After a successful first showing the Magic of Shiplake returned and proved to be a magical day as, after being sorted into a Hogwarts House, there were activities such as wand and potion making, quidditch, duelling, and so much more for guests to enjoy! 

Our guests' first task was to find out which house they were in with the Sorting Hat. The Hat, known for its pondering and deliberation, carefully assessed each young witch and wizard before declaring a House.  

Inside, the Great Hall had been transformed with floating candles hovering above guests while at the end of the hall, the watchful eyes of the professors would gaze upon everyone from the staff table. 

There were delicious treats served in Madam Puddifoot's Café run by the Thomas Franks catering team. Treats included Pumpkin Pasties, while drinks such as Gillywater and Butterbeer were available for our witches and wizards. 

There was a flurry of activity at the wand and potion making stations where guests were able to try their hand at creating potions and designing their own wand. Naturally, after making their wand, the next step was to certify it with Ollivander’s quills and each guest took home a certificate that confirmed their wand ownership.  

Outside on the terrace, Lego mastery took place where guests built a range of Harry Potter themed sets and, in the outdoor classroom, duelling took place under the careful guidance of Professor Davies and Professor Jones.  

The magical fun did not stop there as on the Quidditch pitch, Quidditch for Muggles ran half-hourly matches with teams taking to the air on broomsticks. After learning the rules of Quidditch and getting to grips with their brooms, the young flyers were soon whizzing round scoring goals with the quaffle, dispossessing opponents with the bludgers, and chasing the often fast and energetic human snitch.  

In the afternoon Headmaster Howe revealed the winners of the fancy dress competition. Following a parade on Skipwith Lawn, it was a difficult decision with so many guests making a fantastic effort with their costumes.  

Finally, around the grounds was an A-Z quiz trail where guests had to answer Harry Potter related questions to fill on their Marauder's Map. Additionally, the young wizards and witches had the chance to follow in Harry Potter’s footsteps to find all of Lord Voldemort’s horcruxes and stamp then on the map. Some, such as the diadem and locket, were harder to find due to their size, though there was no missing Nagini who had entwined herself on Skipwith’s Grand Staircase. 

Speaking after the event, Alumni and Events Officer, Mrs Spearing, said:  

‘A fun filled magical adventure awaited our witches and wizards as we transformed Shiplake College into Hogwarts for the day. Wand and potion making, quill practice and quidditch were on the magical menu alongside an abundance of treats in Madam Puddifoot's Cafe!’ 

The Headmaster, Mr Howe, added: 

‘It was a magical day, made even more special by the glorious sunshine and the abundance of laughter and smiles. We loved welcoming families to the College and hope that everyone enjoyed the day as much as we did!’