A traditional event to mark the start the of year at the fictional Harry Potter school for wizards in London was canceled, leaving fans many disappointed.
"Back to Hogwarts" is celebrated on September 1 to mark the day that students from the world of the Harry Potter books, authored by J.K. Rowling, and movies return to their studies at the imaginary school.
The Hogwarts students would catch the "Hogwarts Express" after boarding it on the fictional Platform 9 & 3/4 to depart at 11 a.m. from London's iconic, but very real, King's Cross station. It is one of the busiest stations in the U.K. with more than 23 million passengers starting or ending their journey there in 2022, according to Railway Data.
For years, fans of the wizarding series would gather at King's Cross, often dressed as characters from the series on September 1 to hear an 11 a.m. announcement, declaring the departure of the Hogwarts Express. A sign would also appear on the departure boards signaling an 11 a.m. train going to "Hogsmeade," the town near where Hogwarts is located.
But in a departure from tradition, it was announced by the Wizarding World website—the official source of all things Harry Potter—that this year's event at King's Cross station would not happen. Instead, reality TV star Sam Thompson would host an online version from the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden, just outside of London.
"Come 1st September, fans are strongly discouraged from attending King's Cross Station this year, as there will be no event, departure board or countdown held at the station," the statement read, per The Independent.
"Instead, we've recruited our resident Hufflepuff... Sam Thompson to be with you all in spirit once again in a specially recorded online program made in celebration of Back to Hogwarts."
Network Rail, which manages King's Cross, told Newsweek: "Our priority must always be passengers who are trying to make their journeys on the railway."
"Having begun as a small number of fans waving off the departure of the Hogwarts Express, celebrations have grown significantly in popularity and last year's event saw thousands of people at King's Cross, which made it challenging for us as station operator," the spokesperson said. "This year there was no in person event but there were online celebrations which could be enjoyed by people right across the country."
Newsweek contacted Wizarding World by email for comment.
Despite the warning that the announcement would not be happening at King's Cross, many people still crammed into the central rail station hoping to hear it.
Sounds of people booing were heard in videos posted to social media, when they realized the official event would not be happening after participating in a vocal countdown to 11 a.m.
"Harry Potter fans were left disappointed after the annual tradition of the Kings Cross Hogwarts announcement didn't happening today," wrote the X, formerly Twitter, account @UB1UB2 above a video of the incident.
While London's official "Back to Hogwarts" celebrations changed this year, there were plenty of others held around the world, from Japan to Spain and including at New York City's Grand Central station.
Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central was given a magical makeover, complete with a Lego version of the Mirror of Erised and the countdown was hosted by Harry Potter mega-fan and influencer, Kierra Lewis, alongside Bonnie Wright who played Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter movies.
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