VERO BEACH — On Saturday, April 13, McKee Botanical Garden will be aflutter with winged creatures of a very different variety: fairies.
McKee’s third annual Fairy Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festive celebration will include a variety of activities themed around these mystical marvels, including fairy manicures, face painting, glitter tattoos, a wishing bush, maypole dancing, and the chance to make a fairy dust necklace.
For the second year, pirates have been added to the festivities. Boys also are encouraged to dress in costume and take part in games, a Gleeful Gnome scavenger hunt, make a foam pirate sword, and more.
Girls and boys alike will enjoy visiting the Gnome Depot where they will be able to choose from a variety of natural materials such as bark, twigs, and coconuts to construct their very own fairy house inside the garden.
The miniature dwellings are believed to attract fairies to a particular area of the garden and entice them to reveal themselves to the builder. A few sample houses will be on display for visitors to refer to for inspiration.
Scheduled entertainment for the event will include a pirate comedy show at 11:30 a.m., a costume parade and contest at 1 p.m. for visitors age 12 and under, followed by a performance by the Christi’s Dancers at 1:30 p.m.
“McKee’s Fairy Festival is truly a celebration of children. It’s an opportunity for boys and girls to immerse themselves in the fantasy of fairies and pirates while utilizing their imaginations and creativity as they explore the garden,” explained McKee Executive Director Christine Hobart.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the onsite Pixie Boutique where an assortment of fairy accessories, including wings, wands, and headpieces, will be available for purchase along with essential pirate gear.
Fairy snacks and sweets also will be available at Elizabeth’s at the Garden Café.
General admission rates apply for this event.
For more information, please call (772) 794-0601, visit the website www.McKeeGarden.org, or Facebook.com/McKeeGarden.
The third annual Fairy Festival is sponsored by the AT&T Real Yellow Pages.