Frost Farm

When it gets close to any of my kids’ birthdays, I go into full planning mode. I love a good theme and tend to go all out. So when my oldest daughter asked for a Harry Potter birthday, I was thrilled—there are just so many magical ideas to run with!

Right away, I pictured a long banquet-style table for her and all her guests, with floating candles above and moody, magical lighting. I knew I needed a great backdrop and a tablescape that felt straight out of the Great Hall.

To make the floating candles, I started saving paper towel rolls months in advance. I also ordered a bulk box of hot glue sticks because I knew I was going to need a lot.

Here’s how I made them:

• First, I cut the top of each roll jagged to look like a melted candle.
• Then I criss-crossed Scotch tape over the opening to make a little hammock for a flameless tealight to rest in.
• I made sure the tealight didn’t stick out too far, and then got to work dripping hot glue down the sides—layering until I was happy with the look.
• Once they were all dry, I spray-painted them white.
• Finally, I used a needle to poke a hole and thread fishing line through so I could string them up like a floating candle garland.

It was simple, just a bit time-consuming—but 100% worth it. The end result was pure magic, and my daughter’s face said it all.

For the food setup, I created our very own Honeydukes Sweet Shop, and it was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire party. I staged all the treats in front of a backdrop and brought in real plants to frame the scene—so it felt like you were peeking into the storefront from the outside. The whole thing had such a charming, whimsical vibe.

Here’s what I served:

• Chocolate Frogs (of course!)
• “Magic Wands” – red licorice sticks
• Golden Snitches – truffles with golden wings I found on Amazon
• “Slytherin Snakes” – gummy worms
• “Huffle Puffs” – Cheetos Puffs
• “Dragon Eggs” – brownie bites in mini muffin form

It all came together so well—so realistic that the kids genuinely felt like they were standing in front of the real Honeydukes! Seeing their eyes light up made every little detail worth it. It’s honestly my driving force in doing all of this work. When I see kids so excited about the details it melts my heart.

For the table setup, I wanted it to feel like we had stepped straight into the Great Hall. Since our table is white, I ordered a wood grain-style plastic tablecloth from Amazon to give it a more rustic, Hogwarts-worthy look. I even wrapped part of the walls with it to extend the illusion and make the whole space feel more immersive.

I loaded the table with tons of candles (both real and flameless) to set a warm, moody vibe. At each place setting, every guest got their own pair of Harry Potter glasses and a scar tattoo—which they loved.

To add a fun activity, I created a Harry Potter trivia game and placed it on the table so the kids could test their knowledge of the books. It turned out to be such a hit—everyone got super into it and it added another layer of magic to the day!

Outside, I set up a Quidditch Pitch so the kids could actually play! Each player got a broomstick—and the only rule was that they had to stay on their broom the entire game. They ran around tossing a ball through goals made of hula hoops, and it was just as chaotic and hilarious as it sounds!

I bought all the supplies—brooms, balls, and hula hoops—from Dollar Tree, so it was super affordable. For the goals, I created a DIY stand that worked really well:

• I cut through one side of each hula hoop
• Then inserted the ends into a PVC pipe tee
• I used different lengths of PVC pipe to raise them to various heights
• Finally, I just stuck them right into the ground

It was simple, sturdy, and looked so good set up in the yard. The kids had an absolute blast playing—and it brought so much fun energy to the party!

This Harry Potter party was truly one for the books. From floating candles in the “Great Hall” to sweet treats at Honeydukes and a high-energy game of backyard Quidditch, every detail came together to create a day full of laughter, imagination, and magic. Seeing the kids so immersed and joyful made all the planning completely worth it. I’ll treasure this memory forever—and I think the kids will too.✨⚡️