Bubbling potions, magic wands, an array of fantastic beasts and creatures and dozens of other activities helped transform the Chattanooga Choo Choo into the Hogwarts Express, straight out of the world of Harry Potter created in J.K. Rowling’s children’s books.
Hundreds of children and their families, many dressed in “wizarding” robes or as other characters from the books, spent Sunday afternoon immersed in the “Magic of Literacy” event hosted by the local activist group Moms for Social Justice at the Choo Choo.
The event, which grew out of the group’s desire to connect with the community and promote literacy, had even more to offer children and families in its second year.
This year, a smaller group of attendees was able to enter the event an hour ahead of general admission’s staggered entrance times for a special “inclusion hour” for children with special needs or who needed a quieter environment away from the crowds.
Inclusion hour attendees attended a VIP event at Gate 11 Distillery, where they were sorted into one of four “houses” that the fictional Harry Potter and his classmates belong to at their magical boarding school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.