Feel the Fairy Magic at Annmarie

6th Annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival Set for April 24

Leave reality behind and travel to a magical land from noon to 4 pm April 24, 2016, for the sixth annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center.

This wistful afternoon brings imaginative fun and natural play to the garden, with everything from unicorn rides, a baby animal petting zoo, gnome games, and so much more.

This festival does not all happen in one spot. The activities are scattered along the wooded path of Annmarie, which creates a charming journey of discovery for all guests – especially the young ones.

Make your first stop at the Fairy Lolly, when children are free to climb, build, dream and explore with many imaginative toys and props. Travel the wooded path to find fairy and gnome homes hidden throughout the forest. Make your own fairy house, and create a special gnome friend, or make a magical costume to wear, using natural elements and other doo-dads.

Your little fairies and gnomes can visit the Fantasy Face Painting booth to get a special new look, dig for treasures left by trolls, visit the Fairy Fishing Hole, and play Gnome Games. Annmarie Garden has compiled a delightful selection of magical music and dance, including everything from ballet to Hula hooping on the Hungerford patio. Take a picture with the fairy queen and her court, get a selfie with a unicorn, or take some shots with the sweet baby animals at Mary’s Go Round Petting Zoo.

There will be a variety of vendors to help you find just the right costume and props. Choose from books and whimsical art for sale, and then enjoy the family-friendly food and drink such as kettle corn, shaved ice, hand-dipped local ice cream, and more.

Admission the Fairy & Gnome Home Festival is free for members, $5 for non-members, and free for children 2 and younger. For more information, call 410-326-4640, email [email protected], or visit Annmarie’s website.

Entertainment schedule on the Hungerford patio:

• 12:15 – 1 pm Abigail Francisco School of Classical Ballet presents magical dances and performances
• 1:15 – 2 pm Kristen Meyer performing songs from her album “Where Fairies Dwell”
• 2:15 – 3 pm Painted Trillium performing Celtic and folk music
• 3:15 – 4 pm Magical hoop dancing by The Hula Hoop Fairy

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Annmarie Garden is in Solomons, MD. The sculpture garden features a walking path that meanders through the forest past permanent and loaned sculpture, including more than 35 works of art on loan from the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art. Annmarie Garden also presents special events, gallery shows, and public art programs.

For more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center, visit their Leader member page.