14 Apr Rediscover Whimsy April 19-22 at ‘Fairyville’

“All you need is faith, dust, and a little pixie dust.” – J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

If you think you’ve seen tiny houses, just wait. In just a few short weeks, Noblesville Creates will open its doors to the fairy folk of Hamilton County for the Fifth Annual Fairyville celebration in downtown Noblesville.

“Fairies are wonderful because they’re whimsical and appeal to both children and adults,” says Sarah Morin, author, human fairytale expert and returning Tea Party hostess. “It’s incredible to see how willing kids are to enter into that fantastical world and use their imaginations, and it’s fun for adults to follow along.”

Artists, children and businesses in the community come together each year to create tiny fairy houses made out of at least 75 percent natural materials. This year’s Fairy Trail of houses in downtown Noblesville is a self-guided walking tour that will take explorers to corners of the town they may not have visited before.

“Woodland Escape” took our 2016 People’s Choice Award. The winning artists were 8-year-old Palmer and 13-year-old Cylie Eicher. (Click image for a better view.)

Inspired by houses they had seen at previous years’ Fairyville events, the 2016 winners, 8-year-old Palmer and 13-year-old Cylie Eicher, along with their mother Samantha, ventured into the woods to gather natural materials for their prized houses, gathering pinecones, moss, bark and more.

“After I gathered the moss, I had to let it dry for the house,” Palmer explains. The siblings both learned to use a hot glue gun for the first time in constructing their fairy houses, and their hard work paid off. The pair’s installation, “The Woodland Escape,” took first place in the “People’s Choice” Fairy House Contest. Palmer put his cash winnings to Boys Scout camp, and Cylie spent hers on swimming camp. The pair loved the process so much that they made two outdoor fairy houses for their home. 

Don’t worry, children aren’t expected to create a house of their own. For little ones who want to go the next step in make-believe and fairy lore, the Fairy Tea Parties are the place to be. Fairy regalia, music, tea, snacks and crafts will fill each hour-long session.

This year’s theme, “Fantastic Fairies and Where to Find Them,” will lead participants on a cross-cultural study in fairies, why they are shy, and how you can tempt them to make an appearance (spoiler: they will!). Tea Parties cost $5 per toadstool for members, $10 for non-members.

As if that wasn’t enough, Stephanie Holman of Storytelling Arts of Indiana and April showcase artist and author Ailithir O. McGill will entertain fairy-spotters with wonderful stories!

Fairy crafts, face painting, live music and following the fairy dust are just a few of the other activities that await Fairyville explorers April 19-22 at Noblesville Creates.

For a full schedule and Tea Party registrations, visit the Fairyville page.