Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees (Photol: Universal Orlando)
By

Top Things to Do

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando offers guests detailed and immersive experiences. The incredible rides, perfectly recreated locales from the books, magical wand interactions, and of course, the Butterbeer, make it one of the best places to visit in all of Orlando. But did you know the lands of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade offer shows straight from the world of Harry Potter? Here are 5 shows not to miss at the Wizarding World.

Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees
Introduced in the book series as Molly Weasley's favorite singer, Celestina Warbeck has been brought to life in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Her and her back-up singers, the Banshees, put on a swinging show of toe-tapping hits several times a day on the Carkitt Market outdoor stage. Celestina's songs are huge in the Wizarding World, but they may sound new to us Muggles. Some of the top tracks off her popular albums include “You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart” and “You Charmed The Heart Right Out Of Me.” This lively show will have everyone in your family dancing in the street.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard
These two puppet shows are also performed daily on the Carkitt Market outdoor stage of Diagon Alley. Alternating between “The Fountain of Fair Fortune” and ”The Tale of the Three Brothers,” these dramatic presentations of Beedle the Bard tales are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. The shows feature stylized puppetry that has been fabricated by the Emmy Award-winning designer Michael Curry. The stories are from the 15th-century author of popular wizarding fairytales. Fans of the films may recall The Tale of the Three Brothers as an animated segment in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Hogwarts Frog Choir
This small choir of Hogwarts students performs classic wizard songs a cappella style, but with some unusual accompaniment. Several of the singers are holding some very large frogs, and they sing along with their throaty bass voices, creating what is certainly an unusual, yet pleasant-sounding harmony. The choir performs in Hogsmeade Village in Islands of Adventure, just outside of Hogwarts Castle. Representatives from each of the four houses are in the ensemble, along with their croaking counterparts. The show is a "hopping" good time for kids and adults alike.

Triwizard Spirit Rally
Get into the spirit during the Triwizard Tournament as performers from several schools of wizardry and witchcraft show off in this vibrant demonstration in Hogsmeade Village. The Triwizard Tournament is a contest between the biggest wizarding schools in Europe. During the show, students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang celebrate by showing off their school spirit. This energetic show features acrobatics, dancing, ribbon twirling and even a bit of daring choreographed stage fighting. Everyone in the audience is invited to have their photo taken with the students after the show.

Special Nighttime Projection Shows
In addition to these entertaining street performances you can also catch special nighttime projection shows at Hogwarts Castle during different times throughout the year. The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle brings the spirit of the four houses of Hogwarts to the castle on select nights. During the holidays you can see The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle nightly. That show wraps the iconic castle in heartwarming moments inspired by the films including the Yule Ball and more. Plus, the Frog Choir and Celestina shows feature special Christmas songs that are only performed during the holidays.

Looking for great deals? Get your tickets to Universal Orlando on OrlandoFunTickets.

(Photo: Universal Orlando)