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Stuffed animals receiving their acceptance letters into Hogwarts. | Credit: Courtesy 
Mr. Weasley’s car stuck in a tree. | Credit: Courtesy 
Stuffed animals waiting for their turn with the Sorting Hat. | Credit: Courtesy 
Stuffed animals eating in the Great Hall. | Credit: Courtesy 
Stuffed animals reading in the Restricted Section. | Credit: Courtesy
GOLETA, CA, November 2, 2022 – Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend the night at Hogwarts? On Friday, October 28th over 200 “stuffies” got to experience the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter firsthand at Goleta Valley Library’s Stuffed Animal Sleepover: Harry Potter edition! The library staff was well prepared for a great turnout and were thrilled to see a total of 219 stuffed animals dropped off this year for a magic-filled “all-nighter.”
“We were so thrilled to be able to host this event again,” said Linda Hori, Library Assistant at Goleta Valley Library. “Before the event officially started, the line was already out the door with families and children eager to drop off their stuffies at Platform 9 ¾.” While in line, many participants entered the “Guess the Pumpkin’s Weight” contest for a chance to win Harry Potter memorabilia.
The sleepover was anything but restful as our animal friends were whisked away on a variety of magical adventures and shenanigans. All stuffies started off their journey with the Sorting Hat to join their official Hogwarts House. With their scarves in hand, they loaded their suitcases onto the Hogwarts Express, then had dinner in the Great Hall, played a round of Quidditch, and even snuck into the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library! A small group of stuffies arrived late but were able to take Mr. Weasley’s flying car through the Forbidden Forest to make it just in time for the celebration. While all the stuffed animal guests were very well-behaved, there were a couple of House Slytherin stuffies that managed to achieve a bit of light-hearted mischief through the night.
The two-day wizarding event culminated on Saturday with a special Harry Potter celebration. Guests were able to take pictures with Dumbledore and Hedwig, find out their House with the Sorting Hat, become the face of Azkaban’s “Most Wanted,” and take home a collection of photographs from their stuffed animals’ visit to Hogwarts.
Every visitor got to enjoy one final surprise: a personalized acceptance letter from Hogwarts! Their letter included a goodie bag with a wand, glasses, and of course, a bookmark.
As a great wizard once said, “When in doubt, go to the library.”
Thank you to the many families who participated in the library’s second Stuffed Animal Sleepover of the year. And a very special thank you to the library staff who made this magical event so memorable, with the help of 23 terrific adult and teen volunteers.
There is always something fun and interesting happening at the Goleta Valley Library. Visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org to check out the Events Calendar to see all of the great things planned, including storytimes, book clubs, crafts, and much more!
