the mommy avenger

If you’ve followed our journey on The Mommy Avenger, you already know: we are a full-fledged Harry Potter family. Not “we like Harry Potter” kind of fans — I mean deep, intense, emotionally-attached, tear-up-when-you-hear-the-Hedwig-theme kind of fans. Harry Potter isn’t just a story in our household — it’s part of our family culture.

We’ve devoured the books more times than I can count — reading them aloud together, letting the kids grow up alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione. We’ve had full-on Hogwarts-themed birthdays, complete with house banners, chocolate frogs, wand-making stations, and of course, Butterbeer (my secret recipe is now legendary). Our Halloween costumes have been Potterverse for years. We even made Horcrux scavenger hunts for fun. Our family has wandered through Universal Studios Wizarding World with wide eyes and fuller hearts. And yes, I cried the first time we walked through Hogsmeade. No shame.

So when we found out that Harry Potter: The Exhibition is coming to Salt Lake City this summer — we were thrilled!

This isn’t just another Harry Potter event. This is the exhibition. A full-scale, beautifully designed, deeply immersive tour through the Wizarding World. It’s packed with real costumes, props, iconic scenes, and hands-on magic that fans of all ages can experience up close. From the moment you step inside, it’s like walking through the movies and the books all at once — and the attention to detail? Unreal.

It’s happening at The Shops at South Town in Sandy, and it’s running from May 24 through September 1 — which means we basically have the entire summer to live our best wizard lives.

Let me make one thing clear: this is not your average “walk and look” exhibit. The Harry Potter Exhibition is fully interactive. You don’t just view the magic, you become part of it.

When you arrive, you get a personalized wristband that lets you choose your Hogwarts house, your wand, and even your Patronus. And that’s just the beginning. Every area of the exhibit reacts to you. Whether you’re brewing a potion in Snape’s classroom, tossing a Quaffle in the Quidditch zone, or pulling a Mandrake in Herbology, the experience adapts to your choices and your wizarding identity. It’s like stepping into your own story.

There are over 20 galleries filled with stunning recreations of everything from the Great Hall to the Forbidden Forest to the Ministry of Magic. And everything feels alive — there are motion-activated spells, audio effects, light shows, and yes, so many Instagram-worthy photo ops it’s unreal.

As a parent, there’s something truly magical about sharing this world with your kids — and watching them fall in love with it just like you did. For our family, Harry Potter has been a thread that’s run through their entire childhoods. These stories taught them about bravery, loyalty, and love — and now they get to live inside those stories for a day.

Whether your kids are longtime fans or just dipping their toes into Hogwarts for the first time, this is the kind of experience that creates lasting memories and you’re doing it together. You’re casting spells together. Laughing at Cornish pixies together. Walking through Dumbledore’s office together. And believe me, those are the moments that stick.

If you want to go all out — and trust me, we do — you can snag the VIP tickets, and they are so worth it.

Here’s what you get with VIP admission:

• Entry any time on your chosen day (hello, flexibility!)
• Priority access — skip the long lines
• A special collectible VIP lanyard (because of course)
• An exclusive audio guide that gives you the full backstory and extra fun facts at each stop
• A 10% discount at the official gift shop (which you will want)

Basically, VIP makes the whole thing smoother, deeper, and even more memorable.

I can’t express how happy it makes me to have this exhibition come to our home state. Usually, we’re the ones flying out, making a whole trip to find the magic. But this summer, it’s coming to us. It’s coming to Salt Lake City. And I couldn’t be more excited.

Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead like us or just want to create some magical memories with your family this summer, Harry Potter: The Exhibition is an absolute must-see.

Robes are being washed. Wands are polished. The countdown has begun.

See you at the exhibition, witches and wizards!

⚡