Enchanted fun for all: Discover the magic of Gardner Village’s Woodland Fairy Festival

Enchanted fun for all: Discover the magic of Gardner Village's Woodland Fairy Festival

By Gardner Village

Everyone could use a little more magic in their lives. An extra dash of whimsy. A little more wonder and awe.

With Gardner Village’s Woodland Fairy Festival, stepping into a little land of fantasy and enchantment is as easy as hopping into your car and showing up. No tickets required — and you don’t even have to pay for parking.

If that’s already got your attention, just wait until you see what’s in store when you get there.

Free activities

For those who love Gardner Village’s annual WitchFest during Halloweentime, the Woodland Fairy Festival should feel fairly similar. It makes for a great outing with your friends, a fun celebration with the kids or just an easy way to entertain the family once summer starts. 

The fact that so many activities and displays are free makes it a great go-to choice if you’re hunting for something to do with your spare time. Here are a few of the free activities you can enjoy.

• Fairy displays. Walk through a hidden fairy forest filled with tiny homes, brick-lined paths and detailed displays tucked throughout the village.
• iSpy Fairy Island. Take a closer look at Fairy Island and see what hidden details and characters you can spot.
• A to Z Fairy Quest. This self-guided adventure leads visitors through the village to search for clues and fairy surprises along the way.
• Wishing Bridge. Tie a ribbon to the bridge and make a wish while adding to hundreds of colorful ribbons already fluttering in the breeze.
• Fairy name game. Follow the clues to discover your own fairy name during this lighthearted activity for kids and adults alike.
• Fairy parades. Fairy parades take place Saturdays at noon, with pre-parade activities beginning at 11 a.m. at Spoiled Rotten Children’s Boutique. Visitors can meet fairies, hear a story and take photos with a unicorn pony before the parade begins.
• Photo ops. Several themed photo areas, including life-size fairy wings, are set up throughout the village for family photos and social media snapshots.

As you can see, there’s plenty to keep people of all ages entertained without having to spend any money at all. But if you want to take the fun to the next level, be sure to check out the activities below.

Paid activities

Some activities are available for an additional fee, including face painting, unicorn rides, fairy crafts, wagon rides, train rides and a petting zoo.

Availability varies by day, so visitors should check with individual shops for schedules and details.

Activities requiring reservations

Visitors looking for additional activities can also reserve special experiences during the Woodland Fairy Festival.

• Fairy tea parties. Held on select dates in June, fairy tea parties include treats, entertainment and visits from fairies throughout the event.
• Great Fairy Escape Room. In this kid-friendly escape room, participants help rescue Willow the fairy from an ogre by solving puzzles designed for younger audiences and beginners. Book your experience here.
• Pixie Dust pedis and manis. For the littles who love to glam up, Soulstice Day Spa and Salon offers special Pixie Dust manicures and pedicures for ages 12 and under. Check out their special events page for more info.
• Fairy Academy. Designed for children ages 5 and older, Fairy Academy includes crafts, activities and a magic show.
• Art Camp. If your child enjoys more hands-on creative activities, they might like to attend art camp at Gardner Village. They can create their own fairy homes, moss art, clay sculptures and anything else their imaginations can concoct. Be sure to check out the schedule, as art camp offerings vary throughout the summer.

Support local businesses while you’re there

Gardner Village doesn’t charge admission to the Woodland Fairy Festival, but the hope is that visitors will share a bit of the magic with local shop owners onsite who benefit from your business. Plan a lunch or dinner date, go shopping with the girls, pick out that perfect birthday gift — everything you do helps a small business thrive.

You can find a full directory of businesses at Gardner Village here.

Enjoy the magic of the Woodland Fairy Festival while it lasts

The Woodland Fairy Festival runs May 16 through June 27 at Gardner Village, located at 1100 West 7800 South in West Jordan. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For activities that require reservations, visit Gardner Village’s website for more info. For everything else, all you need to do is get there. Dressing up isn’t required — but highly encouraged! It’s a great way to wrap up the school year or to kick off your summer plans.

"I highly recommend going to Gardner Village for their Woodland Fairy Festival!” one Yelp reviewer wrote last year. “Super cute! They have so much to explore with fairy fun and the cute shops! Stop at the Chocolate Covered Wagon for a treat too!" 

To learn more, check out gardnervillage.com/woodland-fairy-festival.