Harry Potter After Dark
Everyone knows the Harry Potter franchise. The books have sold nearly half a billion copies. The eight films have grossed nearly $8 billion. It has spun off the “Fantastic Beasts” trilogy, a stage play, theme park locations, and more. Needless to say, it has a lot of fans. If you’re one of them, consider visiting Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which is currently touring Dallas.
When you first arrive and you present your ticket, you receive an interactive wristband. You visit a kiosk to write your name and choose your House, wand, and Patronus. Throughout the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to tap your wristband to a sensor for a customized experience and earn points for your House.
The first two galleries have humans ready to quiz you on trivia, so be ready to answer. The questions were easy, but I wasn’t expecting to interact with real people at any point, so I was a little clumsy. Don’t be awkward like me!
Then you make your way through a series of galleries which each highlight some aspect of the Harry Potter franchise. There are numerous props from the movies, labeled with behind-thescenes trivia, courtesy of the Warner Bros. Archives. The costumes were my favorites: you could appreciate the colors and textures in person in a way that you might miss while watching the movie. Other props, like the Sorting Hat, the Sword of Gryffindor, the Time Turner, and a Golden Snitch were also on display. There were physically interactive moments, like pulling a Mandrake from its pot or throwing a Quaffle through a hoop, as well as digitally interactive moments, like summoning your Patronus, mixing a potion, or gazing into a Pensieve.
There were plenty of photo ops: sitting at Umbridge’s desk, nestling within the cupboard-under-the-stairs, posing next to the Triwizard Cup, standing with a Hungarian Horntail looming behind you. Numerous guests came dressed in their best wizarding robes and ready for immersion. Many of the rooms are dimly lit, so be prepared for that, too.
The hour-long tour wraps up in the gift shop, where there’s plenty of Harry Potter merch for sale. No matter what your preferred House is, there’s something for everyone. If you’re an adult fan, consider opting for the twice-monthly After Hours evening events, where your ticket comes with a complimentary snack, beer, wine, cocktail, mocktail, or soda, and the exhibits are closed to anyone under the age of 18.
The Harry Potter Exhibition is in the fourth year of its tour of the United States. A sister exhibition is currently touring Europe. Its six-month run in Dallas ends April 12, 2026, so book tickets in advance and make plans to visit its location at Pepper Square, 14902 Preston Road, Dallas.