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 this Halloween. Every year, Britta and Glen Peterson transform their yard into a Victorian-themed experience.
“Oh, I’m Professor McGonagall because I need to tell people what to do here,” Britta Peterson said. This year’s theme was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, attracting an average of 500 visitors from throughout the Bay Area over 12 nights.
The event uses a timed entry system. Tickets are free, but the Petersons fundraise for the nonprofit Give Kids The World Village. This year, they are aiming to reach their fundraising 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 spread joy to people visiting,” Peterson shared.
We spoke with a couple from Santa Clara who attended the event. Leo Fedorov and Sabina Nasibullina, who came from Mountain View, were impressed by the attention to detail.
“They have made tremendous efforts in making sure of every single detail, and that’s wonderful. It even makes you kinder because when your heart is activated, you just want to be a kid,” Nasibullina said.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, many kids were out trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. This event was one of three organized by the San Jose Fire Department, which handed out glowsticks to help keep everyone safe.
Captain Ben Naranjo highlighted the importance of safety: “Firefighters are happy to do this every year. Our number one priority is public safety, and giving out these glow necklaces will make a difference.”
The department has been running this initiative for five years and has handed out 10,000 glowsticks so far to promote a safe Halloween for the community.
For more updates on local Halloween events, visit our website.
https://abc7news.com/post/heres-how-san-jose-home-transformed-magical-harry-potter-place-halloween-2025/18097969/