Category Archives: fundraiser

Another Wizarding Weekend in the Books

Posted on August 7, 2026 | Leave a comment

We made it through our 9th annual Wizarding Weekend at McMenamins Kennedy School and we can’t thank you all enough for making it one of our most successful! Not only did you all show up for Harry’s birthday, but you also showed up for Boys & Girls Aid in so many ways. We took in so many school supplies and you all just threw cash at us to donate, by way of voting for your favorite wizard (Dumbledore!) and villain (Umbridge!), and some just because you wanted to support a great cause in any way you could.

This year’s costume contestants were some of the best, especially everyone who came on Sunday to do a Magical Mash-up! We didn’t have too many adults, but the ones we did have really brought the magic. From Snape turned ballerina to Trelawney on the track team, the mash-ups were awesome! We love everyone’s creativity and can’t wait to see what you come up with for next year’s mash-ups.

Your Heads of House did their best wizards/witches playing Muggle sports.

We had a new trivia master this year, Kelsey, who did her best to stump you, and we think she did on Friday. Despite some grumbles, she powered through and had a great time learning for next time and displaying all her Potter knowledge. A lot of magical people showed up for trivia and bingo and won some enchanting prizes, including a family season pass to Frog Pond Farms in Wilsonville, and a lot of cool items from our generous vendors (they are all linked in our event post on Facebook and in the slideshow above, so if you missed out on something, go check them out).

Kennedy School decided to get everyone exploring the school, adding a different House drink to each bar, plus Butterbeer at all the bars and restaurants. We tried them all! We think they were a great addition and a fun departure from previous years, where you could order all the drinks everywhere. Our Head Witch found a secret room while ordering Salazar’s Serpent!

Daisy, from Boys & Girls Aid, came to speak to everyone on Saturday before our costume contest and gave us so much information about what they do and how long they’ve been doing it. They are the real magicians for children who need families and support for foster parents as well. Did you know that they have been able to expand their entire organization due to one woman’s generous donation near the start? Before that, everyone at Boys & Girls Aid – then, Boys & Girls Aid Society of Oregon – was a volunteer.

And because you always want to know who won the “House Cup” over the weekend, we can proudly say that Hufflepuff did it again. From all of our events, we have discovered that Hufflepuffs are super generous and always down to help a good cause. Gryffindors just like a good challenge and will do their best to finish a scavenger hunt and donate as much as possible. Ravenclaws love trivia (shocking!) and trouncing everyone for House points. Slytherins don’t really turn out for causes, like Wizarding Weekend, but they will get real competitive over trivia at a Con, or give money if they know it can help them win. We actually don’t find any of this that surprising, and we love to see an underdog win in the last hour or so of an event, like Slytherin did at Fan Expo this year. Hufflepuff started off strong and didn’t give up the lead all weekend though. Go Puffs!

All of this to say, thank you for all your support. We will be taking all your donations + a big check with us to Boys & Girls Aid next week to help kids start off the school year with everything they need to succeed in school and at home.

Next up, come see us at Rose City Comic Con. We’ll be outside the convention hall. You can find us by looking for our dragon, Pyxys. We’ll be doing trivia all weekend, with new questions each day, and a chance to win tickets to Yule Ball. We’ll be taking cash donations to vote for your favorite magical people/places/things/animals, we’ll have a new photo op from previous years, and be doing Way of the Wand for your little witches and wizards (though grown-ups are always encouraged to participate) at 6:30pm on Saturday on the Rose City Jr Stage. If you’d like to volunteer at our booth, please fill out our volunteer form, or send us an owl (or email if it’s faster) if you’ve volunteered before and don’t get an email by Monday the 10th. Volunteers get a chance to see the con before/after their shift, so we’re saving you Galleons and you’re doing us a huge favor!

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Wizarding Weekend Donations

Posted on July 10, 2026 | Leave a comment

As you know, we are going to be accepting school supply (and monetary) donations for Boys & Girls Aid this year at Wizarding Weekend. Like Harry, many kids have had to grow up in foster families. Boys & Girls Aid makes those transitions much easier on everyone, but especially the kids. Their goal is to make sure all children have a safe, stable home, along with the support needed to thrive in their environment, and ultimately go from foster to adoption.

As the first and longest-running child welfare agency in Oregon, Boys & Girls Aid maintains a legacy of impact through innovative foster care, adoption, emergency shelter, and supportive housing services, offering a full range of informed supports that meet each young person’s unique needs and circumstances. 

Boys & Girls Aid is proudly leading the charge to create a bright future where a permanent, loving family and lifelong stability are within reach for every young person. We believe Harry would have both benefitted from such an agency in the Wizarding World, and also would have created something similar once he left school and second Wizarding War was over. All kids deserve a loving, safe family, so let’s help them with just a few things they need for starting the school year off right.

As you can see, they are not in need of backpacks, which I know people love buying for extra House Points. This year we will give out extra points for gift cards instead – 1 point per $. Everything is is 1 point per item. Thank you in advance for all your generous donations. The Wizarding fandom always shows up to make magic for the great charities we choose each year and we are so grateful for it.

If you are at Wizarding Weekend on Saturday before the costume contest, Daisy from Boys & Girls Aid will be talking about their org and all the good they do. We can’t wait to see you!

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Wizarding Weekend Schedule

Posted on July 9, 2026 | Leave a comment

You asked for it, and now we have it. This year’s Wizarding Weekend will be a bit different, as we’ll have some shorter hours on Sunday. **Please note that Way of the Wand has been moved from 5pm to 2pm on Saturday.**

Friday, July 24
Great Hall : open 5-9pm
Owl Letters & Pixie Hunt
Photo booth
Movie Trivia: 7:15pm
Diagon Alley, Knockturn & Hogsmeade: open 5-9pm

Saturday, July 25
Great Hall: open 11am-9pm
Owl Letters & Pixie Hunt
Photo booth

Way of the Wand: 2pm – moved from 5pm

Costume contests (kids & adults): 2:30pm
Book Trivia: 5:30pm
Wizard Bingo: 7:30pm
Diagon Alley, Knockturn & Hogsmeade: open 11am-7pm

Sunday, July 26
Great Hall: open 11am-4pm
Owl Letters & Pixie Hunt
Photo booth
Magic Mash-up Costume contest (kids & adults): 2pm **mash your favorite witch/wizard with a Muggle sport
Way of the Wand: 5pm
Diagon Alley, Knockturn & Hogsmeade: open 11am-4pm

This year Kennedy School will be showing a mix of magical movies throughout the weekend:
Wizard of Oz
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Labyrinth
Neverending Story
Wicked
The Dark Crystal
Where the Wild Things Are

Last year we tested out House meet-ups, which didn’t go over great, but we’re not ones to give up. Y’all asked for them, so we’re trying them again, with shorter sessions this time, so you don’t have to take too much time away from all your other activities. Stop into the Great Hall, take some pics with new friends, maybe team up for trivia, and then get back to finding your owls, shopping, or hitting up one of the movies playing all weekend.

We will be collecting school supplies for Boys and Girls Aid, which is committed to ensuring children and youth are able to build lifelong stability through connections to loving families, supportive adults, and nurturing environments. Harry didn’t have the best childhood before he came to Hogwarts and an organization like Boys and Girls Aid would have helped him immensely in finding a better placement for him than the Dursleys. We believe he would have founded a similar organization to help other orphaned children, because not everyone has a vault full of Galleons or a great family like the Weasleys to escape to.

We also have a special limited Wizarding Weekend design for our shirts/sweatshirts/crops and 2 different tote bags, which we haven’t had in the past. These will be available for order until July 31. If you purchase before the end of June, these will ship for wear before Wizarding Weekend. Proceeds from these items will benefit Boys & Girls Aid, which is why the price points are a bit more than our regular merch.

See you in a few weeks!

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Yule Ball Thank Yous

Posted on December 6, 2025 | Leave a comment

Yule ball is always a labor of love and we couldn’t do it without everyone coming together for this one amazing event. We, personally, thank everyone who is part of this night, but this year, we want to go above and beyond and give a more intentional thank you to those involved.

We have hired these amazing professionals to make this night extra special (and you can, too):

DJ Switch PDX has been our DJ since our first Yule Ball. He plays a great mix of pop and nerd music that gets everyone on their feet. He is a wonderful supporter of SPEWW and as a Gryffindor, throws himself whole-heartedly into each event he does. You can see him at various events around town, but you can also hire him for your own event. Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch | Website

Daniela from No Rules Photography captured some of the most gorgeous photos of our 2023 Yule Ball and we’re so excited to have her back. She knew exactly what we wanted and gave us even more than we expected. You can hire her for weddings and other events. She has done some truly magical photo shoots, including LGBTQ+ engagement and wedding photography. Instagram | Facebook | Website

The Rose City Dancing Witches bring whimsy and witchcraft to every event they do and we are so proud to have them be part of the Yule Ball for several years. Each year they do two different performances to entertain our magical community and we love to see them return and also do performances around town the rest of the year. Facebook | Email

Of course, we have so much love for the Sheraton bar & catering staff. They work their brooms off to keep everyone moving through the buffet line, clearing tables, mixing drinks, and keeping us all hydrated during the dance. The hotel also gives us a special room rate, so those who have imbibed or danced too hard can stay the night. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Our raffle table in 2024

Our raffle is always a big part of the funds we bring in for our charity and this year a lot of really wonderful local artists, businesses and individuals stepped up to make this one of the biggest raffles we’ve ever had. If you didn’t win, want to purchase something directly from them, or want to follow them on socials, you can find them here:

Art of Jo Nicholson

Jo Nicholson has been one of our great vendors for Wizarding Weekend and we are thrilled to bring a few of her fun pieces to our Yule Ball raffle. She has witchy prints, stickers, and more. Instagram | Facebook | Etsy

Black Cat Frozen Custard

The newest witchy shop in town serves up delicious frozen custard creations in a spellbinding setting + has a secret speakeasy coffee shop where you can have your conspiratorial meetings. SPEWW can neither confirm nor deny having one of our own. Instagram | Website

Bunnies-N-More

Do you have an exotic animal that needs some care? Bunnies-N-More does mobile grooming, emergency care, pet sitting, and even animal education in your classroom, party, or event. Need your iguana’s nails clipped or someone to take amazing care of your rats while you’re away? This is where you go! Instagram | Facebook | Yelp | Website

Cascadia Roots

When you’re looking for small batch organic skin and body care products, Cascadia Roots has a variety of sprays and potions to suit you. From scrape and bug spray to nursing balm and calming spray, you can feel good about using these products made for the whole family. Instagram | Facebook | Website

The Freckled Lion Workshop

Geeks selling laser-cut decor and gaming accessories for other geeks. Whether you’re looking for coasters, ornaments, or a place to roll and display your dice during your latest D&D campaign, with your favorite fandom on it, The Freckled Lion Workshop might have just the thing. Facebook | Instagram | Website

Goddesses & Grimoires

We have had a working relationship with Goddesses & Grimoires for years and they never fail to impress with their spooky and witchy wares. Get you potions, wands, monster books, and everything in between. Instagram

Historical Conjurer

We all love magic and there’s nothing more magical than a Muggle magician, because they have to make you believe it’s real. Professor DR Schreiber does historical illusions and magic at events around the Portland area, including doing multiple shows per day at Clockwork Rose Tea Emporium’s annual Harry Potter tea. He’s available for private parties and other events you want to add a bit of enchantment to and also learn some History of Magic. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Hopscotch

Hopscotch Portland is a spellbinding interactive art museum with different rooms dedicated to different kinds of art, from large murals in a room the size of a warehouse to small rooms resembling a recording space where you play with colors to a glowing ball pit for all ages. There’s even a bar in the lobby. Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn | Website

The Macabre Father

Xander makes creepy, kooky, and nerdy plushes, cake boxes, cookie magnets and more, all to scratch the itch for your favorite fandom or vibe. They do a great trade at Wizarding Weekend with their plush House bats and multiple sizes of fuzzy Acromantulas. Instagram | Facebook | Website

McMenamins Kennedy School

As you may or may not know, Kennedy School hosts our Wizarding Weekend every year. This historical school-turned-hotel is one of Portland’s unique landmarks, with several bars and a restaurant on the premises. Guests love the quirky rooms and the soaking pool that can rival the Prefect’s bathroom. It’s also located in a great, quiet neighborhood and has a ton of parking, which can be rare other places in the city. Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website

Misplaced Magical Creatures

Are you looking to adopt a Fantastic Beast all your own? Perhaps a Bowtruckle for your tree or favorite houseplant or a colorful Pygmy Puff to match your House or personality. Jenna conjures them all and fosters them until they are ready to go to their new magical homes. We’re lucky that Misplaced Magical Creatures only vends one show per year and that happens to be Wizarding Weekend. Instagram | TikTok | Etsy

My Journal City

Write down your innermost secrets, new spells, or travel memories in one of Kevin’s journals made from repurposed materials. Choose from vintage book covers, movie box art, and all your other favorite iconic pieces of pop culture. Facebook

¿Por Qué No? Taqueria

We don’t know about your House Elves, but the ones at school don’t make tacos or other Mexican food. Probably because they’ve never had it. If you want drinks and eats just as good as an elf could have made it, ¿Por Qué No? is the place to go. Indulge in brunch, Taco Tuesdays, and even holiday tamale orders. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Raven’s Manor

If spooky settings and creative food and drinks are your cup of Butterbeer, then Raven’s Manor has a seat for you. The dark, creepy vibes are only made better by cocktails that come in a lantern or a trio of screaming beignet ghosts. The menu changes to match the haunted feel of every season. Instagram | Facebook | Website

RoseCraft Accessories

You might be looking for a new creature to add to your family or helpful household items, like hot pads or kitchen towels promoting your favorite fandom or team. RoseCraft may be a bit hard to find, but they are worth the search or wait for the next craft fair they Apparate to. Facebook

Rushing’s Rarities

Searchers of spooky prop replicas, potion labels, magical accessories, and wooden signs will find them at Rushing’s Rarities. Mummified hands, spell components, handmade wands are just some of the things that you’ll find in their store and craft fairs around town. They’ll even work with you to make something customized. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Secret Dragon Collectibles

Secret Dragon Collectibles adopts out their handmade beaded dragons and magical accessories like these flying keys. If you’ve been to Wizarding Weekend, you’ve likely oohed and aahed over their elaborate and colorful dragons. You may have even taken one home. Instagram | Facebook |Website

Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel

Sheraton has been our Yule Ball venue for 3 years now and we couldn’t be happier with the staff, space, catering, and rooms. Not only does it offer tons of parking and space for our partying, they have great ideas for Yule Ball, and offer our guests a special discount on rooms. Instagram | Facebook | Website

Shereen Travels Cheap

Shereen runs a budget travel blog where she gives advice on how to travel more affordably for adults who aren’t willing to sleep in hostels or on people’s couches. She reviews travel items and destinations, while giving practical tips to do more while spending less. Instagram | Facebook | Website

The Sparkly Stitcher

Decorate your home with beautiful geeky cross-stitch of all sizes. Get a tiny Deathly Hallows stitch or a large piece for your Dr. Who loving heart. You’ll find them at craft fairs across the metro area or you can request a custom piece for commission. Instagram

Stargazer’s Gourmet

One of our favorite sweets makers, Stargazer’s Gourmet is known for their handmade small-batch fudge in amazing flavors, including those inspired by the Wizarding World. You can also find some of those sweets you might find in Honeydukes, so you can live your wizard candy dreams. Instagram | Facebook | Website

VDX Designs

If you’re looking for quality woodwork with your favorite fandom, VDX Designs makes it. From laser-etched dungeon master screens to shields to wooden ornaments, you’re likely to find everything for the geeks on your list or yourself. Instagram | Facebook | Etsy

Westside Comic Con

Hillsboro is getting its own Con in 2026. We’re thrilled to be part of their inaugural year and are excited to see the west side getting a new way for people to engage with the community and another reason to perfect those cosplays. We’re looking forward to more artists, vendors, nerds, fandom, and more! Instagram | Facebook | Website

We also have to say a giant thank you to all the volunteers that help us set up, run the Yule Ball, and tear down at the end of a long night. We truly couldn’t do any of it without them ♥

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Yule Ball 2025’s Charity Partner Is…

Posted on September 20, 2025 | 1 comment

Remember when Harry had to defend himself and his cousin against Dementor’s trying to suck out their souls, and instead of anyone believing him, he got in trouble twice? Once with the Dursley’s for Dudley’s emotional state and again with the Ministry for doing underage magic? He got a lovely court summons that said “As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on August 12th. Hoping you are well, Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk“ and then had to go into the courtroom alone, as an underage wizard!? You can’t do magic to save a life, but you can represent yourself in court. Make it make sense!

Well, unfortunately, underage Muggles have the same problems, but they don’t have Dumbledore to swoop in and fix all them all like magic. Instead, they have KIND – Kids In Need of Defense. They are a nonprofit that provides legal council to immigrant children who deserve to have their rights upheld and not have to defend themselves in court in a language that might be completely foreign to them.

Right now, many organizations like KIND are being defunded by the federal government and are dependent on outside donations. We think everyone needs someone to stand up for them, and KIND does this for the most vulnerable among us. Help us conjure the galleons KIND needs to do the most good in this tenuous time, by buying Yule Ball tickets and raffle tickets at the event. We are lining up a great table full of amazing raffle prizes, including a stay at the Airport Sheraton with free parking and dinner, so we hope you’ll stop at Gringott’s on your way. (We also except those Muggle cards that are attached to their non-wizarding banks.)

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