‘Whimsical, magical’ Faerie Festival to return to Rockton for second year
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKTON — A whimsical event that draws hundreds of people dressed in costumes with wings and flowers is returning to Settlers Park this weekend for a second year.
The Rockton May Day Faerie Festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the riverfront park. The celebration of nature, imagination and spring renewal features costumed performers, music, food, roughly 30 local vendors, storytelling and other activities meant to spark a fanciful and playful energy.
“We hope that you feel connected to the Earth and the park and the community,” said Bridgett Holden, owner of Reverent Henna, who organizes the event along with Rachel Bixby, owner of Alchemy Wellness. “The energy should be magical and spiritual, connecting with the Earth and each other. There’s a strong sense of the community when you’re there — everyone is very free-spirited and happy. It’s whimsical, it feels magical.”
In the debut event last year, an estimated 1,000 people attended, with roughly half of them dressed up. Men, women, children and dogs donned fairy wings and other colorful costumes. There’s even a horse decked out with wings to look like Pegasus from Greek mythology.
“It’s a place where people find a common ground,” Bixby said. “With a lot of conflict happening, it’s really nice that people happy and low-key and engaged.”
Food will come from Woodfire Pizza, Disco Chicken and Sassy Mac Boys. There’s a drum circle led by local artist and musician David Stocker, a treasure hunt, and at 1 p.m. people will be invited to walk a labyrinth as part of World Labyrinth Day, an annual global event that invites people to “walk as one at one.”
“Around the entire world, people walk their labyrinths at one o’clock in the afternoon,” Holden said. “So there’s this kind of rolling wave of energy across the Earth as you travel through the time zones.”
The organizers say for some it’s a celebration of the spirit of nature and connection to the Earth. For others, it’s just a chance to have fun and dress up.
“It’s a place for people to come together as a community, be outdoors, have a connection with nature — it’s a celebration of spring,” Holden said. “You felt very connected to the park, to each other.”
If you go | Rockton May Day Faerie Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3
Where: Settlers Park, 150 W. Hawick St., Rockton
Info/contact: Go HERE
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
