Library to host special event

After being canceled last October because of bad weather, the Atglen Public Library (APL) Di-Atglen Alley Wizard Faire will return on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will be take place around APL, located at 121 Main St., Atglen.

For the past several years, the event has been held in the fall, but organizers decided to move the celebration to spring/early summer to coincide with the kickoff of the library's Summer Reading Program.

"The event was (set for) Oct. 1, and then we got Hurricane Ian. It was actually the wind that shut us down, not the rain," noted Erin Metzler, a member of the organizing committee. "We are basically doing what we had planned last year."

The event, which is open to people of all ages, is an annual celebration of a wizard-themed fantasy book series. Featured will be live entertainment, children's activities and shopping. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume. There is no admission fee, and most of the activities are free.

Upon arrival, attendees will receive a program detailing the events. "There is a formal entrance, which will mean something to the fans (of the literature series)," said Metzler. "The librarians will have a stand where they will hand out the programs and little gift bags to the kids."

Metzler explained that the term Di-Atglen Alley is a spoof of Diagon Alley, a wizarding shopping district in London from the popular book series. "Just like last year, we will close down Main Street in front of the library, and borough hall will be closed. We call that Di-Atglen Alley, our shopping district," she said.

One of the highlights of the day will be the Wizard Academy. "Children will be able to make slime in the potions class, and in the transfiguration class, they will hatch 'dragon eggs,'" said Metzler.

In Di-Atglen Alley, shoppers will find vendors selling wands and other handcrafted, wizard-themed merchandise, as well as butterbeer, which is made from brown sugar, butter syrup and cream soda. There will also be face painting.

Also located in Di-Atglen Alley will be the stage where visitors can watch a live owl show with Dawn White and a magic show with Professor Snark.

A costume contest will be offered for people of all ages at 1:30 p.m. There is no fee to participate, and prizes will be awarded.

There will be two different scavenger hunts - the traditional Sorcerer's Scavenger Scramble and a more challenging game, the Cursed Object Quest.

Metzler pointed out that the event is open to all people, not just those who are familiar with the literature series, noting that the only book-specific event will be Quizzo, where participants will be asked to answer trivia questions about the books.

"It would be fun for people even if they are not fans," she stated. "At the Wizard Academy - what kid doesn't want to make slime or excavate a dragon egg? You don't need to know about the (books) to enjoy the owl show or the magic show."

For more information about the Di-Atglen Alley Wizard Faire, call APL at 610-593-6848 or visit http://www.facebook.com/DiAtglenAlley or http://www.atglenpubliclibrary.org.