Have you and your friends not watched the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)? This might be a good time to hold the Harry Potter marathon! The duration of all Harry Potter films combined is 20 hours. Knowing this information, you and your friends can predict how long the marathon will last. With a little planning, preparation, and fun activities, hosting a Harry Potter movie marathon isn't as difficult as saying "wingardium leviosa".
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Part 1 of 3: Planning the Harry Potter Marathon
Step 1. Create a list of friends to invite
If the venue for the marathon isn't too big, make sure you don't invite too many guests. This is done so that every guest who comes feels comfortable while watching. Remember, you and your guests will be watching the Harry Potter film series with a total duration of 20 hours, maybe more if you add additional activities. Therefore, make sure every guest can sit comfortably and can watch movies clearly during the marathon.
Step 2. Set the date
You can run this marathon on the weekends, when your friends are off. You can also choose a date related to the world of Harry Potter. For example, you could run the marathon on September 3 at 4 pm. This date has a lot to do with the world of Harry Potter as Harry rides the Hogwarts train via platform 9 (September is the ninth month) (this represents the "3" and "4" o'clock).
Step 3. Determine the marathon schedule
Watching a movie series with a duration of 20 hours is certainly not a short time even if the series is your favorite. You might be able to split the marathon into two days and do a half marathon in one day. You can also run marathons to watch certain Harry Potter films. Write and set a viewing schedule to let friends know when the marathon will start and end.
- You can also make this activity more fun and full of imagination by choosing a theme that relates to the world of Harry Potter.
- If you and your friends want to watch the entire Harry Potter film from start to finish, we recommend that this activity be held during a sleepover party. Otherwise, it will be difficult to watch something 20 hours long in one day.
Step 4. Determine entertainment activities during breaks
Sitting constantly for a long time is not good for health. Try having a Harry Potter-themed entertainment activity that can help stretch your body while you're on a break. You can play the activities below:
- Theatrical duels.
- Quidditch
- Harry Potter themed board game
- Guess the Harry Potter themed words and pictures
- Harry Potter themed quiz
Step 5. Create and send an invitation card
Due to the long duration of the Harry Potter film series, the marathon is probably best held from early morning until late at night. You and your friends may also have to continue the marathon until tomorrow morning. Also include the viewing schedule on the marathon invitation. Don't forget to include the address, the start and end time of the marathon, and the snacks that will be provided (if any).
- If you don't have a big budget, you can throw a simple marathon party. Ask each guest to bring a snack or food to eat together. Include this provision on the marathon invitation.
- Write the invitation on yellowish parchment paper to resemble a letter in the Harry Potter world. You can buy this paper at your nearest craft or art store. You can also add the Hogwarts emblem to one side of the invitation envelope.
- Add images related to Harry Potter. For example, since owls are used to deliver letters in the world of Harry Potter, you can add an owl image to your marathon invitation.
Step 6. Decide on a snack that fits the Harry Potter theme
You certainly don't want hunger to interfere with your marathon party! Think of some of the most popular snacks in the Harry Potter world, then look up the recipe online. You can serve butterbeer or pumpkin juice as a drink. As food, you can provide cupcakes shaped like golden snitch or jelly beans with a unique taste. You can also make:
- Butterbeer
- Treacle tart
- Cauldron Cake
- Pumpkin juice
Part 2 of 3: Preparing for the Marathon
Step 1. Buy or rent the Harry Potter film series
If you don't have any Harry Potter films at all or your collection is incomplete, buy or rent them at the nearest DVD store. Make sure the DVD floppy you buy or rent is not scratched. Try playing each movie the day before starting the marathon. You and your friends will certainly be disappointed if the film you play is damaged while the marathon is in progress.
If your Harry Potter series isn't complete, try asking one of your friends to bring it. By doing this, you can focus more on preparing for the marathon
Step 2. Prepare the first film and then balance the volume
On the day the marathon starts, play the first Harry Potter film and then let it sit for a while to check the volume. Once the volume is balanced, rewind the movie to the very beginning and then pause. By doing this, you just have to press “play” to start the marathon.
Step 3. Prepare supplies
Disposable cups, plastic plates, and tissue can help make it easier for you when it comes to cleaning up after the marathon. You can also purchase plates and glasses with Harry Potter-inspired decorations. You can purchase these supplies at your nearest convenience store. If it's hard to find Harry Potter-themed products, you might be able to look online.
Step 4. Prepare the snack
Depending on the recipes you find or the Harry Potter treats you like, you may need to purchase snacks and extras at a nearby store. Once the treats are made, arrange them to match the ones in the movie. For example, you can arrange snacks on a long table.
- Arrange the treats on the trolley and pretend that you and your friends are boarding the Hogwarts train during the break!
- Have a spare snack ready so you don't get distracted when the main snack runs out.
Step 5. Use Harry Potter themed decorations
The decorations used do not need to be too excessive. However, a few décor details can make the atmosphere of a marathon party more unique. If you're going to play Quidditch, you'll need a broom. This broom can be stored as decoration when not in use. Harry Potter posters can also be hung on the wall. Butterbeer can be served in a unique bottle or carafe. You can also place books around the viewing area. This is done so that your home feels like in the Harry Potter movies.
Step 6. Prepare a bag containing Harry Potter-themed souvenirs
You can share these souvenirs when guests leave after the marathon is over. You can also give souvenirs when guests come as a sign of gratitude. To make this souvenir more authentic, fill it with:
- Chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.
- Small animals, such as toy spiders, frogs, or dragons.
- A juice that looks like a “herb”.
Step 7. Set up the viewing area
Make the viewing area as comfortable as possible so that you and your friends can move freely. Remove furniture that blocks the way or makes the viewing area too narrow. If necessary, move extra seating from another room to the viewing area.
If there is not enough seating in the viewing area, you can place blankets and pillows in front of the TV
Step 8. Play a song from the Harry Potter film series
If you don't have a CD of songs from the Harry Potter films, you can play them on YouTube, Pandora, or other online sites. By doing this, the atmosphere of your home will be conducive to carrying out the Harry Potter marathon from start to finish.
Part 3 of 3: Watching Harry Potter in a Marathon
Step 1. Do a fun activity before the marathon starts
You can ask your guests to pick up a piece of paper that says one of the Hogwarts houses from inside the Sorting Hat. You can also do more complicated activities, such as having guests who come to duel other guests.
If you are going to hold a duel, prepare a paper containing spells for attack and defense, then give it to the two guests who will duel
Step 2. Give points for each dorm
After sorting the guests by their dorm, you can give each house points for good behavior or answering quiz questions correctly. Use leftover parchment paper to jot down points for each board to make the marathon party more fun. Give hostel points if:
- Successfully quoted dialogue from the film
- Know the facts about Harry Potter
- Realizing mistakes in the current movie
Step 3. Follow the schedule that has been made
While the marathon is in progress, there may be unplanned breaks. This time off will certainly make the duration of the Harry Potter marathon longer than originally scheduled. Therefore, make sure the snacks are placed in an easily accessible place so that guests can eat them immediately when hungry.
Stopping the marathon to make food will certainly hamper the schedule that has been set. Therefore, prepare ready-made food in the refrigerator, or order food before the snacks run out
Step 4. Take time to rest
Stand up and stretch your body every hour to stay comfortable and not sore while watching. Sitting continuously for a long time is very bad for health. To overcome this problem, move and stretch your body for 5 minutes every 30 minutes or 1 hour.
Step 5. Refill the snack when it runs out
When you and your friends eat the snacks that have been provided, you have to tidy up the plate and refill the snacks that have been used up. Take advantage of the scheduled break to refill the jelly beans or Cauldron cake.
Tips
- Place cushions and cushions so your friends can watch comfortably.
- Prepare high-caffeine drinks at night
- If watching 8 movies in one night takes too much time, you can watch as many Harry Potter movies as you want. You can also divide the marathon into days.
