As Disney’s “When You Wish Upon a Star” theme song played over loudspeakers, colorful sprites and pint-sized Black Beards covered every inch of McKee Botanical Garden at the seventh annual Fairy and Pirate Festival.
The festival has grown to become one of McKee’s most beloved events, enticing multiple generations of attendees who began lining up early to enjoy a variety of activities centered on glimpses of magical fairies and swashbuckling pirates.
Seven-year-old Chelsea Hopwood and her great-grandparents were first in line, returning for the third year to enjoy the joyful festival.
“We came early to find a closer parking spot this year,” said Betty Andrade. “Last year we had to park so far away we were in the trees. This is our little tradition bringing her here every year.”
“She loves the face painting the most,” added George Andrade.
Anticipating the high demand of little ones to have their faces transformed by butterflies and pirate makeup, additional stations were set up in the Education Center and in front of the Hall of Giants.
A new feature had Glittering Gypsies weave a magic strand of sparkling fairy hair into youngsters’ locks with a rule to make a wish when the sparkling strand was lost.
Also new were dense bubbles, made from a bio-degradable soap that soared high into the trees like compact clouds. Steve Hahn discovered SmileCloudsUSA, which uses a fitted stencil over a tank to form the bubbles into hearts, birds and other shapes, and decided to bring the attraction to Vero Beach.
“We wanted something new and this just seemed perfectly fitted for the garden,” said Executive Director Christine Hobart, who estimated attendance at roughly 2,000.
Children followed Fairy Trail and Pirate Treasure maps; hung dreams on a wishing tree; enjoyed magic tricks by a balloon making pirate; had fingers painted; enjoyed a variety of crafts; constructed fairy houses and, of course, danced around the May Pole.
“The garden is enjoyed in different ways by every age,” said board member John Schumann, who is instrumental in coordinating McKee’s annual car show. “There is such a variety of things which appeals to different people. This month is an event like this and then we have the Waterlily Celebration which brings in photographers, then holiday light celebrations and people who just enjoy the beauty of the garden.”
McKee events often have whimsical themes to attract families and a wide spectrum of attendees.
“We have a very creative staff and volunteers,” said Hobart. “I also think having a history with creators like Waldo Sexton and Arthur McKee really gives us some creative freedom to do the things that we do.”
Following the June 17 Waterlily Celebration, the Garden will take a well needed breather as they begin work on the coming exhibitions.
