Arts & Entertainment
Could Chestnut Hill's Harry Potter Festival End?
The festival that draws thousands of fans may end after it was hit with a cease and desist letter and deals with financial issues.
CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA – The annual Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival that draws thousands to Philadelphia's Garden District could come to an end, according to a new report.
Chestnut Hill Local reports legal issues and funding concerns could mean the annual October festival is no more.
According to the outlet, in May festival Chestnut Hill Business District, which organizes the festival, got a cease and desist letter from Warner Brothers, which owns the rights to the Harry Potter franchise.
Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"We have had to roll back some of the very Harry Potter specific elements that are copyright controlled by Warner Brothers," Chestnut Hill Business District officials told NBC10. That includes any names or images associated with Harry Potter.
On top of that, the organization was out $50,000 after recouping expenses incurred by the city to cover the festival in 2017.
Find out what's happening in Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This conjunction of unfortunate circumstances has spurred a social media campaign with the hashtag "savetheHPfestival."
Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Helen Ubiñas chastised Warner Brother on Twitter, saying the Harry Potter franchise makes plenty of money.
"You have to crack down on mega fans and their beloved festival," she said on Twitter.
Harry Potter fans have even tried to get Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling in the mix via Twitter to help save the festival.
See what angry Potterheads are saying online below:
Seriously @WarnerBrosEnt, as if the Harry Potter franchise doesn’t make enough money, you have to crack down on mega fans and their beloved festival? Rising costs, legal pressure put end to Hill Potter festival https://t.co/rhlcvuBDv8
— Helen Ubiñas (@NotesFromHeL) June 6, 2018
@wbpictures If people want to celebrate something you own the rights to, why would you stop them? Sure someone else made some money off of something you own... But your actions here only lose face.#SavetheHPfestival
— Eric Moderbacher (@EricModerbacher) June 7, 2018
This is petty and absolutely pound foolish. We’re Chestnut Hillers and our son became a Harry Potter fan because of the festival. We even visited the HP @WarnerBrosEnt studios outside London over spring break. Please don’t make me regret that. #savetheHPfestival https://t.co/qWUYFpSWgI
— youngmoo (@youngmoo) June 7, 2018
@wbpictures really? You won’t let chestnut hill have their Harry Potter festival anymore?? Jerks. Nice taking that away from fans and kids.
— nikkieliz (@nelizabeth777) June 7, 2018
hey @jk_rowling, please help us #savetheHPfestival in philadelphia! i'm a lifelong fan, and the festival is such a joy! please let us bring it back.
— fae runaway (@fifimcfae) June 6, 2018
Image via YouTube screenshot
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