As a mega Harry Potter nerd and a proud Slytherin, I was beyond excited to hear that the international Harry Potter Yule Ball celebration had made its way to Sydney. Following successful seasons across the globe, including Milan and Houston, there was no way I was going to miss my chance at dancing in the Great Hall and putting my name in the Goblet of Fire. While not quite as good as receiving an invitation to Hogwarts (is anything, though?), attending the celebration at Paddington Town Hall is certainly a close second. As a deluxe ticket holder, you get to bypass most of the queue which snakes around the outskirts of the building - and if you get there 15 minutes prior to your session time, like I had, expect a line!
Walking up the stairs of the Paddington Town Hall truly feels transportive. The banisters are adorned with festive greenery and in the foyer there are numerous themed photo opportunities to commemorate the experience - all of this before you even step into the hall! The foyer also connects to the bar, where you'll find a variety of themed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There's a mocktail and cocktail named after each of the House founders, and then a specialty brew. I tried the non-alcoholic Butterbeer (a compulsory part of the evening if I do say so myself) which was creamy and sweet, a refreshing butterscotch moment. Though not as delicious as the frozen butterbeer at Universal Studios, it still elicited the same fantastical feeling of being in Hogsmeade. I also tried the Hogsmeade Mulled Wine, which was the alcoholic specialty concotion. Australian wine and brandy steeped with orange and spices. It was my first time trying mulled wine, and while it took me a minute to recover from its strength, it was warm and sweet and really emphasised yuletide cosiness.
The event itself is loosely structured, allowing guests to roam about the premises as they please, and join in on the activities and 'plot' of the night if they so choose. The character actors were all vibrant and interacted with guests - children and adult alike - with charm, while also contributing some banter amongst themselves which helped you feel like you were witnessing some friendly Hogwarts rivalry in action. The kitchen serves up some more Wizarding favourites like treacle tart (which was delicious), and across from it you'll find the merchandise stall (or 'marketplace') which sells generic Harry Potter merch as well as souvenir merch exclusive to the Yule Ball.
I think the most special part of the evening was witnessing how much fun the children had. I can only imagine how much fun I'd have had if this opportunty was presented to me when I was younger. Still, there's much fun to be had as an adult as well. If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll find plenty of authenticity in this experience to have a great night, especially if you choose to dress the part and embrace your inner witch or wizard. Plus, what better way to embrace the recent miserable Sydney weather than by experiencing 'Christmas in July' with cosy, British festivities?
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