ABOVE: One of this year’s new POTTERFEST participants, the Vermilion County War Museum, had a backdrop that was very popular for pictures.
Once again, the love of fantasy and Harry Potter movies came to Downtown Danville and the Danville Public Library for November’s First Fridays POTTERFEST event. One Danville family, Nick and his wife Kaylee; came all dressed with wands, and not to mention Kaylee’s cape, purchased from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida.
AUDIO: (Nick) We’ve come here the past few years for Potterfest. And I really enjoy seeing all the vendors that come through. It’s always fun to get a little butterbeer. (Kaylee) Our family loves Harry Potter. So we try to come every year. It’s just a blast. They have so much fun; it’s so interactive.
A father and son, Mike and August, waiting for a food truck order; said with August having a birthday in early November, stopping by Potterfest has become a birthday tradition.
AUDIO: (Mike) And we came last year; he liked it so much we wanted to come again. (Steve talking to August) How old are you going to be. Nine. What do you like most about POTTERFEST. Um….spending time with my family.)
One change this year was placing the vendors at Masonic Temple. Courtney and Candace said they were thrilled.
AUDIO: (Courtney) It’s fantastic. I was only able to put in one table last year. So, being able for us to put in three this year is fantastic. (Steve and Candace) And Candace what about you, do you think this is a great change here? I do. I didn’t get to come with her last year, so this is my first time here. And what do you think; first time, first look? I love it.
Another change was taking the Danville Public Library’s contribution of staging scenes and spreading it out to downtown businesses. The library’s Brooke Truscelli said, thought a bit out of breath at the time, it was allowing everyone to see it all; from staged scenes to the Half-Blood Prince movie at the Fischer.
AUDIO: It’s really giving everybody a chance to see all of downtown. They’re not going to miss the movie. They get to see all of the vendors; I think it’s really working.
And for Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr; it was a chance to meet some visitors to Danville, who just had to know what Potterfest was all about.
AUDIO: Tonight I’ve met people from Indiana, from Ohio, one small group of people from Iowa. It’s just really neat to have people coming from all over the place to check this out.
The next First Fridays event in Danville will be the NIGHT OF LIGHTS PARADE; on Friday, December 6th.
