VERO BEACH — McKee Botanical Garden’s Fifth Annual Fairy Festival will take place on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., uniting young fairies and pirates for a fun-filled exploration of one of Vero Beach’s most magical places.
Children will delight in themed activities such as the chance to dance around a maypole, follow a map in search of hidden treasure, visit the wishing bush, get a fairy manicure, decorate a pirate picture frame, and create a fairy butterfly necklace. Adding to the festivities will be face painting, temporary tattoos, and bean bag and ring toss games.
Attendees can also visit McKee’s “Gnome Depot,” a one-stop-shop for bark, leaves, shells and other natural materials perfect for building fairy houses. It is said that fairy spirits reside among the trees, flowers, plants, and creatures that live in gardens. The act of building a fairy house is believed to bring good luck as well as help the plants and flowers to grow. Visitors will be able to view a display of fairy houses created by McKee volunteers and staff and then create their own.
“The Garden has a natural ability to inspire wonder and curiosity in children,” explained McKee Executive Director Christine Hobart. “Our annual Fairy Festival combines fun and fantasy to create a unique and lasting experience for our smallest visitors, bringing them and their families closer to nature.”
McKee’s Fairy Festival will also include scheduled entertainment beginning with a performance by the Showbirdz Parrots at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Christi’s Dancers at 11:45 a.m. A costume parade will take place at 12:45 p.m. prior to the festival’s conclusion at 1 p.m.
Costumes are encouraged but not required. An assortment of fairy and pirate accessories will be available for purchase at McKee’s on-site Pixie Boutique. Osceola Bistro at the Garden Café will be open at 11 a.m. serving snacks and light lunch fare.
Summer admission rates apply. For more information, please call (772) 794-0601 or visit www.mckeegarden.org. Advance tickets are available and may be purchased at Garden admissions during regular business hours.
McKee’s Fifth Annual Fairy Festival is sponsored by the Charlotte Terry Real Estate Group and Nancy & Bill Gordon.
McKee Botanical Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture and enhance a historic garden in a unique tropical setting for the education, enjoyment and enrichment of all. McKee Botanical Garden is located at 350 US 1 in Vero Beach. Summer admission rates, which are effective May 1, are $10 adults, $9 seniors and $5 children ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for McKee members and children under 3-years-old. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. The Garden is closed Mondays.