FRAMINGHAM, MA - The latest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is set to be released at midnight tonight. To ease the wait for eager fans, Borders Bookshop & Café on Rt. 9, Framingham, is celebrating the release of the book with a free party starting at 9 p.m., Friday, July 15th.

While waiting for the book to go on sale, enjoy face painting, trivia, and crafts, including birthday cards, dragon masks, wizard hats, and decorating party bags. Also, get your picture taken with Harry and Heromine! Just before midnight, sing “Happy Birthday”, and cut a birthday cake for the star of the show. Be one of the first 50 people to get your book, and receive a special door prize!

Come dressed as your favorite character this weekend, and enter into the costume contest. The contest runs both Friday and Saturday, and everyone who enters will receive a prize, with grand prizes going to the best of each category! The categories include Scariest, Funniest, Most Original, Most Beastly, and Other (for those who don’t fall into any of the other categories)!

But the fun doesn’t stop there. More events are planned for Saturday, July 16th! Calling all performers! Think you have what it takes to steal the show? Saturday, July 16th, starting at noon, come show off your skills and enjoy 15 minutes of fame as you perform for fans from all over the area. Prizes for the best acts!

Besides the Talent Show, Elevenses, and High Teas, there’s face painting, trivia, drawings, and prizes, including door prizes for the first 50 people to pick up their books. There will be a Guess the Beans contest (enter all weekend, closest guess will be contacted) and a free book drawing (enter all weekend, name will be drawn Sunday night).

Don’t miss out on the magic during this magical weekend! Saturday, July 16th, at 2pm, the wizard for the day, “Frankie D. Magic”, will put on a magic show, aided by his protégé, “Mr. Magic Christopher”.

If you can’t make the party, you can still enter to the Guess the Beans and the Free Harry Potter Book drawing by visiting the framingham.com table at tonight’s (July 15th) Concert on the Green, Framingham Centre Common, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.. framingham.com will also have a table and giveaways at the Borders Midnight Magic Party.

For more information, call or visit Borders Books, 85 Worcester Rd (Rt. 9), Framingham, MA 01701, (508) 875-2321.