HPEF

HPEF announces formal end of operations

We’re sad to announce the end of an era as the HP Education Fanon Inc., also known as HPEF, finally closes it operations this year.

Since 2002, HPEF served as an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to producing academic symposia on the Harry Potter books and cultural phenomenon.

According to longtime board chair, Lee Hillman (AKA Gwendolyn Grace), "We're so pleased by the way our conferences affected the shape of fandom. HPEF encouraged artisans, writers, performers, and crafters to explore their own creativity; provided spaces for fans and scholars to connect to and with each other through their love of the subject; and brought fans together with top-caliber speakers and guests. Our symposia set a tone that offered creative, premium experiences at luxury destinations, for affordable prices. As proud as we are of these accomplishments, we know all things come to an end."

Past HPEF events include Nimbus – 2003, The Witching Hour (2005), Lumos (2006), Prophecy (2007), Portus (2008), Azkatraz (2009), Infinitus (2010), and Ascendio (2012).

HPEF's remaining assets will be shared with other organizations focused in similar ways.

The current board members collectively, and reluctantly, have concluded that HPEF's time has run its course. We would like to thank all those who shared the joy of these events with us over the years.

We enthusiastically look forward to joining the fabulous, dedicated fans of the Potterverse and all its permutations, transformative works, and related media, at other events sponsored by those groups that are taking up the challenge.. They will, we're confident, produce events that will continue to celebrate the rich world the JK Rowling has created.

For a look back at past events go to

HPEF HP Education Fanon, Inc. - World-Class, Magical Conferences for Discerning Fans.

Thank you to all those who came to our HPEF reunion at Leviosa last night! We had a mini-museum, a pensive to share memories, posters to share your thoughts etc. (Thanks to Eric at MuggleNet for the pics)

Did you attend Lumos? Or the Witching Hour? or Prophecy? Share your photos with us and we'll include them in our HPEF reunion slideshow during Leviosa!

For those coming to the meet-up at Leviosa... registration has been extended for one more day. Get your tickets & hotel today. Also, a new Thursday-only pass has been added for those who wanted to come to the meet-up. It's a bit pricey since it includes the welcome feast so consider the full registration.

Harry Potter audio books narrator Jim Dale at HPEF's Portus 2008.
Join us for our HPEF reunion at Leviosa on July 7th after the welcome feast.
Full Registration closes in 2 weeks! Get your tickets now at www.leviosa.org

Planning to join us for the HPEF Reunion at Leviosa in July? Don't forget to register this weekend. Ticket prices are going up on Monday! Register at www.leviosa.org

Did you know that three years ago today (July 12 2015) we kicked off Ascendio 2012 in Orlando? What was you best memory from that event? https://www.flickr.com/photos/hpef/sets/with/72157630621924416

Thank you all for your responses to our poll back in February! After exploring our options, HPEF has elected not to pursue an event in 2015. Or 2016.

We are currently looking at ways to improve the visibility of the HP fandom through hosting get-togethers, meetups, parties, and possibly tracks of programming at existing SF/F cons. If you have suggestions of conventions where HPEF should consider making our presence known, leave a comment! We can't promise anything, but there are so many cons out there, it'd be good to know where we already have some fen who might be attending, so we can look at our availability to organize for those events.

HPEF Indiegogo poll HPEF is exploring a small, very scaled-down event (300-450 attendees) in 2015. Please help us gauge interest.

Did you get an email that this page is changing its name? We'll officially be HPEF as of July 31 (we didn't choose that day, FB chose it for us; isn't it a great coincidence?)!

Did you know it's the 10th Anniversary of HPEF's Nimbus? It was very first HP Con and was held in Orlando, Florida. In honor of that we're opening up the gates to our new HPEF website. The website was created to capture the wonderful memories of the HPEF conferences held over the years. Check it out at: http://hpef.wordpress.com/48-2/

Nimbus Dates: July 17-20, 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Minister of Magic: Gwendolyn Grace Special Guests & Keynote Speakers: Judith Krug, Ari Rapkin, John Granger, Connie Neal, Roger Highfield, Phili...