St John’s First School in Frome was transformed into Hogwarts’ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a special Harry Potter-themed Christmas Fair on Friday 8th December.
Children and teachers wore their wizard robes and magical outfits all day, and every child was able to have their ‘Hogwarts school photo’ taken. After school, they entered Hogwarts by running through the ‘wall’ to find Platform 9¾ and meet Hagrid. Once through the main door, they walked beneath flying keys and post owls and past Dumbledore’s office to the Great Hall, where candles floated from the ceiling and house banners hung.
During the preceding week, all children were involved in magical activities to imagine the world of Harry Potter and create decorations and games for the event, including making potions, wands, dragon eyes and magical creatures. Their designs, drawings, poems and sculptures adorned the walls and classrooms to create Diagon Alley with its famous row of shops, the Forbidden Forest and the Ministry of Magic.
Games and activities were found in every shop: potions in the Apothecary; wand and broomstick making in Quality Quidditch Supplies; the Marauder’s Map, face painting and tattoos in Weasley’s Wheezes; secondhand books in Flourish & Blotts. Magical constructions could be made in the Ministry of Magic, vaults could be opened in Gringott’s Bank and the ‘Ordinary Wizarding Level’ exams could be taken in the Exam Room.
The Three Broomsticks and Honeyduke’s Sweetshop provided delicious Harry Potter-themed refreshments, including snitch pops, chocolate frogs, every flavour beans and butterbeer.
After a wonderful week and a truly magical evening, the Friends of St John’s would like to thank all the children and staff at the school for their enthusiasm and inspiration, and Mark Higgins photography and Asda for their support of the event.