After seven books and eleven years, five films and countless fan creations, there is as much to celebrate and explore about Harry Potter as ever. Terminus has created not only daytime programming for attendees that analyzes the most famous boy wizard of our time, but more convivial events, which will provide attendees with a chance to explore Harry’s world, discuss the minutiae of the series, and celebrate the completed story that brought us together.
If you are looking for our keynote presentations featuring Harry Potter editor Cheryl Klein and fantasy author Tamora Pierce, please click here to visit our Keynote Presentations page.
Communal Banquets
We offer the Arrival Dinner and the Departure Breakfast, communal events that will start and end our conference. These meals provide attendees with an opportunity to convene and chat – not to mention anticipate what is to come or reflect on what came before. Both the Arrival Dinner and the Departure Breakfast are included with a registration at no extra charge, and we hope that your travel plans will allow you to join us for both.
Arrival Dinner
Thursday, August 7, 2008
7:00 – 9:00 p.m
Menu: Garlic bread; arugula, frisée and radicchio salad with aged balsamic vinegar and shaved parmesan; chilled, grilled marinated zucchini, asparagus, portobello mushrooms and yellow summer squash; sautéed broccoli with lemon zest; tri-color cheese tortellini with marinara sauce; Chicago’s own deep-dish pizzas in spinach, sausage and onion, and cheese; Italian beef sandwiches with toppings of sweet green peppers and spicy giardiniera; and a selection of desserts.
Departure Breakfast
Monday, August 11, 2008
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Menu: Assorted muffins, Danish and croissants; sliced seasonal fruits; frittata (individually baked omelet) topped with garden fresh vegetables; apple-spice crepes; crispy hash browns; maple sausage; and assorted fruit juices, coffee and tea.
Evening Events
We have planned three evening events, each highlighting a different aspect of our enthusiasm for the series. All three – The North Star Live!, Artists and Authors Night and the Bon Voyage Ball – are included with a registration at no extra charge.
Talk Show
On Friday, The North Star Live!, our wizarding talk show, invites attendees to sit in our studio audience while several hosts interview guests about their Harry Potter experiences. Segments of The North Star Live! will be dedicated to fan works, academia and community, and our hosts will attempt to discover what makes Harry different, why we’ve followed his path with him, and how he’s changed our lives, our classrooms, our businesses, and our imaginations.
Fan Community Showcase
Saturday night will bring a different focus: the online fan community. Artists and Authors Night will showcase the creativity, talent and passion of Harry Potter fans. Terminus invited fanfiction writers, fanartists, crafters, podcasters, and others to demonstrate what they’ve done, and we’re thrilled to say that many of them will be on hand to demonstrate their craft and celebrate the fan community. Artists and Authors Night will feature a myriad of creative fan pursuits inspired by Harry Potter.
Bon Voyage Ball
On Sunday evening, as we prepare for Terminus to come to an end the following day, we will feature a Bon Voyage Ball. In grand style, with streamers and signs, champagne and toasting, we’ll dance the night away in salute to Harry. While J. K. Rowling moves on to her next journey, and we bid adieu to her part of the story, we will celebrate what she’s given us, the journeys we’ve taken, and the strangers who have become friends.
Pan-Magical Games
Once in every wizarding generation, wizards and witches gather from around the globe to compete for honor and glory in the Pan-Magical Games, a series of noble, magical competitions. All in good fun, Terminus is pleased to host this generation’s Pan-Magical Games as part of the conference. After the Arrival Dinner, the Games will officially open with the first matches of Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge, and the weekend will include the famed Trade Winds Tournament, more of Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge, writing and art challenges, an art gallery, puzzles of logical deduction and more. The Games encompass a variety of competitions to appeal to a variety of competitors, and all of the Games are included with a registration except for the Trade Winds Tournament and Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge. Those tournaments provide players with a team jersey, and therefore, players must pay a registration fee to participate; if players choose to register for both tournaments, however, they will receive a $5.00 discount. Non-attendees are welcome to sign up for the Trade Winds Tournament as well, though Thoth’s Tournament of Knowledge is available only to Terminus attendees. Please see our Pan-Magical Games section for more details about the competitions.
Wizard Rock
As a special pre-conference event, we are presenting Wrock Chicago, a wizard rock concert featuring 30 bands all celebrating Harry Potter! The concert will start at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, and last until 1:00 a.m., taking over three stages in the Hilton Chicago Hotel. The event costs $20 for Terminus attendees, and $30 for those who are not attending the conference. Please see our Wrock Chicago page for more information on the world’s largest wizard rock concert, including a list of participating bands!