Putting on parties for Potter

Two more days. The final Harry Potter volume hits the bookshelves at midnight tomorrow and stores and libraries are conjuring up all kinds of wizardly fun to fill those final moments of waiting.

MetroWest muggles have plenty of options, from edible wand making to Potter film fests to a Potter Extravaganza at the Perkins School for the Blind, where a foot-and-a-half-tall, 10-volume stack of the Braille version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will be raffled off after members of the Boston Celtics read the first chapter aloud and a marching band plays.

"This is the last Harry Potter book. This is historic. There will never be another one. This is the last chance to celebrate before the series ends," said children's librarian Mark Malcolm, of Maynard Public Library. "If that isn't reason to celebrate, I don't know what is."

Like many other libraries, Maynard Library is extending its hours to join in the festivities. Their Potter Party Friday night includes a Tri-Wizard Tournament and a mysterious voice that will sort all visitors into one of the four Hogwarts houses. Elsewhere, librarians and booksellers are getting just as creative. Bellingham Public Library, for one, will be playing quidditch with balloons and foam pool noodles for bats.

"It will be organized chaos," librarian Nina Hunt said with a laugh.

While many bashes at stores lead up to the midnight moment when the books go on sale, library patrons still have hope. The Minuteman Library Network currently has more than 1,000 holds on the final volume, but many branches still have copies set aside on a first-come, first-served basis. Still others are holding contests and drawings at their parties to determine who will be first to check out the book. And should you not get your copy, Waltham Public Library will be playing the audio version nonstop all day in the Children's Room on Saturday.

For muggle meet-ups, here's where to go. All events are free unless noted.

Bellingham

Midnight Magic Party tomorrow, 8 p.m., Barnes & Noble, Stallbrook Marketplace, 270 Hartford Ave. 508-966-7600. Costume party with wizards tournament, photos with Harry Potter cutout, drawing contests, coloring contest, and Birtie Bott's bean counting contest.

Harry Potter Trivia Quiz and Book Discussion for young adults Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. and Harry Potter Birthday Party and Interactive Movie July 31, 1 p.m., Bellingham Public Library, 100 Blackstone St. 508-966-1660. BellinghamLibrary.org. This Rocky Horror-style interactive screening of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" starts with make-your-own props such as wands, snitches, and birthday cakes. Then as the movie rolls, everybody uses their props to join in the action.

Bolton

Find the Snitch July 27, 2 p.m. Bolton Public Library, 738 Main St. 978-779-2839. http://www.boltonma.us/library.php. Easter egg-style hunt for "Golden Snitches."

Framingham

Midnight Magic Party, tomorrow, 8 p.m., Barnes & Noble, One Worcester Road. 508-626-2823. Costume party with professional caricaturist, magic potion demonstration, trivia contest, costume parade, wand making, face painting, tattoos, games, giveaways, and a gallery of write-it-yourself/draw-it-yourself Potter series endings.

Franklin

Wizard's Workshop Saturday, 2 p.m., Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St. 508-520-4940. For ages 7 and up. franklin.ma.us/auto/town/library/.

Holliston

Lunch with Harry Saturday, 11:30 a.m. Holliston Public Library, 752 Washington St. Potter activity sheets, a craft, and a pizza lunch. For ages 6 and up. 508-429-0619. hollistonlibrary.org/.Hopkinton

Harry Potter Day Tomorrow, Hopkinton Public Library, 13 Main St., 508-497-9777. hopkintonlibrary.org. 1 p.m. "Larry Potter and the Sorcerer's Poem" for younger children. 3 p.m. "Professor McGonagall" (aka children's librarian Denise Kofron ) discusses how the series may end. 5-9 p.m. Costume party with games, crafts, refreshments. 7 p.m. All Harry Potter trivia for kids over age 10.

Marlborough

Potter Trivia Contest Tomorrow, 3 p.m., Marlborough Public Library, 35 West Main St. 508-624-6900. Test you HP IQ and speculate on how the series will end. For ages 10 and up.

Grand Hallows Ball 9:30 p.m.-midnight tomorrow, Waldenbooks, 601 Donald Lynch Boulevard. 508-480-8321. Costume party with magical music, wizard games, spelling bee, face painting, prizes, giveaways.

Maynard

Potter Party at Maynard Public Library, 77 Nason St. 978-897-1010. Tomorrow, 8-11 p.m. At 11 p.m., guests can go across the street to The Paper Store, which will hold a costume contest and sell the book beginning at midnight. Costume party with a Tri-Wizard Tournament, a live action trivia board game where players move across a large game board, and wizard fashion show, edible wand making, potion making, and sorting of guests into Hogwarts houses by a mysterious voice.

Millis

Costume Parade and Wand Workshop. Tomorrow, 2 p.m., Millis Public Library, 25 Auburn Road, 508-376-8282. millislibrary.org.

Natick

Harry Potter Celebration at Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St. 508-647-6522. morseinstitute.org. Tomorrow, 10:30 a.m., "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" screening. 2:30 p.m., "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" screening. Potter Party for Muggles Saturday, 10:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., for children entering grades 4-8 with live reptile and magic science demonstrations, wand making, and games. Reservations required.

Newton

Potter Party From 9 p.m. tomorrow to 12:01 a.m. Saturday, New Art Center, 61 Washington Park. Newtonville Books hosts a costume party with film screening, games, crafts, prizes, music, and snacks.

Hogwarts at the Book Fair Tomorrow, 8:30 p.m.-midnight, New England Mobile Book Fair, 82 Needham St. 617-964-7440. nebookfair.com. Costume party with magic show (9:30 p.m.), costume contest, crafts, ghost stories, and prizes.

Midnight Magic Party Tomorrow, 8 p.m.-midnight, Barnes & Noble, 170 Boylston St. (Route 9), Chestnut Hill, 617-965-7621.Costume party with photos with Harry Potter cut-out, face painting, crafts, writing contest, and Birtie Bott's Every Flavor Beans counting contest.

Sherborn

Potter Events at Sherborn Public Library, 4 Sanger St. 508-653-0770. Aug. 7, 3-4 p.m. Wizard crafts: make your own paper owls, paper dragons, and Harry Potter eyeglasses. Aug. 21, 3-4 p.m., trivia contest for kids 10 and up. Aug. 23, 2-3 p.m. Magic for Muggles, ages 7 and up. Reservations required.

Shrewsbury

Grand Hallows Ball Tomorrow, 9:30 p.m.-midnight, Borders, 476 Boston Turnpike. 508-845-8665. Costume party with music, games, spelling bee, prizes, giveaways.

Southborough

Potter Party Tomorrow, 1-3 p.m., Southborough Public Library, 25 Main St. 508-485-5031. Trivia contest, games, make-your-own Marauder's Maps and golden snitches, Hogwarts coloring activity, and Goblet of Fire drawing to check out the book on Monday.

Upton

Potter Party and Film Fest at Upton Public Library, 2 Main St. 508-529-6272. http://webpages.charter.net/uptonlib/. Tomorrow, 4 p.m.-midnight, back-to-back screenings of the first four Potter movies, with crafts, games, snacks, and drawing to get to check out the book at midnight.

Waltham

Magical Madness Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St. 781-314-3425. http://waltham.lib.ma.us/. Audio book of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will play nonstop all day. Coloring and activity sheets, tattoos, wand pencils.

Watertown

Harry Potter Extravaganza Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, 175 North Beacon St. 617-972-7242. Please reserve in advance. Residents of Watertown, and Perkins library members, will have preference. Marching band, first chapter readings by Boston Celtics team members, crafts, snacks.

Wayland

Wizard's Workshop Tomorrow, 11 a.m.-noon, Wayland Public Library, 5 Concord Road. 508-358-2311. waylandlibrary.org. Ages 7 and up. Reservations required.

Wellesley

Harry Potter Countdown Day Tomorrow, noon-6 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m., Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St. 781-235-1610. wellesleyfreelibrary.org. Potter films at noon and 3:15 p.m. Evening party with crafts, a visiting wizard, games, prizes, refreshments. Bring a flashlight for the 8:30 p.m. parade to Wellesley Booksmith's Harry Potter Party, 9 p.m.-midnight, 82 Central St., 781-431-1160. wellesleybooksmith.com. Costume party with games, prizes, crafts.

Weston

Potter Film Fest Today, 10 a.m.-9:45 p.m., Weston Public Library, 87 School St. 781-893-3312. Screenings of four Potter movies. Dress up and have your picture taken for the Hogwarts alumni board (costumes available at library).

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