News Photo by Darby Hinkley

The Alpena Mall was a popular wizard hangout on Saturday for the second annual Harry Potter Expo, sponsored by Gifts and Gadgets. Pictured here are Alpena resident Zoe Davis, 9, dressed as Hermione, with shopkeep and potion specialist Heather Freehling, who was offering slime and potions from her gypsy tent.

Gifts and Gadgets Event Manager Nichole Keyes said 70 people had reservations to attend the Hogwarts Feast, a dinner catered by Chez Ami. The feast followed the expo, which featured vendors, free games, activities, trivia and a costume contest. “It’s a really nice opportunity for people to see what’s offered at the mall and gather with what they call fellow ‘Potterheads’,” Keyes said. Other event sponsors were Thunder Bay Family Dentistry, K-otic Games, Skiba Vision Center, and Little Bit of Everything.