I don’t think there is a Harry Potter fan out there who hasn’t wished at one point or another that they could actually attend Hogwarts. Thanks to the LARP (live action role play) group Liveform and Rollespilsfabrikken, you can now do just that (sort of).
Fashionably Geek reports that The College of Wizardry is a LARPing group started by various volunteers and Harry Potter fans from Denmark and Poland. The first College of Wizardry event happened in November of 2014, and had 190 participants from 11 different countries. The event lasted for four amazing days, and because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Liveform and Rollespilsfabrikken will be holding two more events in April of 2015.
That’s right. That means YOU can join in the Harry Potter LARPing fun! Technically you won’t be studying magic at Hogwarts, but you will be studying at the Czocha College of Wizardry.The college is in an actual castle in Poland. That’s a bit of a hike if you’re American, but I’m pretty sure it’s worth it to cast off the bonds of being Muggle-born for a bit, don’t you think?
If I’ve convinced you to join in the LARPping fun, sign ups start on December 11th. Once you get to the castle, you’ll be sorted into one of the college’s five houses - Durentius, Faust, Libussa, Molin, or Sendivogius - and you can pursue one of five areas of study: aurors, curse-breakers, healers, magizoologists, or the unspeakables) (the LARP and all classes are in English). It costs 280 euros--about $346 USD -- to participate, and that price includes lodging and meals, but not transportation to the castle. The college will also provide students with robes, books, and a tie in your house color for the duration of the LARP.
With J.K. Rowling writing several short stories for Pottermore, and a new movie entering the Harry Potter universe, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Harry Potter fandom is experiencing a bit of a resurrection. I can’t think of a better way to welcome a new film to the Harry Potter universe than spending a few days studying magic in a castle in Poland.
The College has room for 114 LARPers, and unlimited room for anyone who wants to participate as a non-player character --you’ll just have to provide your own transportation and lodging. You also have to be at least 18 to participate. They have warded the sign ups to know if a participant has used an age-progression spell to participate prior to their 18th birthday, so don’t even think about it. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you how those age-progression spells worked out for Fred and George Weasley when they tried to prematurely sign up for the Tri-Wizards Tournament.
I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna have to start practice apparating so I can get to Poland easily. To get a better sense of the experience, head over to Page 2, where you can watch a special trailer about the event!
