How to Prepare for the Midnight Release of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'

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(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

published 31 July 2016

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premieres on stage in the West End of London Saturday, July 30, and it's the first big, new excursion into the Wizarding World Potterheads have gotten since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 premiered in in 2011. Yes, there are the Universal parks, which are amazing, and the Pottermore stories, which are enlightening, but Cursed Child marks a full-length return to the Wizarding World.

For those of you not in London and lucky enough to have snagged tickets to the premiere, you can buy the script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child when it's released at midnight July 31. It's been almost ten years since a Harry Potter midnight book release party (which one of your local bookstores is sure to be hosting), but don't panic: Here's your guide to making the most of this epically Potter-ific occasion. Follow the steps below for a perfect Potterhead evening.

Plan ahead

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Find your perfect local release party and gather your favorite fellow Potterheads for the fun. Not sure where to go? Fret not: Scholastic has set up a site (opens in new tab) that allows you to search by zip code for midnight parties close to you.

Arrive early

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Don't show up minutes before midnight. Sure, that might be when you're finally able to buy the book, but most parties start several hours earlier—some as early as 8 p.m—and you don't want to miss the fun.

Dress the part

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Robes are optional (but if you have them, there isn't a better time to break them out), but you should wear your Potter pride on your...well, on your body. Dig deep (or not so deep) in your drawers, find your favorite HP shirt or, if you don't have one, dress in your House colors.

Bring friends

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If the Harry Potter series has taught us anything, it's that everything is better with friends. Bring your squad. Round up your Harry Potter-loving pals (and if you don't have any, round up a few to introduce to the magic) and go.

Stock up on caffeine

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Buy coffee. Buy tea. Buy energy drinks if you have to. Just be prepared to pull a finals-week-worthy all-nighter because you're not going to want to put this book down.

Follow these steps and your Harry Potter and the Cursed Child release night will be as magical as the muggle world gets.

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.