People who live and work in Solvang know the city has a special quality. There’s a little bit of magic scattered throughout its tree-lined streets.
It didn’t take much convincing on anyone’s part to make Solvang the site of a new event: Faeriefest.
Faeriefest coordinator and head Tinkerbell Clau Orona works with her family running the Solvang Trolley and a Solvang Trolley Ice Cream Shop. When they were dreaming up ideas for new entertainment for their Solvang customers, Orona remembered a magical fest she’d heard about in the Northwest.
“It all started with tossing ideas around,” she remembered. “One day I came across this Faeriefest in Oregon, and I thought, ‘What a perfect place Solvang would be for something similar.’”
The idea seemed like a fun one, but it was still just a passing thought. Then something a little magical did happen. As Orona played around with the idea of a Faeriefest for a few months, it took just one fateful visit to a department store to convince her she needed to go forward with the idea.
“I was shopping in Ross and I found these beautiful fairy wings and I thought, ‘That’s it. That’s my sign to do this,’” Orona said.
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Six months later, Faeriefest is at hand—and it’s stretched into what Orona hopes will become an annual event. Set to be held at Solvang Festival Theater, the gathering will feature music, fairy-related arts and crafts, a bubble garden, drum circles, face painting, and a fairy costume contest. Santa Maria artist Dan Begg Jr. will display his art and a local gypsy ensemble from the Judeen School of Middle Eastern Dance will present some dances. Audiences will hear tunes from Niantic, a rock band based out of Los Angeles.
Panzumo will present a performance steeped in djembe drum and dance. Founded by Budhi Harlow in 1998, Panzumo is known for its collaboration with classical and jazz musicians and drumming and dancing in world tradition. The Santa Barbara-based group performs throughout Southern California with a mission to inspire people of all ages with rhythm, song, and dance.
At 4 p.m. a costume contest will be held to judge just who’s the fairy-est of them all.
“That was something we thought we had to do for visitors if they are going to dress up,” Orona said.
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A spiral dance will finish the day: “It’s drawing from a tradition that honors memories of those who have passed and celebrates rebirth and the start of a new year. The spiral dance is a way to bring the community together,” Orona said.
Faeriefest is free for all and open to all ages—as long as you believe in fairies.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone could use a little fairy dust. Blow some her way at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 13-20, 2011.