Bring Magic to the Fairy Trails this Summer
Celebrate Your Parks:
A Fun Fairy House Competition
Create an artful abode made of all-natural materials for our fairy friends inspired by your favorite National, state, or Northern Michigan park! Help us fill the Fairy Trails at The Botanic Garden and spread magic for kids and our community! This is a fun, no-pressure competition to encourage fairy-house building.
June 2, 2024 from 1 until 4 pm
Open to the Public
See all of the new, unique, and artful fairy houses on the Fairy Trails at the Botanic Garden, lovingly made by people in the community! Kids and families can also enjoy making fairy wands in the Pavilion and creating seed balls with Grand Traverse Conservation District. Lemonade and cookies will be free for all in the Pavilion provided by the Botanic Garden! Make sure to stroll through the other beautiful Gardens while you are here!
THEME
The competition theme is “Celebrate Your Parks!” Let’s build magical fairy houses inspired by your favorite National, state, or local Northern Michigan park!
LOCATION
The Fairy Trails are located at The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park to the right of the Butterfly Garden and across from the Pavilion (you’ll see a sign indicating the trail).
The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
1490 Red Drive, Traverse City, Michigan
DETAILS & RULES
INSTALL YOUR FAIRY HOUSE
Sunday, June 2nd
Fairy houses must be created with all-natural materials such as sticks, stones, acorns, pine cones, etc. No metal, plastic, or glass is allowed. Glue, adhesive, feathers (natural), paint, and twine are permitted.
Houses MUST have a sign or be marked with your name AND number (it can be painted on a rock). Note your number will be emailed to you the week before the event.
All houses must be placed near the trail's edge so we don’t trample the surrounding natural area.
You can build a house with a friend or team or by yourself. Anyone can enter—there is no age limit!
You are welcome to place your house on the trail during the event on Sunday from 1-4 pm. Or anytime that weekend from Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 4th, to the extent that you can’t make the event. Note that a professional photographer will be on hand to photograph makers at the event, with their houses. All makers will be supplied a complimentary digital photo of them with their fairy house!
There are two categories. Please enter one. The categories are Sprites, for kids (under 16) and families, and Fantastical Fairies, for adults and kids 16 and older.
All fairy houses will be left on the Fairy Trails after the competition for people in the community to enjoy! (Please note, fairy houses will be cleaned up / picked up as they break down over time due to weather and seasonal changes.)
REGISTER
Please sign up below to register for the competition.
Please email me with any questions heather@lifeandwhim.com
Awards
Everyone who registers and builds a fairy house is a winner and will receive a custom 2024 Fairy Trail Sticker featuring artwork by Heather Harrington. You can pick up your sticker at the event.
**New this year, every maker who installs their house during the event on June 2nd will have a professional photographer take a photo of them with their fairy house. Digital images will then be emailed to makers!
This year, the community will judge through the People’s Choice Award!
Voting will be available in person on June 2nd and after the Botanic Garden Visitors Center event. People can also vote online. Voting ends June 28th.
People’s Choice Awards
Sprites: for kids (under 16) and families
Fantastical Fairies: for adults and kids 16 and up
**The award winners will receive a gift bag of goodies and will be notified by email! And announced at the July 2nd A Very Fairy Cherry JamBerry at the Botanic Garden from 2-4 pm.
BELIEVE
When you believe in something bigger than yourself, you can make a bigger impact than you ever thought possible. Belief is what allows you to tap into the curiosity that reveals creativity. It gives you the courage to take risks. It brings you closer to your dreams. We believe in the power of small acts to build a movement, which is why we created the Fairy Trails in the first place. And we believe in the potential of everyone—especially kids—to make a difference in their own unique way, and thereby inspire others to do the same.
