Pottering Around Diagon Alley – in Oak Park, Illinois

That’s right, the Chicago Sun-Times mentions that stores along Oak Park Ave. and Lake Street will be turned into Diagon Alley the night of June 20th.

Starting about 9 p.m., the Magic Tree children’s bookstore will become Flourish & Blott’s bookstore, Cafe Winberie morphs into the Leaky Cauldron, and C. Foster Toys will take on the appearance of Quality Quidditch Supplies.

In fact, most of the businesses on the street will shed the mundane for the magical and start selling Harry Potter-inspired merchandise or refreshments.

Even US Bank will become Gringott’s Wizarding Bank, with goblin-led tours to its basement vault.

…

The idea originated with a couple of her employees who noticed the success the nearby Oberweis Dairy had when it stayed open late for the release of the last Harry Potter book, which went on sale at midnight.

[Editor’s Note: The Oberweis Dairy will become Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour for the night.]