It’s become a wickedly magical night of the year.

Harry Potter book nights are a chance for the millions of Harry Potter fans – and we’re talking children through to teenagers and adults – to put on costumes, read the stories and revel in the magic of the stories by JK Rowling. And it's the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone this year.

This year’s theme is The Professors of Hogwarts. Whether it was the suave charm of Gilderoy Lockhart or the dark complexity of Severus Snape, the professors of Hogwarts had a big impact on young Harry’s adventures at Hogwarts.

BOOK NIGHTS IN KENT

Harry Potter Book Night: The Professors of Hogwarts at Waterstones in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, on Thursday, February 2 between 5pm and 6pm.

The night is also being held at Waterstones in Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells between 6pm and 8pm.

In Ashford, the celebrations at Waterstones in County Square shopping centre include a Hogwarts quiz at 4pm, fancy dress competition at 5pm and Hunt the Professors game.
At Bluewater the celebrations are at Waterstones in the centre’s West Village from 3pm to 7pm.

Visitors can wear the sorting hat, choose a wand, take part in quizzes and a treasure hunt and enter the fancy dress competition.

It is free and you do not need to book. For details call 01322 624831.

A book night on the same date at Sittingbourne library is fully booked, but you can go on the waiting list by calling 03000 413131 or emailing sittingbournelibrary@kent.gov.uk

THE SERIES

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the book that created a whole new generation of readers.

Starting with an initial hardback print run of just 500 copies, it has gone on to sell more than 450m copies in 79 languages, inspire a film franchise, a spellbinding theatre production and, most recently, a prequel book and film.

The boy who found himself living in the cupboard under the stairs grew up and went on to fight his demons in a good versus evil epic battle, with millions of children growing up with him and following the story every inch of the way.

As part of a year of celebrations, Bloomsbury Publishing and the British Library will hold an exhibition about the magic of Harry Potter, inspired by J K Rowling’s masterpiece, at the British Library in London. Harry Potter: A History of Magic will run from Friday, October 20 to Wednesday, February 28, 2018. For details go to bl.uk/harry-potter or call 0330 333 1144.

A GOOD READ

The Harry Potter books continue to inspire youngsters to pick one up and read.

So much so that the books continue to be in the Top 10 bestsellers.

In hardback this week, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J K Rowling, which has also been released as a film, is No.5 while Harry Potter And The Cursed Child - Parts One & Two by J K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, released last year, is No.9. On ebooks, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone is No.8.

(Charts courtesy of Waterstones and amazon.co.uk)

GET IN TOUCH

Taking part in a Harry Potter book nght? Share your pictures with us at @KMWhatson, and use #HarryPotter BookNight! You can also share your pictures on our Facebook page: facebook.com/KMWhatsOn