Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerThe Chalk Twins work on portraits of the main characters from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerA Harry Potter film prop, The Monster Book of Monsters, was on display inside one of the two expos. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerThe Chalk Twins work on portraits of the main characters from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerA selection of art from Minalima, the graphic artists behind some of the memorable art of the Harry Potter films. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerAn Alastor Moody cosplayer poses for a photo. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerFans pose in Azkaban prisoner costumes. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerA Hagrid cosplayer poses with two escaped prisoners from Azkaban. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerMina and Lima, the graphic artists behind some of the memorable art of Harry Potter films, sign art and talk to fans. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerThe Chalk Twins work on portraits of the main characters from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerA display for Minalima, the graphic artists behind some of the memorable art of Harry Potter films. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerThe dragon atop Gringott's Bank releases a fireball. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerThe car that was featured in the second Harry Potter film — a light blue Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe — was on display in one of the two expos. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerA wand-wielding fan strikes a pose in front of Gringott's Bank. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerA giant spider looms inside one of the two expos. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerHarry Potter fans raise their wands outside Ollivander's Wand Shop in honor of John Hurt, the actor who portrayed Ollivander in the Harry Potter films, who had passed away the day prior. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerWizards and muggles alike sometimes need a break from the weekend's festivities. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerWishful wizards full of insatiable wizard wonder fill Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerLEGO Dimensions had special, Harry Potter-themed levels to play at one of the two expos. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerCostumes from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" were on display inside one of the two expos. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerHarry Potter fans pose for a photo in front of the triple-decker Knight Bus. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographerThe Chalk Twins work on portraits of the main characters from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
Caitlin Dineen / Staff photographerTwo women demonstrate how the legs of a giant spider are made. The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Caitlin Dineen / Orlando Sentinel)
Jordan Krumbine / Staff photographer
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The Chalk Twins work on portraits of the main characters from the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". The fourth annual "A Celebration of Harry Potter" event drew thousands to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event runs through Sunday, January 29, and featured interactive exhibits with props and costumes from the films, special panels and demonstrations, and general park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. (Jordan Krumbine / Orlando Sentinel)
ExpandBy Dewayne Bevil | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
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A Celebration of Harry Potter event will not be held at Universal Orlando Resort in 2019, the company has announced.
The occasion had been marked in January for the past five years. The first Celebration of Harry Potter happened in 2014, months ahead of the Diagon Alley debut in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios theme park.
The three-day event brought together several factions of the Harry Potter family of corporations, including movie studios and publishers. It incorporated an expo of all things Potter, including wand lessons and a Sorting Hat experience. Actors from the “Harry Potter” films made annual appearances. A Celebration of Harry Potter was included in regular theme-park admission.
In a news release, Universal pointed to fresh fan experiences still to be announced as well as a Potter-based thrill ride that’s under construction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. The roller coaster, as yet unnamed, is being built where the Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge ride stood for 18 years.
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For September, Universal introduced events in the parks based on a Back to Hogwarts theme. It has also touted shows, including one with a holiday theme, projected onto Hogwarts Castle at IOA.
“We and other Universal theme parks will always be looking for opportunities to host special Wizarding World experiences,” the news release says.