A family of 'Harry Potter' fans created a Halloween display that looks like the Hogwarts castle

Samantha GrindellOct 28, 2020, 20:04 IST

The Pace family created a replica of the Hogwarts castle for Halloween.Joel and Amanda Pace

The Pace family has been setting up a "Harry Potter"-inspired Halloween display in front of their Austin, Texas, home since 2017.
The coronavirus pandemic prevented the Paces from setting up their usual Diagon Alley display that people can walk through.
Instead, they built a massive replica of the Hogwarts castle that people can safely admire from the street.
The display features three towers that are over 15 feet tall, the lake, a dragon, and a mural of famous "Harry Potter" characters.

The Pace family has been transforming their yard in Austin, Texas, into an ode to the "Harry Potter" series for Halloween since 2017.

The Paces' Halloween display is famous. Joel and Amanda Pace

But they realized their interactive experience wouldn't work for 2020.

The display usually looks like Diagon Alley. Joel and Amanda Pace

Joel decided to create a replica of the Hogwarts castle that the community could see from the street.

The Paces built a replica of the Hogwarts castle. Joel and Amanda Pace

"We decided that it had to be something grand," Joel said of why the castle was the right choice for the display.

The castle worked because it would be large. Joel and Amanda Pace

The family set up festive signs that encouraged people to keep their distance both during construction and when they came to see the finished product.

They took safety measures. Joel and Amanda Pace

The base of the display is a wood platform.

The base of the display. Joel and Amanda Pace

Joel used insulation board to make the majority of the display.

Foam boards make up most of the display. Joel and Amanda Pace

Bricks were hand-stamped onto all of the structures.

They hand-stamped the bricks. Joel and Amanda Pace

Joel also decided to build the lake that surrounds Hogwarts into the display.

The lake. Joel and Amanda Pace

There's also a lifelike dragon on the staircase tower.

There's a dragon on the display. Joel and Amanda Pace

The display is also filled with mood lighting and fog machines to give it a magical feel.

They have hanging jack-o'-lanterns. Joel and Amanda Pace

The Paces also commissioned a 17-foot mural of characters from the "Harry Potter" series in their driveway.

The driveway has a mural. Joel and Amanda Pace

"It's been amazing to watch them work, and the final product is just jaw-dropping," Joel said of the mural.

The characters. Joel and Amanda Pace

"We've all had a very difficult 2020, and this project injects a welcome dose of normal, happy, and brightness," Joel said of this year's display.

The display raises money for charity. Joel and Amanda Pace

The Paces are planning to leave their display up through November.

They're leaving the display up after Halloween. Joel and Amanda Pace

"There is an infinite number of ways to decorate and enjoy the holidays without a lot of risky behavior," Joel said.

The Paces think other people can set up safe displays, too. Joel and Amanda Pace

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