10 Points for Chestertown!

As October heralds in chill winds, leaf-crunching commutes, and pumpkin patch colors in Maryland, even the realists and scrooges among us can feel that nip of mysticism in the air that makes it seem like anything is possible. On the banks of the Chester river, the quaint and historic Chestertown embraces this autumnal magic just a little extra. For the past six years, Chestertown has been the host of the Harry Potter Wizarding Weekend, an ode to the books and films that cast a spell on households around the globe. The festival took place this year on October 4th and 5th, and is a non-profit event that is admirably accomplished by the local Garfield Center for the Arts and volunteers from the community.

As someone who has lived in Maryland for 22 years now, I spent most of my life without a clue that this quirky little festival even existed, and once the seed had been planted I knew that it was something I had to see for myself. On October 5th, I meandered over the drawbridge into Chestertown, and left the Muggle world on the other side of the river.

The very first thing I noticed when I rounded the corner into main street, the festival’s bustling Diagon Alley, was how many people were actually fully and committedly dressed up. I had come prepared with a hand-crafted wand that I had purchased at the Maryland Renaissance Festival the weekend before, and had fully expected that alone to render me as one of the more ostentatious of the crowd. I couldn’t have been more incorrect. The streets ran wild with children in full Hogwarts apparel and adults in impressive cosplay of loveable characters, with some highlights being a spot-on Luna Lovegood and a bedraggled Sirius Black complete with an Azkaban prisoner’s uniform. For each childish shriek of glee for the discovery of a Marauder’s Map or book of spells for sale, there was another equally joyous exclamation to come from a parent or grown-up close behind. Just when I thought that imaginative adults were a dying breed, my faith in humanity was successfully restored.

With artistic vendors lining the streets, there was no shortage of gifts and gimmicks to purchase. There were music boxes, coloring books, apothecary remedies, wands, scarves, and my personal favorite, BUTTERBEER. Yes, I can honestly say that the venture which I was most looking forward to was trying was this delectable sounding beverage, and I was most definitely not disappointed. With many different options and deviations to choose from, I went for the simplest and most original form of the drink, which I can only describe as creamy butterscotch nectar with a sparkling zing and a sweet mellowing foam on the top. It was truly transcendent, and I will most definitely be re-creating it in the near future.

As someone who is a fan, but woefully uneducated in the subject of Harry Potter (I’ve only seen the first 3 movies, but plan to remedy this injustice soon), I was definitely a Neville in a realm of Dumbledore’s. The dedication of the people involved was impressive, with even the shops and businesses in the town having decorated for the theme or offering some sort of wizard special. The charming local bookstore, The Bookplate, was well stocked with J.K. Rowling’s work to encourage a surplus of new readers, and the Ravenclaw’s could test their wit at trivia hosted by B.A.D. Alfred’s Distilling. The only suggestion I have would be for more activities round the clock, but as I understand there was already wand building, quidditch, and more. As for myself, an internet deemed Gryffindor, I sported my colors with pride and bravely entered the local bank at my own peril, braving the horde of children whose eyes had a ferocious resolve and a ruthless thirst to win the scavenger hunt.

The Chestertown Bank of Maryland contributed its grounds to this hunt, by completely transforming into Gringotts Wizarding Bank, complete with Gringott himself overseeing two rows of goblin tellers (kids who wore pointed ears and were undeniably professional). The bank was an essential place to begin the scavenger hunt, as it held the first within its open vault, guarded by a dragon perched over the doorframe. This was probably my favorite part of the whole festival (apart from the butterbeer), and it lifted my heart to see how much care had gone into bringing the magic to life. This was the actual sorcery of Chestertown’s Wizarding Weekend; a contagious energy and spirit that was cast by all the people who planned, worked, and attended with open hearts and uninhibited curiosity.

Gringott's Wizarding Bank

Guarding the vault

Gringott, me, and butterbeer

Whether you go for the food trucks, the literary fellowship, the atmosphere, or maybe after reading this, the butterbeer, there is something for everyone at the Chestertown Harry Potter festival. Like me, you don’t have to know everything about the wizarding world, but I can promise that after seeing firsthand the pure enjoyment that it has brought so many, you will want to. So gather up your house, dust off your grimoire, and solemnly swear that you’re up to no good! I hear the festival is going to be even bigger in 2020 ;) In the wise words of Dumbledore himself, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”.