via press release:

BREAK OUT THE POPCORN! IT’S A HARRY POTTER PACKED WEEKEND

ON ABC FAMILY WITH THE FIRST FOUR FILMS IN THE SERIES, DECEMBER 4-6

Event Features Exclusive First Looks at Footage from the “Harry Potter Ultimate Editions” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Blu-Ray and DVD Features

Burbank, CA (November 9, 2009) – ABC Family continues the holiday cheer with its “Harry Potter” weekend on December 4-6, airing the first four installments of the popular film series as part of the network’s “25 Days of Christmas” programming event.

To add to the magic, ABC Family will also be airing exclusive footage from “Creating the World of Harry Potter,” an eight-hour documentary series revealing the filmmaking magic behind all of the films in the series. For the first time ever, uncover the intimate details, never-before-seen screen tests, inside stories by cast and filmmakers, and directors’ critical decisions behind the creation of Harry Potter’s world on screen. “Creating the World of Harry Potter” is only available in the “Harry Potter Ultimate Edition” series on Blu-ray and DVD.   Each Ultimate Edition includes a one-hour feature from “Creating the World of Harry Potter” that highlights a unique aspect of the filmmaking process. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Ultimate Edition” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Ultimate Edition” available on Blu-ray and DVD December 8.

In addition, fans will get an advanced look at the “Close Up with the Cast” piece when they join Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood, as she visits the costume department and shows off some of her jewelry designs. Fans can also go behind the scenes with the cast and crew to see how the infamous Cave was created and what it took to bring the Inferi to the big screen. Both of these pieces will be featured in their entirety on the “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Blu-ray Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD.

The “Harry Potter” weekend schedule is as follows:

Friday, December 4

(7:30-11:00 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE

In this enchanting film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s delightful bestseller, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses magical powers of his own. At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. He learns the high-flying sport Quidditch and plays a thrilling game with living chess pieces on his way to face a Dark Wizard bent on destroying him. For the most extraordinary adventure, see you on platform nine and three-quarters! (Live Action)

Saturday, December 5

(12:30-4:00 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE – (*See Friday, December 4 for description.)

(4:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Cars fly, trees fight back and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of the second year of his amazing journey into the world of wizardry. This year at Hogwarts, spiders talk, letters scold and Harry’s own unsettling ability to speak to snakes turns his friends against him. From Duelling Clubs to rogue Bludgers, it’s a year of adventure and danger when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. And it will require all of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione’s (Emma Watson) magical abilities and courage to save Hogwarts! (Live Action)

(8:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who seemed to pose a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse, half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted dwelling in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. (Live Action)

Sunday, December 6

(12:30-4:30 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS – (*See Saturday, December 5, for description.)

(4:30-7:30 PM ET/PT) HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN – (*See Saturday, December 5, for description.)

(7:30-11:00 PM ET/PT) – HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

When Harry Potter’s name mysteriously emerges from the Goblet of Fire in his fourth year at Hogwarts, he becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools – the Triwizard Tournament.  But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did? Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named.  In this fourth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, everything changes as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) leave childhood forever and take on challenges greater than anything they could have imagined. (Live Action)

Part of the Disney-ABC Television Group, ABC Family, distributed in over 98 million homes, features original movies, series and specials reflecting today’s families and entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today’s relationships, all told with diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family’s programming is a mix of quality acquired series and theatricals as well as original movies and scripted dramas. ABC Family is also the destination for Holiday events with “13 Nights of Halloween” and “25 Days of Christmas” branded programming events. ABC Family. A New Kind of Family