The Goblet of Fire—a Hogwarts event that takes place every five years—has made its way to the Honors College at Pace University! An evening filled with anticipation, glory, and of course magic swept through the halls of 1 Pace Plaza to inspire the Honors students as they participated in this year’s honorary Potter Night. As a freshman, this was my very first (and may I say, the first of many) Potter Night experience.: I solemnly swear it was a magical way to spend my Friday night.
The annual event celebrates the magic and wonder of the Harry Potter universe. Each year, Honors students gather together to watch one of the seven movies throughout the franchise. The chosen movie of 2024 was Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, following the chronological order. To really excite the night and take yuletides to another level, each student had the opportunity to nominate themselves for our own Goblet of Fire! Or, in this case, the Goblet of Honors. As a tried-and-true Hufflepuff myself, I was ecstatic to be a part of this fictional event come to life. It reignited in me the Harry Potter enthusiasm I had somewhat forgotten. It was great to get back in touch with my roots, especially in an environment where everyone was as interested as I was!
The decor inside Lecture Hall North transformed what was once a classroom to what now was akin to the celebrated Great Hall of Hogwarts School. Lining the walls were colors reminiscent of the four houses, magic wands that were available as keepsakes, and other spooky items such as spider webs and eerie Halloween skeletons. It got me in the spirit for the upcoming holiday, a gift within a gift! The Honors Advisory Board did a wonderful job at putting together this magical event, a very big round of applause for the magical work done to make this event come to life. Much recognition is deserved by our fabulous professors who most definitely pre-gamed with some Polyjuice Potion. Bill as Dumbledore was nothing short of fantastic, and Jackie totally deserves some praise for the Bellatrix Lestrange costume that caught the eye of many. Once again, this event combines Harry Potter festivities with the whimsy of Halloween; the mischief is perfectly managed!
Of course, I can’t talk about Potter Night without mentioning the food. My personal favorite was the “Chocolate Wands”. In this case, the ‘wands’ were long pretzel sticks that were half dipped in chocolate. A simple treat yes, but I couldn’t get enough of them. A fan favorite, however, I noted amongst my peers was the butterbeer fudge. Sweet enough to satisfy, but also rich in a caramelly taste that was truly evocative of the flavors of Hogsmeade. Watching the film whilst snacking on the playful treats totally set the mood for a fantastical evening.
Potter Night definitely instills its spot as one of the best Honors Events of the year. Recounting the night, I am already looking forward to what festivities are to be brought next year. Surely, it is not something to be missed; mischief managed!