MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Dayton's and Marshall Field's flagship stores will feature the literary magic of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" this holiday season. Beginning November 4, Dayton's Minneapolis store will spotlight the story of this first Harry Potter book and the magical moments and memorable characters of his enchanting world created by author J.K. Rowling. Dayton's auditorium display is free and open to the public during store hours.

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"Families for generations have made visiting the stores' displays a part of their holiday tradition," said Michael Francis, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Visual Merchandising. "We are thrilled to be bringing the magic of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' to life in our stores."

The three-story Great Tree at Marshall Field's State Street store, which will be lit for the 80th year, will be adorned in the Harry Potter theme with 1,000 hand-carved, hand-painted ornaments including Harry Potter's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick, a potion bottle, Hedwig the owl, and the Mirror of Esired. A six-foot replica of Hedwig will top the tree and a replica of the Hogwarts express train will circle the base of the tree. The Great Tree Lighting takes place on Saturday, November 4 at 12:00 p.m. in the Walnut Room on the seventh floor.

Marshall Field's famous windows along State Street will also delight young and old. The tale of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone" will unfold in 11 windows with scenes that include life with the Dursley's, Hagrid and the Diagon Alley, Harry's arrival at Hogwarts and the Christmas feast and the Mirror of Esired.

A 38-year tradition, the auditorium exhibit at Dayton's Minneapolis store is based on the worldwide literary phenomenon. The 10,000 square-foot display hosts more than 45 vignettes, the largest number of scenes in Dayton's auditorium history.

"For more than 35 years, the holiday traditions of Dayton's and Marshall Field's have brought families together to celebrate the season," said Rob Gruen, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We are pleased that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone -- which has brought families together the world over to read this magical book -- will be celebrated as part of these time-honored events."

Dayton's, Marshall Field's, Hudson's is a part of the Target Corporation, and is one of the largest individual department store operations in the U.S. The company has annual sales of $3.1 billion, generated from more than 14 million square feet of retail space at 64 stores in eight states. The company employs approximately 33,000 people and operates 19 Dayton's, 21 Hudson's and 24 Marshall Field's stores. Dayton's, Marshall Field's, Hudson's contributes five percent of its federally taxable income to support the communities in which it operates.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a division of Warner Bros., a Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., is one of the leading and most diversified licensing and retail merchandising organizations which includes a vast library of intellectual properties and the Warner Bros. Studio Stores, including wbstore.com, an e-commerce website. With over 3,700 licensees, Warner Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names, likenesses and logos for a variety of entertainment properties, categories, and Warner Bros. iCons that include Looney Tunes, Batman, Superman, Scooby-Doo, The Wizard of Oz, Friends, ER, and its newest member, Harry Potter. SOURCE Marshall Field's, Dayton's and Target Corporation

CONTACT: Jackie Schutty, 612-375-3617, or Heidi Geller, 612-375-2535, both for Marshall Field's and Dayton's/