Hang on to your sorting hats, Hogwarts fans. Chestnut Hill is transforming into Diagon Alley for an epic Harry Potter Weekend, October 14-16.

The event coincides with the free, open-to-the-public 2nd Annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Quidditch Cup Tournament at Chestnut Hill College, Saturday, October 15, noon-6 p.m. Cheer on your favorite team, whether it’s Vassar, Penn State, John Hopkins, University of Maryland, Stonybrook, Jetpack Ninja Dinosaurs or the State College Area High School Quidditch Club.

Chestnut Hill neighborhood businesses have planned a weekend of spellbinding events around the tournament. The festivities kick off Friday, October 14 at 6 p.m. with the ceremonial releasing of Hedwig the Owl by Hogwarts’ beloved headmaster Dumbledore, along with a parade of Quidditch teams at the Top of the Hill Plaza.

On Friday night, there will also be a Harry Potter-themed pub crawl from 7-9 p.m., at five popular participating locales along Germantown Avenue including Tavern on the Hill, McNally’s, Campbell’s, Chestnut Grill and Chestnut 7. To be followed by a spooky ghost tour.

All weekend long, shops and restaurants will magically change into places right off J.K. Rowling’s pages. Robertson’s Flowers blossoms into the Greenhouse at Hogwarts, complete with Professor Sprout teaching herbology; McNally’s Tavern becomes the Leaky Cauldron; the Night Kitchen Bakery transforms into Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop; and O’Doodles Toy Store will be transformed to Weasley’s Wizarding Wheeezes.

Stagecrafters Theater will also host Defense against the Dark Arts classes and Valley Green-gotts Bank challenges you to face the goblin. Even Morris Arboretum’s Scarecrow Contest gets caught in the spell, featuring a category devoted to Harry Potter.

Enjoy an enchanting weekend of wizards, potions, spells, scavenger hunts, falconry, wizard chess, parades and more. Come one, come all; even Muggles are invited.

Stay tuned for a full guide post next week.

Harry Potter Weekend in Chestnut Hill

When: October 14-16

Where: Throughout Chestnut Hill

Cost: Free

More info: www.chestnuthillpa.com