Don't worry if your Hogwarts acceptance letter got lost in the mail – either way, you'll soon be able to hop on the Hogwarts Express with a new “Harry Potter” experience.
Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure will open at the Southern California Railroad Museum this summer for visitors to experience the Wizarding World's rite of passage aboard an actual moving train in the Inland Empire. The experience will take place from July 24 to September 27. Yes, that includes Back to Hogwarts Day on September 1st.
A Hogwarts Express adventure will include a Platform 9¾-themed boarding experience, as well as House competitions and chants, spell-casting challenges and other interactive activities on board the train. Guests will also be able to grab some themed treats from the cart. The train ride will end in a Hogsmeade-inspired town where more food, drinks and merchandise will be available.
The Rail Events Inc. press release also teases a possible encounter with “a dark and mysterious force.” The company, also known for the Polar Express train ride, developed A Hogwarts Express Adventure alongside Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.
This is a big year for “Harry Potter” fans. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,” a new television series based on the popular book series by author JK Rowling, will debut on HBO Max on Christmas Day. The show will introduce audiences to a new Golden Trio, played by Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter), Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley) and Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), as they embark on their journey to Hogwarts. (Rowling remains controversial for her views on trans women.)
Ticket sales for A Hogwarts Express Adventure will begin April 28, with prices starting at $77 for adults and $67 for children ages 2 to 11, depending on departure time.
