Faerie Fest 2015 a Success

This past Saturday, Sept. 19, was Dahlem's 4th Annual Faerie Fest and Dragon Day.  Weatherwise, things got off to a shakey start, but as the day progressed, the sun came out and it turned out to be a pretty nice day.  Over 200 visitors came out to build dwellings for the homeless faeries and dragons of Dahlem!

This fun, family-friendly event builds on the natural connection between nature and imagination.  It's an ideal way to get children of all ages reconnected to nature in a fun and non-threatening way.  How?  By using all natural objects, from pine cones to old bones, to build homes for denizens of the invisible realm.

An event of this scope is not possible without the generous donation of time by many volunteers.  Some came as costumed characters:

Holly, the Sorceress

 Gypsy with her furry friend

The Rain Fairy

Angus Folksinger, storyteller and minstrel

The Fortune Teller 

 

 Others were vendors:

 One of the books for sale was written about characters who

were here at last year's Faerie Fest!

Potion-making is usually a big hit, and this year was no exception!  Hope there are too many new toads out there!

But the main event was building homes, and we had builders of all ages come out to create.

This little boy, apparently, didn't really want to be here, and he resisted for a while, but then he saw some of the bones at the Fairy House Depot, and soon he was as enthralled as his sisters.

I love his creation (below).

Business was booming at the Fairy House Depot.  We never know from year to year what the big seller will be, but this year the turkey feathers proved to be very popular.

Getting things placed just right can be a multi-person endeavor.

These boys were very proud of their house.

I love it when visitors come to this event in costume.  This little boy was a dragon, and he really liked that large pine cone.

 
Our Fortune Teller was kept quite busy.   She did tarot cards and palm reading...and at the end of the day she still had a line of customers waiting for their turn!

This was one of my favorite creations.  The skull has a beard of leaves, so it was called the Bearded Dragon.  I loved the backbone bridge down at the water's edge, and under the winged shell was a cage for the dragon's pet cicada.

Family in full concentration:

This year instead of the Dragon Egg Hunt, we did a Magic Fairy Ring craft, making "viewers" from large washers and beads on a string, and using them to see what we could find of the Magical Realms.

 

We watched bumblebees, discovered dogwood sawfly larvae, watched a slug, and even found a few amphibians, like the toad the girl below is holding.  (She is the frog whisperer.)

  

 Ultimately, though, it was all about the building of homes, and we had some stupendous dwellings created.  As always, the event wraps up with the Grand Tour of Homes.  Here is a sample:

And then there were the Rogue Builders who left this treasure along the Nature for All Trail.

Be sure to stop by Dahlem to see all the wonderful homes built by local imaginations before they disappear!

Many thanks to EVERYONE who made this event possible this year!

Third Annual Faerie Fest & Dragon Days

This last Saturday, 13 September, was Dahlem's third annual Faerie Fest & Dragon Days.  This family-oriented event is designed to get individuals and families of any age outside and using their imaginations - nature play.  For $5 participants get to build a fairy house or dragon lair in one of the five neighborhoods set up around the Realm.  There are wandering characters, vendors, and plenty of activities to fill out the day.

Our day started off a bit on the chilly and damp side, but by the afternoon the clouds had mostly cleared away and the sun was out - it was a perfect pre-fall day to be outside playing!

Here are some photos to give you a flavor of the day.

Rainbow Sprite and Ivy Fairy

The Ivy Fairy gives some building tips to some young visitors.

The Rainbow Sprite chats with a visiting dragon!

The Oak Fairy visits with a young builder.

Angus Folksinger was out drumming up business for his storytelling.

Gypsy and Fairy patrolling the neighborhoods.

A young visitor wanted to show our Fortune Teller her dragon lair.

 Here she tells him all about her creation.

 

A wood elf posed by Waterside, one of the neighborhoods.

We had some terrific vendors this year - and quite a variety!

WyrmTale Press was here with several of their books about dragons and fairies.

Dragon Fly Diary's had fancy potion bottles.

Second Hand Metal Art had many wonderful yard art pieces, 

from giant ants to garden signs that said "I Do Believe."

 We had fantasy ceramics by Body Links; crystals, wands and jewelry by Circle of Stones;

and soft sculptured dragons, pixies, elves and trolls.

There were nature-themed paintings, and Native American flutes.

 Nearby the Fortune Teller had his tent set up, and we also had a table 

where visitors could mix up potions to take home.

There was face painting...

 and a make-and-take Gnome craft.

In the afternoon we had our annual Dragon Egg Hunt.

Inside each egg was a collection of semi-precious stones.

What could be more festive than tie-dying a t-shirt?

 But, of course, the main attraction for the day was the creation of fairy houses and dragon lairs for the homeless fairies and dragons of Dahlem.  Each house or lair was made from found natural materials. 

 

Some were very simple...

while others were amazing examples of creativity and imagination.

This was a dragon, outside its lair.

All were wonderful!

Even this frog had to check out the new digs!

All the houses will remain up for several weeks, so be sure to come on out to see what was built!  There are approximately 60 houses and lairs: some in the Children's Garden (Garden Glen), some around the pond (Waterside), some under the Pear Tree (Pearidise), some in the Rock Garden (Dragon Lair) and some in the grassy area along the entry way (Woodland Glade).  

Thank you, everyone, who came out to play with us, and and extra special thank you to all the Friends and volunteers who made this event possible. 

Would you like to join us next year?  Put 19 September on your calendar for the 4th Annual Faerie Fest & Dragon Days.  New performers, vendors and characters welcome!