no comments | 
"Harry Potter" enthusiasts show off shirts they decorated for the midnight opening. (Photo by Matthew Wong)
The official opening of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the latest movie in the ever-so-popular series, didn’t start until Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., but high-school student Ashley Chang waited patiently at Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 for more than 10 hours in anticipation.
“It was so hot in the afternoon that I had to buy an umbrella at Pier 1,” said Chang, 18.
She was just one of thousands of loyal, enthusiastic fans of the “Harry Potter” series, who filled San Diego County movie theaters from Escondido to Chula Vista, Mission Valley to Oceanside.
Related: David Elliott on movies: ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘500 Days’
The Mira Mesa theater sold out four of its five screenings early in the day. Armed with lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, and their cups of Starbucks Coffee, San Diegans from around the county meshed together to form an exciting atmosphere for the midnight magic.
"Harry Potter's" midnight opening was a major social occasion in San Diego. (Photo by Matthew Wong)
Some played guitar as they waited hours for the movie premiere, others took to card games. Many, too, frantically flipped through their copies of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” eager to refresh their memories and compare book to movie.
“This is the first time I’ve been at a midnight opening so it’s definitely a shocker for me,” said Yama Sekander of Rancho Bernardo. “It feels good to do something fun and to know what happens in the movie earlier than everyone else. That’s why we come out here.”
Many fans came dressed as their favorite characters, whether it was Harry, Hermione or even the wacky Mad-eye Moody. One moviegoer, clad in a black cape and a wrinkled gray mask, even posed as Voldemort.
“It’s loads of fun being out here,” said Andrew Baek, 18. “This is an experience that feels great to share with everyone.”
As you looked at the long lines at Edwards Mira Mesa, what was most apparent was the sheer number of young people. A majority of the crowd seemed to be made up of teenagers and high-schoolers, which wasn’t surprising, given that this generation grew up reading the “Harry Potter” series.
As more and more people joined the capacity crowd, one long-time fan, Clinton Ring (as close a Potter look-alike as there is) summed up the frenetic pre-movie atmosphere in his own words.
“It’s less about the movie than it is about the party.”
Media partner CW 6 has great video of the “party”:
Matthew Wong is an SDNN contributor.
Tags: Ashley Chang Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18, Harry Potter midnight opening, Harry Potter midnight opening San Diego, Harry Potter San Diego, SDNN
