Bee fairies and otherworldly decor: Fest at Overland Park Arboretum enchants crowd

Beth Lipoff
·3 min read

A handful of fairy dust was in the air June 2 and 3 at the Overland Park Arboretum for the site’s sixth annual Enchanted Faire. The event drew people from all over the metro area for some magical forest fun.

Visitors could pay to attend one of six timed sessions over the two days, with general admission to the arboretum included.

Brit Waye, community engagement manager for the Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, called the huge flower and undersea-themed decorations volunteers made for the event “totally immersive and otherworldly.”

“All of those decorations are totally handmade, and it’s always a challenge getting all the volunteers together. It’s very labor-intensive, and a lot of heart goes into building this experience,” Waye said.

Though the décor played a big part in evoking this year’s theme of pirates and mermaids, the sun-dappled natural forest of the area also contributed to the atmosphere.

“I like where it is in the woods, just the ambiance,” said volunteer Lynn French.

French was helping out at the hair spraying booth, where attendees could get their hair decorated a whole rainbow of different colors. Temporary tattoos were also available for those wanting to get in the spirit.

Volunteer Lynn French shows Charlotte Halvorsen, 5, her newly pink hair during the Enchanted Faire at the Overland Park Arboretum.
Volunteer Lynn French shows Charlotte Halvorsen, 5, her newly pink hair during the Enchanted Faire at the Overland Park Arboretum.

Visitors were encouraged to arrive in costume as fairies, pirates or mermaids. A gift shop tent provided outfits and accessories for those who’d left their wings at home.

Melissa Aciego, of Kansas City, came to the event because it reminded her of the fairy magic of renaissance festivals.

“I think they did a wonderful job creating a fairy environment in the woods. It already feels like fairies are here,” Aciego said.

Amanda Tupinio of Grain Valley, attended the event with her 6-year-old daughter, Harper.

“She’s everything fairies and princesses. It’s so cute. She’s in heaven already,” Tupinio said.

In addition to getting her hair sprayed pink and purple, Harper also got hands-on with the craft table, making her own fairy wand. Attendees could also make paper crowns and pirate hats or get creative with pirate and mermaid-themed coloring sheets.

Kids weren’t the only ones in costume at the event.

“It is so much fun. I even helped out with Planet Comicon, and this is my favorite so far,” said Hannah Rames, a performer with The Hive from the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

Dancers from Inspire Dance Academy in Gardner perform at the Overland Park Arboretum’s Enchanted Faire.
Dancers from Inspire Dance Academy in Gardner perform at the Overland Park Arboretum’s Enchanted Faire.

She and her fellow performers dressed as bee-themed fairies at the Arboretum event.

Kailey Green, a theater student from Kansas City, Kansas, Community College, was there to play her part as a fairy on a pirate ship.

“Putting the joy, the magic in these kids’ hearts is really special,” she said.

Folks attending on the event’s first day got to see students from Inspire Dance Academy in Gardner perform to a medley of songs that included several numbers from “Enchanted.” Saturday’s visitors enjoyed a show from the Mother West Wind puppet theater.

The point of the whole event, besides having some fun, was to raise money for the Friends of the Arboretum. That group helps fund physical improvements to the arboretum each year.