Announcement!
In another sweeping declaration that things are getting back to normal, Universal Studios Florida has announced The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle will come back home July 1! Located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Hogwarts Castle in Hogsmeade will once again host the beautiful light projection spectacle that guests were able to see pre-pandemic.
Nighttime Lights is a five-minute projection mapping show that transforms the side of Hogwarts Castle (which houses the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction). If things function the way they did a couple years ago, there will be several showings a night, so don’t worry if you miss one!
Go to our guide page for a full run-down of the show, but here are some highlights!
The show debuted in January 2018 and has been a fixture in guest attention ever since. During the show, the Sorting Hat narrates for spectators, highlighting each of the houses to music from the iconic John Williams score. In the past, it has been typical for seasonal light shows to replace this one throughout the year. For example, Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle projected a sinister show in 2019 for guests to spook themselves, and in seasons past, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle was projected in conjunction with the Holidays celebration. No word yet on if these season-specific shows will return.
So – when, where, how?
Right now, the sun sets well after 8:00 pm in Central Florida, but shows tend to start around 8:15 pm (sometimes earlier, depending on when the parks close) and happen every 20 minutes (again, lasting around five minutes). The final showing is at park close, and occasionally a final showing happens 20 minutes after park close.
No matter which showing you attend, you definitely want to get there early, as crowds in Hogsmeade can get large. The best place to view the show is by the Frog Choir/Triwizard Spirit Rally stage, though many guests have said they enjoy watching from the bridge to Jurassic Park (but again, think about the congestion – and be cool to one another). A perk to the light show being here is that the lines in Hogsmeade tend to die down for a bit as guests prioritize Nighttime Lights over other attractions.
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