Here’s how a San Jose home transformed into a magical Harry Potter place for Halloween 2025

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — It may feel like a theme park, but hundreds of people visited a home in San Jose for a magical night.

Every Halloween, Britta and Glen Peterson transform their yard to their Victorian.

“Oh, I’m Professor McGonagall because I need to tell people what to do here,” Britta Peterson said.

This year’s theme – the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

An average of 500 people from throughout the Bay Area visit over 12 nights. It’s a timed entry system, tickets are free – but they do fundraise for the nonprofit Give Kids The World Village. This year they reaching their goal of $25,000.

“We love creating things, and I love entertaining people this is a way for us to have a hobby that makes us happy and we can spread joy to people visiting,” Peterson said.

We spoke to a couple from Santa Clara.

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“They have made like tremendous efforts in like making sure of every single detail and that’s wonderful- and even kinder because when your heart is activated you know you just want to be a kid,”

Leo Fedorov and Sabina Nasibullina came from Mountain View.

“We’re very busy, our lifestyle and work today, but when I got to put this outfit today I immediately became happier and even kinder because when your heart is activated you know you just want to be a kid,” Nasibullina said.

Earlier Friday afternoon we got to see lots of kids get their trick-and treating on.

This was one of three San Jose Fire Department’s that handed out glowsticks to keep everyone safe.

Captain Ben Naranjo said accidents double during this holiday.

“Firefighters are happy to do this every year and just make – our number one priority is public safety and just giving out these glow necklaces will make a difference,” Naranjo said.

The department has been doing this for 5 years and has handed out 10,000 glowsticks so far.