Wicomico Co. will host US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship

The US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship is coming to Wicomico County.

Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism has announced they will host the championship from November 19-20.

Games of quidditch, which are based on the sport of the same name in J.K. Rowling’s popular “Harry Potter” series, will be played at Fruitland Recreational Park, and admission is free to the public.

“USQ is excited to be in Wicomico County, Maryland for Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship,” said Mary Kimball, events director for US Quidditch. “Working with Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism has been really great so far, and we can’t wait for the event in November.”

Organizers say that games will start at 8AM on November 19, with the last game of the day starting at 4PM. On Sunday, November 20, games will start again at 8AM, with the last game starting at 3PM.

According to the release, at least 24 teams are signed up to take part, bringing more than 1,000 players, coaches and families to the area from seven states and Washington, D.C. An economic impact of more than $300,000 is apparently also expected.

“We are thrilled to have been selected as the first Maryland host of the US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship,” said Stan Adams, Wicomico County sports marketing representative. “Quidditch is the fastest-growing collegiate sport in the United States, and we are excited to bring that momentum to the Eastern Shore.”

Young people of all ages can also get a chance to try the sport on a youth field run by US Quidditch with help from the Salisbury University quidditch team from 8AM-3PM on both days.

Even though the participants will not actually be flying, players do use broomsticks, and the “snitch” is a person rather than a flying golden ball. Teams score points by either catching the snitch or getting a ball called the “quaffle” into one of three large hoops at the end of each side of the field. Meanwhile, players try to avoid getting hit by another type of ball, a “bludger.”

The winning team will continue on to the national championship.

“This tournament is a special opportunity for our community to see the best quidditch players in the region go directly head-to-head and compete for a spot in the US Quidditch Cup,” Adams said.

For more information, visit www.SalisburyChampionships.org.