Fiction will magically turn into reality tonight for the city of Williamston.

Inspired by the stomping grounds of a famous boy wizard and his cohorts, its downtown area will be transformed into the mystifying world of Harry Potter, called Potterpalooza.

The well-known atmosphere concocted in J.K. Rowling's widely successful series will be recreated in anticipation for the midnight release of the seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Two years ago - when the sixth book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was released - a similar event took place in Williamston, but on a much smaller scale, said Theresa Grossman, co-owner of Tuesday Books, 137 W. Grand River Ave., which is sponsoring the event.

"If you drove into downtown around 10 p.m., you would think we have a very odd town, with all these little witches and wizards walking around the sidewalk," she joked.

Tuesdays Books is expecting 1,500 people to join in on the spellbinding fun.

"We built on the idea, and it grew all by itself," Grossman said. "It seemed to take on a life of its own."

For Benjamin Eichler, financial adviser of Edward Jones Investments, 150 S. Putnam St., it will transform into Gringotts Bank for Potterpalooza - getting involved in his community was important to him, and he also enjoyed reading the Harry Potter books.

Eichler will dress up as a goblin, a character from the book who works at Gringotts Bank. His office building won't get into full costume.

"We're trying a few ways to decorate the office, but we're not putting in a subterranean chamber," he said, referring to where Gringotts Bank is located as described in the book.

Even Barbara Burke, executive director for the Williamston Area Chamber of Commerce, is dressing up for the occasion. She'll take on the role of Madam Pomfrey, the nurse at Hogwarts.

"Someone is supposed to get the costume - I'd better follow up on that," she said. "The whole town is transforming into Harry Potter."

About 145 books have been prepurchased at Tuesday Books, co-owner Beth Phelps said.

"It is a tremendous boost to the business of all bookstores - kids are reading more this summer," Grossman said.

Although it will take a lot of organizational talent, Grossman said it will all be worth it.

"We do this because we love reading, we love our kids, we love our town and we love Harry Potter," she said.