A Wonnacott Commons chaser looks for an opening downfield during a match against Cook Commons at the 2017 festival. Photo by Brett Simison.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. ­­– On Saturday, September 29, the Middlebury College quidditch team will hold its annual Middlebury Classic Quidditch Festival. Over a dozen teams from across New England will compete in a tournament. Spectators are invited to watch the quidditch matches and enjoy Harry Potter-themed activities.

Quidditch is a full-contact, multi-gender sport inspired by the Harry Potter book series, and was created by Middlebury College students in 2005. The College hosted the first three Quidditch World Cups. The sport has since grown to over 500 teams in 26 countries.

Middlebury Quidditch is working with organizations on campus and around Addison County for festival events. Partners include the Ilsley Library and Middlebury Community Television, who will co-host a fun activity where people can have their photos taken as they “fly” through a quidditch pitch, and Amy Harris Yoga studio, which will hold a Harry Potter-themed yoga class. Middlebury College student organizations will host children’s quidditch workshops, potions demonstrations, face painting, and other activities.

Food trucks and vendors, such as Skinny Pancake, Happy Valley Orchard, and lu•lu ice cream, will have lunch and snacks available for purchase throughout the event.

Festivities began on September 19, when golden snitches were released around the town of Middlebury for a Snitch Hunt. Children can fill in their own Marauder’s Map by finding snitches in the Ilsley Library Children’s Room, Fourth and Goal, Tinker and Smiths, The Vermont Book Shop, and Shafer’s before the festival day, when they are eligible to win prizes. Blank maps can be picked up at all of these locations.

The event is free and open to the public. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

More information and the day’s schedule can be found online at https://middquidditch.wordpress.com/.

Contact Andrew Plotch, festival director, at aplotch@middlebury.edu with questions.

(Weekly practice schedules and b-roll are available to media upon request.)