Calgary businesses overwhelmed by 'Diagon Alley' event

Some businesses in Kensington look forward to holding future Harry Potter events but say better planning is needed.

On Sunday, thousands of fans showed up for a Harry Potter-themed day timed tied totwo big events Potter's 36th birthday and the latest book release.

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Margaret Koevcould have used a magic wand yesterday trying to fill drink orders at the coffee and tea shop where she works along 10th Street N.W.

"Weknew it would be busy,"Koevsaid."But even the owner, she told us not even the Salsa Festival got this many customers in."

At theGummiBoutique,TheaKillen-Smithsaidit didn't take long to sell out of theirButterbeer, Chocolate Frogs andBertieBottsEvery Flavour Beans.

"People were walking in like it was Black Friday and just loading up," she said.

Smith saidonce they saw the lineups, they brought in more staff.

"I really don't think the organizers expected it to get this big," she said.

"But now we know. You put Harry Potter in the name and thousands of people show up," she added. "We'll start planning like pretty much right away for next year I think."

She says they'd like this to become an annual event.

"It was magical," she said.

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