ORANGE — Get ready for a magical dining experience.
White Cloud Diner, located across from Orange Municipal Airport, will host “Return to Hogwarts,” a five-day event celebrating the birthday of Harry Potter.
The event will be during all open hours — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. — from Wednesday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 4, and will feature costumed characters, a Harry Potter-themed menu and other “surprises,” said owner Jennifer Sheldon, including a magic show Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. by magician Peter Niall.
Yes, J.K. Rowling gave Harry Potter a birthday when she wrote the eponymous book series about the famous fictional wizard from Britain. His birthday is July 31 — that’s canon.
“Anyone who loves Harry Potter is going to have a great time,” Sheldon said. “We really want to immerse people into Hogwarts.”
According to Sheldon, the event was expanded from one day, to a few days, to a full week after an overwhelming amount of feedback online. The Facebook page for the event has had almost 500 people say they are interested in going, and has received more than 23,000 page views, Sheldon said.
She wants it to be a surprise, but said staff will be dressed like Harry Potter characters and the diner will be decorated like Hogwarts. Sheldon also said they will have a special menu with items like “butter beer” and “polyjuice potion” from the Harry Potter universe.
Sheldon said she expects — and encourages — customers to take part in the fun. Those who come wearing their “house gear” from one of the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor — will receive 10 percent-off discounts on their meals, and those who dress up as a character from Harry Potter will receive 25 percent-off discounts.
Having taken over the diner in December, Sheldon said she and the staff have wanted to throw a themed party for some time, but couldn’t wait until Halloween to have a Harry Potter party, so they settled on his birthday.
“I have always been very big on parties,” Sheldon said. “But this is new for me doing it in this environment, at the diner.”
Sheldon said the rest of her family are Harry Potter fans, too, especially her daughter. Those in their 20s are particularly passionate about the series, Sheldon said, because they grew up reading the books and watching the movies, and she is excited to see what people do for the event.
“My daughter is always saying, ‘I grew up with Harry Potter,’” Sheldon said. “It will be so fun.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.