Harry Potter-themed Halloween display at family home in Wigmore Road, Rainham
11:10, 13 October 2022
updated: 16:40, 13 October 2022
Passers-by are being encouraged to don their robes and raise a few quidditch for charity at a family's Harry Potter-themed Halloween display.
The Hedges clan have once again created a spell-binding show in the driveway of their house more Gryffindor than Wigmore and supporting two Medway charities.
Mum Nicola Hedges and daughter Lavinia have designed the magical display inspired by Harry, Ron and Hermione while dad Cleveland has sorted the fixtures and fittings outside their home in Wigmore Road, Rainham.
They are collecting donations for the Medway Foodbank and raising money for the My Shining Star, a Rainham-based children's charity helping their families and provide memorable experiences for both youngsters and parents.
With the hike in the cost of living, the Hedges have turned a little thrifty for their seasonal shows at Easter, Christmas and Halloween.
Lavinia, 25, a professional singer said: "We get stuff from charity shops and my mum is a wizard at recycling.
"We have solar panels to save on electricity."
They also bring back props from family holidays in America where Disneyland and the Universal Studios are popular trips.
Visitors are invited to donate items in a trolley along with spare coins and cash.
Complete with a soundtrack, video screen giving the illusion of riding the Hogwarts Express and flying letters shooting out of the fireplace the house draws on references from the seven books and eight films in the series.
Lavinia said: "We understand that some people might not be able to afford much this year. But this is a community thing. We started it during lockdown and it's about bringing a smile to faces.
"Harry Potter has a huge following and even on our first night we got loads turning up.
"We get people coming from all over Kent and even Essex and we are encouraging people to come dressed in their Harry Potter clothes."
They started planning for this month's event in March and it took a week to get it all together with flags, wands and pumpkins in abundance.
The Medway Foodbank is asking for UHT milk, tinned fruit and custard, instant mash and pasta sauce.
To donate for those unable to visit head to the family's GoFundMe page.https://www.gofundme.com/f/hedges-potter-house
Last year the family raised £4,656 for the two charities.
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