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Somerset Town Gets Yarnbombing Harry Potter Take-Over

By September 1, 2019Arty

Taunton in Somerset is celebrating its fourth annual ‘yarnbombing’ this year. The tradition sees Taunton’s Bath Place decorated in wool and knitted items for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike. This year, the yarnbombing was given a Harry Potter theme.Around 25 local people knitted and crocheted the Harry Potter themed artwork and there’s plenty from the books and films to spot in the area. Shops and homes up and down Bath Place have taken part in this quirky and magical take-over of the area. A knitted Harry Potter graces the streets, Dobby the house elf can be found in the local piercing shop, Hagrid, the ground keeper and Care of Magical Creatures Professor can be found in the watch shop and even Sybil Trelawney, the Divination Professor can be seen in a shop window.

A front garden has Hogwarts letters flying out of a fireplace, replicating a scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Knitted owls are scattered about, delivery knitted wizard mail. The three-headed dog Fluffy can be found, although he’s a lot less scary in woollen form. Cornish pixies, dragons, witches and wizards, the snake Nagini, the Hogwarts Express, you name it, they’ve knitted it.

These amazing woollen works of art are not only great to see but they also encourage visitors to shop in some of the local independent stores. What’s more, for a small donation, you can pick up a printout from The Birdcage Dress Agency, a local shop, and take part in a charity quiz to hunt down all the knitted art, a great day out for some family fun.

Sharon Ogden, a Bath Place Trader, told BBC Somerset: “I think it’s really popular because people, well it makes everybody smile. Everybody talks to one another. Everybody like finding things and pointing out and then they just start talking to strangers and it makes people come down here.”

The Harry Potter yarnbombing installation is live from 21st August for 2 weeks, so if you’re in the area why not head down and see Taunton’s very own Hogsmeade yourself or enjoy the video from BBC Somerset below.

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