300 Harry Potter fans gathered outside the Scholastic building in New York City to take part in a flash mob in honor of the soon-to-be released eighth Harry Potter story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The video embedded above features a recording of the “Muggle Mob” event.
Here’s more from the press release: “The fans, all Scholastic employees and their children, flooded onto the street reading from a favorite Harry Potter book and stopping traffic in the busy SoHo area. At the culmination of the estimated two-and-a-half minute event, the fans lowered their books and raised up paddles showing the cover of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, drawing cheers throughout the neighborhood. As the crowd dispersed, “Muggle Mob” participants handed out their Harry Potter books from the Harry Potter series 1-7 to lucky passersby, sharing the gift of books and reading.”
Preview performances for the Cursed Child play began on June 7 at the Palace Theatre in London. The official opening night will take place on July 30. One day later, on July 31, the world will celebrate the birthdays of Harry Potter and his creator J.K. Rowling and welcome the arrival of the Cursed Child script book.