LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2023 Daily Countdown
Hello and welcome (back!) to the Jay’s Brick Blog daily countdown of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar!
This is LEGO’s fifth year of Harry Potter Advent Calendars, and after two years of incorporating some sort of game, we look to return to the standard LEGO Advent Calendar fare.
Check out the HP Advent Calendars from 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 for references into past LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendars if you’d like a refresher!
This year, I’ll be counting down all 5 LEGO Advent Calendars – Star Wars, Harry Potter, Friends, City and Marvel.
You can check out each countdown here
- Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar Countdown 2023
- Harry Potter Advent Calendar Countdown 2023
- Friends Advent Calendar Countdown 2023
- City Advent Calendar Countdown 2023
- Star Wars Advent Calendar Countdown 2023
To make it easier for you to check out each day’s section, as this post is going to grow longer with every new window, all you have to do is click on the Day you want, and you will instantly jump to the corresponding section.
- Day 1 – Harry Potter
- Day 2 – Honeydukes Shop Window
- Day 3 – Honeydukes Counter
- Day 4 – Sirius Black Wanted Poster
- Day 5 – Ron Weasley
- Day 6 – Magic Wand Stand
- Day 7 – Dessert Cart
- Day 8 – Hogwarts Sign Post
- Day 9 – Hermione Granger
- Day 10 – Christmas Tree
- Day 11 – Postbox and Owl
- Day 12 – Fountain
- Day 13 – Aberforth Dumbledore
- Day 14 – Bar Table
- Day 15 – Butterbeer Keg
- Day 16 – Lamp Post
- Day 17 – Madam Rosmerta
- Day 18 – Butterbeer and Drumstick
- Day 19 – Fireplace
- Day 20 – Table and Chair
- Day 21 – Draco Malfoy
- Day 22 – Bench
- Day 23 – A Taller Christmas Tree
- Day 24 – Snowman
- Final Thoughts
How does the daily advent calendar countdown work?
If you’re new here, I post daily updates on each window of the 2023 Harry Potter Advent Calendar. I usually post updates in the morning, but sometimes if things get too busy, updates will be posted in the evening. I’ll update this post each day, as I don’t really enjoy the practice of creating new posts for each day as it keeps it so much cleaner, so bookmark this post to come back every day!
Unlike other sites, I’m actually opening each window as I go, and I’ve been able to be relatively spoiler-free to be as surprised as I can get. All reviews, thoughts and reactions are live as we go along, there are no pre-planned photos or thoughts, unless I happen to be travelling or away from home.
Do note that I’m based in Melbourne, Australia (GMT +11) so we’re ahead of most of the world (except New Zealand) so to avoid spoilers, try to come back to this post after you’ve opened your window and built the daily model especially if you’re located in other time zones.
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I receive a small commission if you purchase something, which helps support the work I do on the blog!
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To follow along, it’s best to bookmark this post to check back each day. You can also find a link to this post from the home page via a link in the top navigation bar. If you’re on mobile, you have to expand the burger menu (the button with the 3 lines) to find it.
Here’s a look at the 2023 Harry Potter Advent Calendar with the front flap opened. It’s very festive, wintery and snowy with a lovely illustration of Hogsmeade Village, which seems to be the theme of this year’s Advent Calendar.
You count upwards from 1 to 24, so don’t make the mistake of going backwards!
As always, the instructions are found on the inside of each window flap, so be gentle when opening them as you’ll need to sometimes refer to them for slightly more complicated builds!
Without wasting any time, let’s get started with the 2023 Harry Potter Advent Calendar countdown!
Day 1
Day 1 starts off with a pretty good minifigure, Harry Potter in his red hoodie, and blue jacket from Prisoner of Azkaban! This is an exclusive minifigure as we get a brand new torso, and it’s also nice to get the hoodie element which fits in nicely over Harry’s legs.
As this in in his third year of Hogwarts, we get Harry with medium legs and he has a bit more of a boyish look to him.
Here’s a look at his back printing and alternate face, which has an angry expression. Unfortunately, you don’t get an alternate wig for Harry’s hair, which I think is a little odd as it would’ve been nice to have a version of Harry without the hoodie, so hopefully another wig shows up later in the advent calendar.
Here’s the reference image from the Prisoner of Azkaban film!
We’re off to a pretty good start with an exclusive Harry Potter variant! Check back tomorrow to see what we get in Day 2!
Day 2
Day 2’s build features a slice of a Hogsmeade favourite, the wizarding sweet shop Honeydukes! We have a small window display with some Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, a Chocolate Frog and Popsicle – maybe a nod to No Melt Ice Cream?
Honeydukes is extremely popular with students, and Harry was mesmerised by the selection there, so this is a very fitting build for the Hogsmeade-themed calendar so far. I also really like getting a printed Bertie Botts brick which is always nice.
Check in to see what we get for Day 3 tomorrow!
Day 3
Following Day 2’s Honeydukes Window Display… Day 3 gives us another section of the Hogsmeade Sweets Shop – a counter. This one feels quite lazy, and there isn’t anything particular interesting. There’s a plate, some pastries, and a cherry in a glass display but that’s pretty much it.
There’s nothing particularly wizard-y or magical about this build, and you could easily mistake this for a City or Friends build. Bit disappointing, and I hope Day 4 gives us something more interesting!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get. I sure hope it’s not more sections of Honeydukes!
Day 4
On Day 4 we get an excellent little build, a signpost with a wanted poster for Sirius Black, who is on the run after escaping from the wizard prison Azkaban!
Sirius Black’s escape is a key plot point in Prisoner of Azkaban, and his presence weighs heavily on the students in Hogsmeade, so this is yet another fitting build.
LEGO Harry Potter fans will be very happy with this printed tile, which is a new and so far exclusive to this Advent Calendar. It’s really nice to see printed elements in Advent Calendars, and this would look great in your Hogsmeade displays.
So far, off to a pretty good start with the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar!
Check in tomorrow to see what we get for Day 5!
Day 5
On Day 5 of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar, we get another exclusive minifigure with Ron Weasley, Harry’s best friend! Ron comes an exclusive new torso, matching his checked shirt that he wears to Hogsmeade, and his blue pom pom beanie is also a brand new recolour.
Here’s a look at the back printing. This is a really handy and very Wintery/Autumny torso so minifigure customisers will enjoy having this very fashionable piece as an option.
Here’s a better look at the blue pom pom beanie, which has orange hair fused to it. This element was first introduced with George and Fred Weasley in Harry Potter Minifigures Series 2, so it’s nice to see this hat make a return.
Check back tomorrow to see what we get in Day 6! If Ron is here, mischief must not be far!
Day 6
On Day 6 we get a delightfully magical build – a Magic Wand Stand! It has some classic transparent LEGO Star Wands, and what looks like 2 firecrackers, each bearing Gryffindor and Slytherin colours.
You also get a spare of each wand which make for really fun accessories. This could be a reference to the Ollivander’s Store in Hogsmeade or Zonko’s Joke Shop as these look like novelty wands and items. I’m leaning towards Zonko’s because of the red stands.
Not bad at all for Day 6! I kinda like that we’re getting different Hogsmeade Shop displays. Check in tomorrow to see what we get in Day 7!
Day 7
On Day 7 of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar, we get a Dessert Cart, a trolley filled with wizarding sweets and lollies.
Update: Thanks to everyone pointing out that it should belong with Zonko’s Joke Shop due to the colour!
This looks like it belongs in Honeydukes, and there’s two flasks, two swirls of fudge (or LEGO poop), and some multi-coloured boxes inside the trolley.
A pretty basic build but it fits in with the wider theme of Hogsmeade shops and attractions. Plus, I appreciated getting spare LEGO poop elements!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get in Day 8!
Day 8
On Day 8 we get a simple Hogwarts Sign Post, pointing towards Hogwarts! Unfortunately after taking the photos, I realised that the position of the tile is off by about a stud, and it should be attached off-center, so pardon the slightly incorrect photo!
While this might be a simple build, we do get a new and currently exclusive printed tile with Hogwarts and a hand with finger pointing in the direction, which is more accurate to the movie, or even Hogsmeade at Universal’s Wizarding World attraction.
Not the most interesting build, but I do appreciate getting more exclusive printed tiles and elements in the 2023 Harry Potter Advent Calendar.
Check back tomorrow to see what we get in Day 9!
Day 9
On Day 9 we get another excellent minifigure, with the final member of the main trio, Hermione Granger! Like Ron and Harry, this variant of Hermione is brand new and exclusive to the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar.
She comes with a beanie and hair combo, matching her Hogsmeade look. This piece is a new recolour, and her torso is also brand new, with a Gryffindor scarf over her jacket.
Here’s a look at Hermione’s alternate face and back printing.
Very glad that the main trio is finally all here, and I really love the attention to detail and exclusive new outfits that match their first visit to Hogsmeade, which will be a treat for LEGO Harry Potter fans!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get in Day 10!
Day 10
On Day 10 we get a relatively simple yet elegant build – a snow-tipped Christmas Tree. The build is fairly basic and there’s a small star topping the tree.
It doesn’t really scream MAGIC or WIZARDING WORLD but thematically, it makes sense and is a nice slice of nature to add that’s a bit of a nice alternative to the interior shop builds.
Come back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 11!
Day 11
On Day 11 of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar, we get some Owl Post! We get a postbox, a letter and a brown owl perched atop a patch of snow that has pooled above the postbox.
The Reddish Brown Owl is a fairly common LEGO animal, but Owls are a staple of the Wizarding World and LEGO Harry Potter, so it’s always welcome to get some magical creatures.
That’s it for Day 11! Check back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 12!
Day 12
On Day 12, we get a simple fountain! The design and colours match the cobblestone flooring, and there are bits of snow piled up around the rim, as well as the water frozen – whether by the cold or by magic we don’t know.
It’s a fairly simple build, but does provide a bit more of a “village” feel to Hogsmeade, but nothing to get super excited about.
Check back tomorrow to see what we get for Day 13!
Day 13
We’re officially in the second half of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar, and Day 13 is another fantastic window with Aberforth Dumbledore!
He is Albus Dumbledore’s brother and his appearance in this Advent Calendar is notable because it marks the first ever appearance of his character as a LEGO Minifigure, which should please many LEGO Harry Potter fans!
To make things extra special, Aberforth features a brand new face print, and exclusive torso making this a highly sought-after character for Harry Potter completionists.
Really cool to finally get Aberforth in minifigure form, and can we dream of a Goat in upcoming windows?
Check back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 14!
Day 14
Following yesterday’s reveal of Aberforth Dumbledore, on Day 14 we get a simple Bar Table, with a candle and glass bottle on it. We’re now in the Hog’s Head Inn, of which Aberforth is the owner and barman.
It’s not the most exciting build, but I guess it does fit the Hog’s Head’s drabby interiors!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 15!
Day 15
What does any good wizarding watering hole or inn need? Some Butterbeer, the preferred beverage of Hogwarts students. On Day 15 we get a quaint butterbeer keg. The design is nice and you can also pretend its something stronger if that’s what floats your boat.
Here’s all the builds so far in their respective shops and sections. We tend to get 2 builds per shop, so I believe we might be done with the Hog’s Head Inn. I wonder if we’ll head to the Three Brooms sticks next – the only location that we haven’t explored yet!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 16!
Day 16
Day 16 is a little plain with a Lamp Post. It’s quite tall thanks to the use of a lightsaber hilt to extend its height, but otherwise, there’s nothing much to write about!
While it’s a bit of a boring build, it does function as some more outdoor Hogsmeade Village decorations. I do wish it looked a bit more festive, and/or magical.
Hope Day 17’s build makes up for the rather simple Lamp Post!
Day 17
On Day 17 of the 2023 Harry Potter Advent Calendar, we get a Madam Rosmerta minifigure, yet another staple Hogsmeade character! The minifigures have been exceptional in this year’s Advent Calendar and the landlady of the Three Broomsticks is another welcome addition.
She was previously only available in 76388 Hogsmeade Village Visit so it’s nice to see her make an appearance again, even if this is an identical minifigure.
Here’s her back print and alternate face.
Not a bad lineup of minifigures so far with this Advent Calendar! Come back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 18!
Day 18
On Day 18 we get some furniture for the Three Broomsticks with a table, some Butterbeer and a drumstick!
Not the most exciting build, but it’s always a pleasure to get a glass of Butterbeer! Come back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 19!
Day 19
On Day 19 we get a fairly basic build, a fireplace at the Three Broomsticks. There’s a nice little nod to the actual design of the fireplace, which has tons of antlers mounted to the wall.
This wasn’t in Prisoner of Azkaban but was from the Half Blood Prince movie, but you get the gist.
The cosy inn is slowly coming together and I think this may be the last Three Broomsticks Inn build! Come back to see what we get tomorrow for Day 20. Only 5 more windows to go in the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar!
Day 20
On Day 20 we get more furniture for the Three Broomsticks Inn with a table with a lamp, and a dark blue chair. It’s quite basic and a little boring – almost like this could fit into a City or Friends Advent Calendar.
At least there’s some Holly on the table, but there’s nothing particularly magical or wizardy about the build.
Are we done with the Three Broomsticks? I hope we are as the builds for this one (with the exception of the Fireplace) haven’t been as good as Zonko’s Joke Shop or Honeydukes Sweetshop.
Check back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 21!
Day 21
On Day 21, we get a Draco Malfoy minifigure which is a nice little surprise! Like the other minifigures, this version of Draco Malfoy is exclusive to this Advent Calendar.
His torso is new, and his black and grey Ushanka hat is a brand new recolour as well.
Here’s a look at his back printing and alternate expression, which has a shocked and scared expression – the perfect expression as an invisible Harry Potter pelts him with snowballs!
LEGO have done a really great job with replicating Draco’s outfit in minifigure form. The hat however is the closest they can get without creating a brand new mould for Draco’s furry hat seen in this shot.
With Harry’s nemesis showing up, Day 21 has been a great one to further add to the Hogsmeade scenes from Prisoner of Azkaban!
Check back tomorrow to see what we get for Day 22!
Day 22
Uh okay, that’s it? On Day 22, which is usually the juicy and interesting part of the Advent Calendar, we get a simple bench. There are some piles of snow on the side, but it’s really quite simple and basic, and not something I expect to pop out on the 3rd last day.
This one’s a bit of a stinker as again, it doesn’t really feel super Hogsmeade-y, or Christmasy and I was expecting something way better for Day 22.
Here’s hoping Day 23 and the penultimate window of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar picks back up on what has otherwise been a really fun exploration of Hogsmeade!
Day 23
I got a little shock when I opened Day 23’s window and thought I got a duplicate bag for Day 10’s Christmas Tree… but nope. It’s what we’re meant to get.
The penultimate day of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar gives us a… slightly taller Christmas Tree? The design is similar to Day 10’s but it’s one brick taller… and that’s it.
First the bench and now a repeat of Day 10’s build with some slight modifications… I don’t know what’s going on with how the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar ends, but this feels like such an underwhelming way to conclude what has otherwise been a pretty decent calendar.
Come back tomorrow to see what we get on Day 24 and for a summary of what I thought of this year’s HP Advent Calendar! Surely we have to end on a high?
Day 24
On Day 24, the final day of the 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar we get a… Snowman. That’s it. The finale is a simple Snowman that looks like it could come from a City or Friends Advent Calendar with nothing remotely magical, Hogsmeade or Harry Potter about it.
I can’t believe the last few days of the HP Advent Calendar has been so underwhelming, filled with generic builds, when the final days should bring us some of the most exciting builds.
What an underwhelming way to end what has been a pretty fun Advent Calendar.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the complete 2023 LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar that’s Hogsmeade-themed and features 4 distinct shops with their corresponding builds.
I really enjoyed the first part, but I have to say, the decision to include the most generic builds towards the end really soured my enjoyment of the Advent Calendar and is such a bewildering decision.
The one standout is the minifigures with the exclusive Hogsmeade/Prisoner of Azkaban outfits and variants, as well as the introduction of Aberforth Dumbledore which is great for Harry Potter collectors.
Outside of the minifigures, the builds have been very up and down and while some of the new printed elements are nice, it doesn’t make up for so many days devoted to generic outdoor builds. The audacity to get a duplicate Christmas Tree and a basic bench at the end!
Despite how it ended, I do want to give you a huge thank you for following the Harry Potter Advent Calendar, even to the excruciating end! Thanks for joining each day as we count down the to Christmas Eve!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
To get the latest LEGO news and LEGO Reviews straight in your inbox, subscribe via email, or you can also follow on Google News, or socials on Facebook, Instagram (@jayong28), Twitter or subscribe to the Jay’s Brick Blog Youtube channel.
This year, I’ll be counting down all 5 LEGO Advent Calendars – Star Wars, Harry Potter, Friends, City and Marvel.
You can check out each countdown here