Collector’s Festival 2001 kicks off

Collector’s Festival 2001 kicks off this week (Thursday) at Chicago’s Navy Pier and includes an entire pavilion dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise. There’s also a Harry Potter look-alike contest:

Harry Potter Look-a-Like Contest On Sat., June 16, at noon on the Navy Pier show floor, boys and girls of all ages will be invited to dress up as their favorite character from the best-selling series of children’s books by J.K. Rowling. Ten prizes will be awarded. Winners of the Harry Potter Look-a-Like Contest will receive government bonds.

There will be two contest categories: One for children ages 12 and under, and one for children over age 12. The top winner in each category will receive $1,000 worth of savings bonds. The first runners-up will receive $500 worth of savings bonds, and the second runners-up will receive $250 worth. People in costume enter the show for free!

Companies that produce Harry Potter products exhibiting at the show include: the Alexander Doll Company, CheckerBee Publishing, Enesco, and Kurt S. Adler.