To mark the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first Harry Potter book in German, the city of Hamburg is holding a special one-day event, which will include a world record attempt. 

More than 997 Harry Potters needed in Hamburg this weekend

At the special anniversary event - which begins at 12pm on Saturday, August 26, at the Rathausmarkt in Hamburg - there will be a varied stage programme, with Rufus Beck in attendance as a special guest, NDR reports. The German actor is perhaps best known as the narrator for the Harry Potter audiobooks in German. 

The event’s organisers have set their sights on breaking the world record for the most “Harry Potters” gathered together in one place at one time, and so have called on people to attend in their best fancy dress - or at the very least, a black cloak, a pencilled-on scar, and a pair of round glasses. The previous world record was set in November 2017 in the Australian city of Perth, where 997 Harry Potters got together. 

Harry Potter in German turns 25 this August

In August 1998, the Hamburg-based Carlsen publishing house released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in German. The wildly successful series went on to be translated into 85 languages and has sold more than 600 million copies. 

A sequel play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, featuring a grown-up Harry Potter, has been showing at the Mehr! theatre in Hamburg for the past two years. The company behind the play, as well as Carlsen publishing house, are two of the event’s organisers.

Image credit: Chekyravaa / Shutterstock.com