INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The spirits of the forest which surely dwell among the leafy bowers of McKee Botanical Garden welcomed hundreds of enchanting visitors Saturday for the third annual Fairy Festival.
Transformed with delicate wings, gauzy gowns, glittery wands and blossom garlands, little girls channeled the magical creatures, while a wonderful crew of young gentlemen got their “Aarrghh” on as swashbuckling pirates. Shepherded by fairy-clothed volunteers, parents and grandparents, the eager children soon filled the Garden with laughter.
Sporting a two-butterfly head band and a welcoming smile, Betsy Callahan greeted visitors. She is one of the original volunteer group who helped save the garden from development in the 1980’s. “And I just never left. This event is just wonderful. People have come from all over, families drove up from Miami.”
Volunteer Pam Schlamowitz’s vintage cream and blue gown and blue wings were perfect for a lady fairy, even more enchanting because she had first worn it for her engagement party 37 years ago (minus the wings).
Eschewing last year’s lavender wings, McKee Executive Director Christine Hobart had transformed into a leader among gnomes, tall, slender and impressive in pointed red hat, red and white striped knee sox and bright blue dress. A small, first-time fairy visitor, 5-year-old Bianka Wilson, ran to Hobart for a reassuring hug, while little sister Abbigale, 21/2, remained timidly behind grandma Robin Wilson. The sister fairies charmed in pink and green dresses and raspberry tights.
Boldly sauntering along the path was young pirate Liam Modesitt, handsome in a red velvet cloak, black boots and sword.
The grassy greeting area featured a beribboned maypole, and a Pixie Boutique offering fairy and pirate accessories, should the young visitors have forgotten their accoutrement. The path to the right led to the Gnome Depot, where big tubs of building materials invited each young visitor to create a fairy house, said to attract passing fairies to the garden. Along the shallow stream and beneath the palms, children and their moms and dads knelt in concentration, crafting walls, roofs, porches of palm fronds, leaves, moss.
Visiting the Festival for the first time were Melbourne residents Ron Smith and daughter Summer, 6 ½, lovely in pink wings and a long robin’s egg blue gown. The pair carefully placed shells and Spanish Moss as they discussed the tiny construction project.
Brand new Vero Beach residents, Ian Lloyd and his son Aidan, 5, stood taking it all in, Aidan clutching his bright green sword. “It’s a little overwhelming for him,” Lloyd smiled, as Aidan peered about. But soon he was off exploring.
Another first-time visitor to the Festival, 4 ½-year-old Roman Niger, had recently moved to the area from Orlando with his folks, Jessica Andreozzi Niger and Mark Niger. Roman had transformed into Roman the Red and, in full pirate regalia, road in a fabulous “pirate ship”- Romy’s Revenge – his mom had created from a wagon. The impressive structure “sailed” on a sea of blue tissue, gun turrets ablaze with tissue paper fire, a tall mast with a parrot in the crow‘s nest, and a skull and crossbones flag. Roman was arrgghh’ing up a storm and singing pirate songs as he sailed along.
Pirates and fairies enjoyed beanbag and ring toss games, sword making, glitter tattoos and fairy manicures, a scavenger hunt and fairy dust necklace making, and often tugged parents along paths and ponds that prompted further exploration. “Mommy, look! A Fish! A gold one! Oh, there’s another one!”
A Wishing Bush in the Spanish Kitchen invited visitors to write their hearts’ desires on colorful paper squares to adorn the bush. Among them: “I wish I were a real fairy.” “I wish for a good job when I am older.” “I wish I could fly to different countries whenever I like.” “I wish for love and peace for my girls.” “I wish my mother would buy me a mermaid.”
Directing visitors to the various activities, volunteer Jackie Davis, AKA the Butterfly Fairy, looked fairy godmotherly in pink and red hues. Recently retired, Davis finished her teaching career with 9 years at IRSC, where she taught English and 20th Century Cinema. Anticipating retirement, she shared, “I was terrified I’d be sitting in front of the television, but its been anything but!” She waved her butterfly wand. “This is the most fun ever!” – a sentiment shared by many as the third annual Fairy (and Pirate) Festival added another feather to McKee’s cap.
