Festival all day Tuesday at library and around downtown Norman

By Adam Scott

entertainment editor

It's humbling to think MuggleFest, this year's event in downtown Norman for fans of the Harry Potter novels, was sparked by a single band playing one gig last summer.

Of course, that was no ordinary band, says Norman Public Library librarian Lee Hall.

"We invited Harry and the Potters to Oklahoma last year in Moore. It was such a huge success we decided to do it again."

Harry and the Potters, a band from Boston with songs all inspired by the Harry Potter novels, "kicked off a summer 'Reading and Rocking' tour July 5," Hall said.

"Norman is their only stop in Oklahoma."

Library public information officer Gary Kramer conceived MuggleFest, Hall said, but this year, "the twist is their backup band -- Draco and the Malfoys."

Harry and the Potters (and Draco and the Malfoys) will give a free concert at the Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St., 7 p.m. Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, Aug.1, "at least 450 tickets were committed," said teen library collection librarian Rebecca Spence.

"So we're expecting a big crowd."

A central part of the event is the joy of reading, said the library staffers, so the library is the place to go for tickets to the concert.