Harry Potter: the Exhibition opens Saturday, October 23, at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, and will run through January 30. If you have always wanted to attend Hogwarts, but can’t seem to find Platform 9 ¾, this is the next best thing. The exhibit is bursting with costumes, large set pieces, and paraphernalia from all of the Harry Potter movies, including the not yet released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part I.

Fresh off the Hogwarts Express, you have a chance to be “placed” into your house by the Sorting Hat. After a brief multi-screen, video montage of the Harry Potter Films, the self-guided portion of the tour commences in the Portrait Hall. Pay attention and you will notice that many of the portraits are moving.

The audio headset offers additional comments, by the set and costume designers, about designated items throughout the exhibit, as well as brief stories of life on the set. Throughout the exhibit, there are also video screens that play clips of the films that correspond with the displays, as a reminder of were you might have last seen the displayed movie set items.

Head through the Gryffindor common room with displays of the Quibbler, various wands, and Hermione’s Time Turner from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and into Harry and Ron’s dormitory room, with the actual beds and bedding from the set and several of the boys personal items, including the Marauder’s map, the Howler that Mrs. Weasley sent to Ron, and Harry’s special copy of Borage’s “Advanced Potion Making”, complete with notes in the margins.

The exhibit continues with a tour through the various classrooms including Divination, Herbology, Potions and the Dark Arts. Each class display is complete with items that you will remember from the films, the Wardrobe that housed a Bogart in Dark Arts, old jars full of ingredients in Potions and Crystal balls in Divination, as well as costumes from your favorite professors. Next you are off to Quidditch complete with brooms, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000, an entire set of Quidditch balls and bats and an opportunity to throw a Quaffle for a goal. Many Quidditch robes, both from Hogwarts as well as the World Cup, are on display here, as well as programs and tickets from the games.

Heading into the Dark Forest, a visit to Hagrid’s Hut will leave you feeling like you were actually there. Sit in his enormous chair for a bit, then head out to meet creatures of the forest including Buckbeak, the Hippogriff, life-size and hand feathered for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a life-sized Hungarian Horntail model and a member of Aragog’s family. In the Dark Forces room, you will see the Dark mark swirling around in the sky, Death Eaters costumes, Voldemort’s snake inspired robes from the graveyard scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Top off your with visit at the Yule Ball replete with decadent deserts, ball gowns and dress robes from the same film, including Ron’s hand-me-down dress robes. Don’t miss the Triwizard Tournament Cup and a glimpse of Dobby. After a quick trip to Honeydukes, for some Exploding Bon Bon’s and Chocolate Frogs, you are on your way.

For the first time, the exhibit includes items from the seventh film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part I. Sneak a peak Bellatrix’s dress, wand and daggar, Bathilda Bagshot’s History of Magic, Harry’s Decoy Detonator (maliciously placed in Professor Umbridge’s very pink office), and Matthew Lewis’s (Neville longbottom’s) street clothes from the film. This film will open at the Pacific Science Center on November 19 giving fans a unique opportunity to see the new film and see Harry Potter: The Exhibition all at the same place.

UPDATE: Due to its popularity, the exhibit, which was originally set to end its run on January 30, 2011, will now remain open until February 13, 2011.