Fairies Come Out to Play at 10th Annual Fairyville
Hamilton County Artists’ Association artist Nate Thacker of Carmel does a painting demonstration on Saturday in the vendor area of the Nickel Plate Arts’ Welcome to Fairyville activities in the Hamilton County parking lot adjacent Riverside Cemetery in downtown Noblesville.
If you were in downtown Noblesville on Saturday, you probably noticed fairies of all ages in costume.
The sunny, warm day was perfect for Nickel Plate Arts’ 10th annual Welcome to Fairyville event.
It was a magical time for kids of all ages, who dressed in costume, got their faces painted and followed the Fairyville Trail.
This year, 30 Fairyhouses were on display on the trail, which started at the Nickel Plate Arts campus on Eighth Street in downtown Noblesville.
Noblesville’s Andy Schomburg, a teacher at HSE Schools, performs as the roving Andy Schomburg Band — made up of himself, his 12-string guitar and his harmonica — on Saturday afternoon along the Fairyville Trail.
Fairy Houses were created by Girl Scouts, local businesses, individuals, families, nonprofits, Hamilton County Tourism and more. There was even a Wes Whisler Baseball Academy fairyhouse that looked like a stadium created by Whisler’s wife, Kara Whisler.
Folks who started at the Nickel Plate found fairy-themed crafts, glass-blowing demonstrations and a fairy scavenger hunt at Gal’s Guide Library, which had a tent set up outdoors with fairy library books and photo opportunities.
The first creation on the Welcome to Fairyville Trail was the Queenie Martini house by Martin & Martin of Noblesville.
A tree tour that featured the city’s oldest trees and fun stories started at the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville.
Hamilton County Artists’ Association artist Nate Thacker of Carmel demonstrated painting a picture on an easel on Saturday in the fairy booth vendor area located in the Hamilton County employee parking lot next to Riverside Cemetery in downtown Noblesville.
There were kids and adults dressed in costumes, from wearing pointed Fairy ears to Kelsey Bowyer of Noblesville donning a mushroom hat at her Kelsey Bee Art Collection booth.
My daughter was among the Conner Prairie youth volunteers, who are in the spinning program, and who demonstrated spinning, carding and other techniques all day Saturday at the Hamilton County Artists’ Association Birdie Gallery in downtown Noblesville, just a brief stroll from the Fairyville vendor area and Riverside Cemetery.
After Bolden’s Cleaners closed on Saturday, the parking lot transformed into a dance floor where Crossroads Dance Indy performed.
Nickel Plate Arts executive director Aili McGill (back left) assists guests to Welcome to Fairyville activities at the campus on Saturday afternoon in downtown Noblesville.
Maroline Ritter of Fishers and Diane Reed of Noblesville dress as The Belfry Theatre fairies and give out upcoming show and audition information during Welcome to Fairyville Saturday at the Nickel Plate Arts campus in downtown Noblesville. Ritter organized Belfry fairies who roamed Fairyville events.
There was also a Fairy Toadstool Fashion Show by Lil Bloomers children’s boutique, where face painting also took place.
Conner Prairie youth volunteers in the museum’s spinning program — Addison McMillan (from left), Victoria Kalscheur and her sister, Anna Kalscheur (standing) — demonstrate spinning, carding and other techniques during Welcome to Fairyville on Saturday at the Hamilton County Artists’ Association Birdie Gallery in downtown Noblesville.
Welcome to Fairyville actually kicked off on Wednesday. Caravan Classes, Kiln Creations and Shine Yoga also participated with theme activities.
While I didn’t participate in the new Fairyville After Dark, I did see photos of some of the grownups on Facebook, including Noblesville Common Council member Darren Peterson, who sported a crown and pointed ears for bartending during Fairyville.
– Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.