EMMAUS, Pa. - It all started with a cupboard under the stairs.
In Emmaus.
Yes, that’s how the Harry Potter saga also started at 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey, England.
But tucked away under the third floor stairs at Let’s Play Books in Emmaus is the cupboard that has led to a much more local event.
Maddie Hess, 18, the store’s manager, said the first time she saw the cupboard, she told her mom and store owner, Kirsten Hess, that the building along Main Street was the place for them.
That was six years ago, and each year (with exceptions for pandemic years) the store has sponsored a Harry Potter event for all to enjoy.
This year’s event coincides with the release of the illustrated version of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), the fifth book in the J.K. Rowling series.
The event will be held 6-9 p.m. Oct. 22 at Let’s Play Books Bookstore, 244 Main St. Emmaus.
And, as they say, it has everything: “Students” will be sorted into houses at the beginning of the event, then can experience everything from Hogwart’s Great Hall to a trip to the Leaky Cauldron, led by Hagrid, for a butterbeer.
Photos with Hagrid at his hut and at Platform 9 ¾ are welcome.
The $60 per family ticket includes a copy of the book. Contact the store for ticket information
If Harry Potter isn't your cup of tea, we scared up a bunch of other spooky season events you might enjoy:
Lehigh Valley's 'Spooktacular' Hot Air Balloon festival
- Begins at 4 p.m. Friday Oct. 14 at the Slatington Airport
- Events run through Sunday evening.
- Crayola Experience™
- 30 Centre Square., Easton
- (610) 559-6642
- Daily events are included in general admission.
- Da Vinci Science Center
- 3145 Hamilton Blvd. Bypass, Allentown
- (484) 664-1002
- Price: $12.95 Adults & children 3 and up
- Occurs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through Oct. 30 at 4000 Dorney Park Rd., Allentown
- 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29 at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
The Corn Maze/Great Pumpkin Train
- Delaware River Railroad Excursions, 100 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- Trips run 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m.and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31
- Book your trip here.
- 2951 Betz Court, Orefield, PA 18069
- Ticket prices vary
- Cherry Valley Road, Saylorsburg
- Ticket prices vary
Area parades include:
ALLENTOWN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29 beginning at Ninth and Hamilton streets.
BETHLEHEM: Begins 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at West Broad and Main streets.
EASTON/PHILLIPSBURG: Begins 3 p.m. Oct. 30 on McKeen Street in Phillipsburg and ends in Centre Square, Easton.
EMMAUS: Begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Ridge Street and Keystone Avenue. Rain date is 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16.
NORTHAMPTON: 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Rain date: Oct. 27.
NAZARETH: 1 p.m. Oct. 15, rain or shine. Route begins at Belvidere and Liberty streets.
HELLERTOWN: 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23.
COOPERSBURG: Begins at 3 p.m. Oct. 16 on Main Street.