Joy comes naturally as a part of practising Faery Craft, through connection with the landscape and our Faery allies, and from appreciation of the beauty and sanctity of our world. It also comes from connecting and celebrating with each other and realising that we are not alone in our beliefs and choice of lifestyle. The discovery of the vibrant Faery community, with its colourful characters and all-accepting nature, can be a revelatory experience for many, opening them up to a whole new world and bringing fresh confidence—and, yes, great joy!
Joining the Community
There are a number of magazines produced by and for the Faery community, including Faerie Magazine in the United States and Faeries and Enchantment (aka FAE) in the UK, both packed full of fascinating features and stunning artwork.
One of the more positive aspects of our modern technological world is the possibility of online social networking, with members of Faery communities all over the world building connections and friendships on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which have taken the place of smaller online forums.
Image courtesy of Karen Kay
Even better than reading about the ins and outs of Faery frolics, why not join in? There are dozens of Faery events held throughout the year all over the globe, including festivals, balls, markets, and workshops. Try searching on the Internet to see if there are any events near you or within travelling distance.
Here’s a brief look at some of the most prominent and notable regular events from around the world:
Canada
Enchanted Ground
Enchanted Ground is Canada’s foremost annual outdoor faery festival which takes place in Guelph, Ontario. With all kinds of themed entertainment for families, this weekend event has something for everyone. For more information, visit www.faeryfest.com.
USA
Faerieworlds Events
Faerieworlds dominates the Faery scene in the United States, with numerous events over many states throughout the year, including Faeriecon, Mythic Faire, and an annual Harvest Festival, as well as the main Faerieworlds outdoor festival.
These are well-organised events with fascinating guests, exceptional entertainment, many talented artists and intriguing traders, with large numbers attending every year. For more information, visit www.faerieworlds.com.
photos on this and following page
©2011 Byron Dazey Creative Flashes
(used by the kind permission of Faerieworlds LLC)
NY Faerie Fest
New York Faerie Fest is a wholesome family event held in rural New York state. The focus is on nature, spirituality, and the arts, and there are performances from a variety of talented entertainers. A perfect choice if you have children, this outdoor event has a no-alcohol policy and lots to see and do for the whole family. For more information, visit www.nyfaeriefest.com.
Fairy and Human Relations Congress
“I go every year to the Fairy and Human Relations Congress that’s held in a very remote place in the mountains in eastern Washington, in a place called Twisp; 2012 will be its twelfth year! People dress up, and there’s people of all ages, from grandparents down to teeny little children, and you see them in all sorts of costumes, but it’s also very environmentally aware. There’s a great depth of consciousness and they do fun, but powerful, ceremonies. A few years ago we built a huge stone circle there with a well, what we call a ‘well of light’ in the centre, which is a ritual circle aligned to the planetary directions, and it holds 300 people. So they’re dedicated and serious at Fairy Congress whilst also having a lot of fun.”
R. J. Stewart in an interview with Emily Carding, 2011
The Fairy and Human Relations Congress is an outdoor event that has a highly spiritual focus without losing sight of its sense of fun. This weekend of magickal workshops and family entertainment has been held annually in the remote and beautiful location of Twisp in the Pacific Northwest, its purpose being communication and cooperation with the realm of Faery. Though it can be something of a pilgrimage to get there, it is well worth the trip for those not drawn to the more commercial and entertainment-oriented events. For more information, please visit www.fairycongress.com.
Europe
Elf Fantasy Fair
The largest and most popular Faery community event in mainland Europe is undoubtedly the annual Elf Fantasy Fair. People travel from all over the world to the Netherlands to show their most ostentatious Faery finery at this outdoor weekend event. There is usually also a large selection of musical entertainment and more of an adult focus than other festival events. For more information, please visit www.haarzuilens.elffantasyfair.com.
UK
Karen Kay’s Faery Events
Karen Kay is the undisputed queen of the UK’s Faery scene, with a full year of top-quality Faery festivals, fairs, and balls! Artists and musicians from all over the world come to perform at her events, which include the Avalon Faery Ball, which takes place three times a year; the Avalon Faery Fayre, an indoor faery market that takes place three times a year in Glastonbury to coincide with the Avalon Faery Ball; and the biggest outdoor event of its kind in the UK: Three Wishes Faery Fest, a family-oriented event packed full of vendors, entertainers, and workshops in the beautiful Cornish countryside.
left: image courtesy of Karen Kay;
right: image courtesy of Jan Kinsey
An Interview with Karen Kay
Which came first,
the events or FAE magazine?
I’ve been organising events since 1994, and they were holistic events, mystic fayres. Then in 2004 I was inspired to do a faerie, angels, and healing fayre, which was the first time faeries came into the events for me. Getting the Faery element into the event was quite challenging, as I found that all the Faery people were quite shy and not coming forward. I’d been writing to Brian Froud for a couple of years with no success, and someone said “Oh, Brian’s in Truro doing a book signing.” I found myself at the front of the queue, and I was able to invite him to come. He was really friendly, and it was a really interesting conversation. From that he came to the first Faery
