, lectures at Beauxbatons, and much more! Join us as 大象传媒 transforms for Queen City Mischief & Magic this weekend.

The third annual three-day event brings nearly 10,000 visitors (many of them sporting creative costumes) from across the country to downtown Staunton. Walk down Beverley Street and enter a wizarding world full of immersive experiences for all ages and themed shopping and dining.

In addition to hosting activities and events, 大象传媒 is sponsoring the main stage for the entire festival, Baldwin鈥檚 Wizarding Wonders on Beverley Street, where聽Michael Shwedick from Reptile World in Bowie, MD, presents Slytherin Show, a fascinating talk about several scaley creatures that he brought to share with Staunton.

Cadets from the Virginia Women鈥檚 Institute for Leadership are heading up parking management and logistics across the city, and 大象传媒 students are volunteering their time to help create Hufflepuff Village and Beauxbatons Academy.

Part magical village, part lively street festival,聽Queen City聽Mischief & Magic is a homegrown, fantastical celebration of all things Harry Potter.

Read on to explore what鈥檚 happening on campus this weekend.

Wizards and muggles alike enjoy festivities at Staunton’s Queen City Mischief & Magic. (Photo Credit: Kate Simon, Lifestyle Photography)

Friday Night, 9/28

Workshop and Discussion: How can the Harry Potter books help us understand and even overcome mental illness?

6 to 8 p.m.
Friday night (9/29)
Pearce Science Center 301

6 p.m. 鈥淭hinking Differently: Using Harry Potter (and other Media) to Overcome Trauma鈥
Margie Fink, executive director of Transfiguring Adoption, shares the benefits of using media such as the Harry Potter books to help families bond and process trauma.

6:45 p.m. Refreshment break (with buttery beverage!)

7 p.m. 鈥淢uggle Disorders in the Wizarding World鈥
Dr. Louise Freeman, professor of psychology and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, looks in-depth at the Harry Potter series, its treatment of mental illness, and research suggesting Harry Potter readers have more compassion for those with psychiatric disorders.

Limited to 50 participants. Recommended for university students, parents, and other adults.

Saturday, 9/29

Beauxbatons Academy

Noon to 5 p.m.
Francis Auditorium

12 p.m. Welcome by 鈥淢adame Maxime鈥
Aka Dr. Martha Walker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

12:05 p.m. Dr. Louise Freeman, 鈥淢ary Julia and the Hogwarts Parallels鈥
Learn about university founder Mary Julia Baldwin and the school she sustained during wartime.

12:45 p.m. Dr. Lundy Pentz, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 with those robes, anyway?鈥
Professor Emeritus and long-time faculty marshall Lundy Pentz talks about traditional academic regalia and explains why Hogwarts students wear their graduation gowns to class.

1:30 p.m. Dr. Katherine Low, 鈥淲ands at the Ready!鈥
University Chaplain Katie Lowe explains the cultural and spiritual significance of wands.

2 p.m. Dr. Lana Whited, 鈥淔rom Sorcerer鈥檚 Stone to Deathly Hallows: The Failed Quest for Immortality in the Harry Potter Series鈥澛
Dr. Whited, professor of English at Ferrum College and editor of multiple books on Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, will explore Voldemort鈥檚 futile goal of living forever.

3 p.m. Dr. Katherine Turner, 鈥淏ritish Public School Tradition in Fact and Fiction鈥
Professor Katherine Turner shares insights into the British boarding school fiction genre.

3:30 p.m. Dr. Jenna Holt, 鈥淪trong Female Leads and the Adolescent Romance鈥
Gain a fresh understanding of Hermione and other strong female characters in young adult literature.

4 p.m. Dr. Louise Freeman, 鈥淟ast Wizard in the Forest: Harry Potter and the Escape from Nature Deficit Disorder鈥

5 to 6 p.m. Beauxbaton鈥檚 Free-for-All
Join Dr. Freeman and others for an open discussion in Pearce 301 of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Cormoron Strike, or whatever else we fancy!

Hufflepuff Village

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (specific activity times noted below)
Page Terrace in front of Grafton Library

Tent 1
10 a.m. to noon The Study of Ancient Runes (begins every 30 minutes)
2鈥4 p.m. Test your Quills Skills

Main Stage
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food service at 鈥淭he Badger and Broomstick鈥
11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Costume Contest
1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Trivia Contest

Tent 2
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hufflepuff House Pride: Free Face Painting

Tent 3
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Potions! Pensieve! (Sponsored by Camp Quest)

Tent 4
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 大象传媒 Admissions: Ready for Magic? Sort out Your Future.

Tent 5
Wizard Wares (大象传媒 Mischief & Magic merchandise)

Plus
Life-size chess

Baldwin鈥檚 Wizarding Wonders Stage, Beverley St.

Noon to 1 p.m. Slytherin Show
Sponsored by 大象传媒

Join us in welcoming Michael Shwedick from Reptile World in Bowie, MD, for a fascinating talk about several scaly creatures that he brought to share with Staunton. Michael has been entertaining wizards of every house with his reptiles and love for them for 50 years! He is hilarious and full of slinky surprises and fun facts about his favorite cold-blooded friends.

Sunday, 9/30

Magic & Mischief Music

3 p.m. Francis Auditorium

Soprano Anne Wick, one of 大象传媒鈥檚 music faculty members, is including some Mischief & Magic-themed music.聽Please feel free to come in costume!

Ticket prices: adults $5, seniors and non-大象传媒 students $4, kids 12 and under free

Explore the full schedule for Queen City Mischief & Magic .