About

The About section contains all manner of information pertaining to Azkatraz: the who, what, and where of it all.

About Azkatraz

HPEF's sixth event, AZKATRAZ, will take place in San Francisco, California, from July 17 - 21, 2009. The primary hotel is the Parc 55 San Francisco Hotel, although some events and programming will be taking place around and near San Francisco.

Azkatraz begins late in the night on July 16, 2009 with a showing of Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince, then continues with a spectacular pre-dawn LeakyMug podcast back at the Parc 55. Later on Friday, attendees have the option of casting off from the Embarcadero for Wrock Around the Rock, a wizard rock concert on a yacht that travels around San Francisco Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island.

Formal programming begins on Saturday morning with a pleneary session featuring Andrew Slack from the HP Alliance on the key themes of Azkatraz - the difference between what is right and what is easy. There's more formal programming throughout Saturday afternoon, continuing into Sunday and Monday, interspersed with a wizarding fashion show, a pajama party, showings of the first five Harry Potter films, a podcastpalooza, the Prison Break Ball, wrock music, Quidditch, art gallery showings, claymation workshops, video studio rentals and more! The schedule is available here; all times are subject to change.

We'll finish Azkatraz with Tuesday's lunchtime Farewell Feast, and bid bon voyage to our attendees - but we have a feeling we'll be seeing some of you later in the week at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Want to learn more about Azkatraz? Read the F.A.Q.

About HPEF

Learn all about the organization that makes Azkatraz possible, and read more about the long line of amazing HPEF symposia. About HPEF »

Accomodations

Azkatraz takes place primarily in the Parc55 in San Francisco, California; the room rate is $165 plus tax per night, for up to four people in a room. In other words, there's no extra-person charge for the third and fourth person in the room. However, the hotel has an issue with their reservation system. Azkatraz attendees are not supposed to be charged an extra-person fee for the 3rd or 4th person in the room, but their computer reservation system cannot turn it off.

Learn all about the Parc 55 Hotel and how to make your reservation in Accomodations »

Registration Information

A basic registration includes all Saturday through Monday programming tracks, the Welcome Feast, the Leaving Feast, pick-up Quidditch, the LeakyMug podcast, admission to the Vendor Room and Gallery, Common Room, the auction, in-hotel film showings, the Fun with Your Flock meet-ups, the Podcasts, and a ticket to the Prison Break Ball. Basic Registration pricing is as follows:

  • $145 - Basic Registration, available through April 15, 2009
  • $165 - Basic Registration, April 16 – May 31, 2009
  • $190 - Basic Registration, June 1 – June 30, 2009
  • $200 - Basic Registration online, July 1-15, 2009
  • ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON JULY 15, 2009
  • $200 - At-the-Door pricing

Single-day registration, which includes no meals, is $45; any single-day registrant can attend the Friday morning podcast, and purchase any add-ons for that day, including HBP movie tickets and tickets to Wrock Around the Rock.

This year, we introduced the Merlin's Circle Sponsorship-level registration for $300, which includes all the above, plus breakfast on Sunday and Monday, a cocktail reception with special guests, priority seating until five minutes before programming start time at all programming tracks, and a commemorative pin.

We also will have a special programming concentration on Monday that we're calling the “Master's of Potter Administration,” or MPA. The MPA registration will include breakfast, lunch, a cocktail reception, and will cost $130.00 on its own, $100.00 when added to a standard registration, or $75.00 when added to a Merlin's Circle registration. You can register online now or read our FAQ to learn more.

Sponsorship

We have various sponsorship opportunities; for $100, any individual or group can sponsor a programming session at Azkatraz, and for $200 any individual or group can sponsor a Quidditch team. More information will be available as the lists of sessions and teams are announced in the spring of 2009.

If you, your company or organization is interested in a larger sponsorship, the following events and activities are all still available:

Magical Creativity at ZEUM
Claymation Workshop
Video Studio
Masters of Potter Administration Lunch
Movie Showings
Gaming Room
Bus Trip to Comic Con
Wrock Around the Rock Cruise
Keynote Meals on Sunday and Monday
Art Gallery
Prison Break Ball
Common Room
Programming sessions
Quidditch teams

Vendors can sponsor any event, activity, session or team at a 20% discount; any sponsorship can be facilitated with monetary and in-kind donations.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of the above, or donating products or services to Azkatraz, please contact Heidi of the sponsorship team at info @ hp2009.org.