Universal Orlando Releases 2016 Celebration of Harry Potter Schedule

If you’ve been anxiously awaiting an official 2016 Celebration of Harry Potter schedule of events from Universal Orlando, you can relax because your owl has arrived! Universal has just announced the full rundown of public happenings during their annual Wizarding World weekend, which runs January 29-31, 2016.

Activities over the three day Celebration of Harry Potter include Q&A sessions with cast members from the hit movies, panels with artists who worked on the films and parks, and special demonstrations and exhibits relating to Potter lore. In 2016, the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios Florida will be dedicated during the day to kids activities, in addition to hosting the headliner events in the evenings, while Toon Lagoon amphitheater in Islands of Adventure will reopen during the daytime for sessions aimed at adult fans.

All of the below listed activities are open to all park goers, including annual passholder, without needing an extra ticket. One thing you won’t see on the list is autograph sessions with the film stars. After the intense demand for limited autograph tickets last year, Universal has restricted the signings solely to those who purchased special hotel packages (which sold out long ago).

Here is the full schedule of 2016 Celebration of Harry Potter activities:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

• Harry Potter Expo (Soundstage 33) 9am – 6pm
• Movie in the Park (Music Plaza Stage) 1:30pm – 4:30pm
• Opening Night Event (Music Plaza Stage) 7:30pm – 8pm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

• Harry Potter Expo (Soundstage 33) 9am – 4:30pm
• Kids’ Duelling Demonstration & Wand Masterclass with Paul Harris (Music Plaza Stage) 10am – 10:30am
• Kids’ Harry Potter Film Trivia (Music Plaza Stage) 10:45am – 11am
• Bringing the Harry Potter Films to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Toon Amphitheater) 11am-11:30am
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons, Battle Like a Durmstrang (Music Plaza Stage) 11:30am – 12pm
• The Global Impact of Harry Potter: The Exhibition (Toon Amphitheater) 1pm-1:30pm
• Kids’ Harry PotterTM Film Trivia (Music Plaza Stage) 2pm – 2:15pm
• Graphic Design for the Harry Potter Films with MinaLima (Toon Amphitheater) 2pm-2:30pm
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons, Battle Like a Durmstrang (Music Plaza Stage) 2:45pm – 3:15pm
• Harry Potter Props Showcase with Acclaimed Prop Maker Pierre Bohanna (Toon Amphitheater) 3pm-3:45pm
• Behind the Scenes: Harry PotterTM Film Talent Q&A Session (Music Plaza Stage) 4:15pm – 5pm
• House Rally (Music Plaza Stage) 5:30pm – 6pm
• Harry Potter Film Tribute (Music Plaza Stage) 6:45pm – 7:45pm

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

• Harry Potter Expo (Soundstage 33) 9am – 6pm
• Kids’ Duelling Demonstration & Wand Masterclass with Paul Harris (Music Plaza Stage) 10am – 10:30am
• Kids’ Harry PotterTM Film Trivia (Music Plaza Stage) 10:45am – 11am
• Harry PotterTM Props Showcase with Acclaimed Prop Maker Pierre Bohanna (Toon Amphitheater) 11am – 11:45am
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons & Battle Like a Durmstrang (Music Plaza Stage) 11:30am – 12pm
• Bringing the Harry PotterTM Films to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Toon Amphitheater) 1pm – 1:30pm
• Kids’ Harry PotterTM Film Trivia (Music Plaza Stage) 2pm – 2:15pm
• Graphic Design for the Harry Potter Films with MinaLima (Toon Amphitheater) 2pm – 2:30pm
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons, Battle Like a Durmstrang (Music Plaza Stage) 2:45pm – 3:15pm
• The Global Impact of Harry PotterTM: The Exhibition (Toon Amphitheater) 3pm – 3:30pm
• Behind the Scenes: Harry Potter Film Talent Q&A Session (Music Plaza Stage) 4pm-4:45pm

You can also download the full schedule from Universal’s website.

As always, the Harry Potter Expo of props and interactive exhibits in Universal Studios Florida’s Soundstage 33 will be popular; get in line early or be prepared to wait. The Celebration should swell attendance in the parks’ Wizarding World sections and the spots where events are held, but the impact on attraction wait times elsewhere should be slight.