Lets start with the Left Bank Books Street Festival, happening from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. along North Euclid Avenue from McPherson Avenue to Maryland Avenue (314-367-6731 or www.left-bank.com). Here, theres a raffle (you can win a sorting hat!), real butterbeer, a potions class, a costume contest for all ages and more!
The Book House (9719 Manchester Road, Rock Hill; 314-968-4491 or www.bookhousestl.com) also gets in on the action with an all-ages celebration beginning at 8 p.m. At this haunted book shop, you can see some magic, have a caricature drawn of yourself (maybe playing Quidditch?), win raffle prizes, help out Second Chapter (a local childrens charity -- this party has heart!) and then some.
But, of course, Ms. Day cant forget about the libraries. Though the ten participating branches of the St. Louis County Library (314-994-3300 or www.slcl.org) arent selling any books, kids ages eight to sixteen can party down in costume, make crafts and enjoy treats from 7 to 10 p.m.; pre-registration for attendance is required.
And wizards who are Potter-partying out at the St. Peters Borders (1320 Mid Rivers Mall Drive; 636-278-5000 or www.borders.com) better bring a wand to the Grand Hallows Ball happening there at 7 p.m. -- some dementors are scheduled to show up. But Fawkes will be there, too (so this is where he got away to!), and a king and queen will be crowned. The queen will probably be Ms. Day, so you shouldnt even try for it, and when she wins, shell lead the crowd in chanting, Long love Harry Potter! (Seriously, he better be alive at the end of this book.)
Fri., July 20