For women, the magic of fairy days conjures up a spell of a simpler, carefree time. For little girls, it’s a fantasy come true – the big screen come to life!
In years past in San Diego County, Summers Past Farms opens their arms wide and welcomes everyone to this magical day – for free! Yes, I said for FREE!
Nestled in a remote location off of an old freeway, Summers Past Farms is a quiet place with an enchanted ambiance created by the proprietors. Even with no Fairy Festival underway, a trip to this lovely, serene family-owned farm is a journey back in time. But, be sure to arrive early, because parking on-site is limited and street parking problematic.
While dressing up as fairies is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Last year, the Princesses P had special Fairy costumes for this special day. The 2012 Fairy Festival was their first time and they were not disappointed.
Princess Sweetie Pie has a Rapunzel crown with a long, flowing braid.
Meeting Tink the rabbit.
Well, a funny thing happened between last year and this year – the Princesses P outgrew their fairy costumes! What to do? What to do?
Well, a trip to the Fairy Wings and Things vendor at the Fairy Festival was in order! So, dressed in their “favorite color” dresses, pink for Princess P and lavender for Princess Sweetie Pie, the Princesses delved into the task of transforming themselves from just ordinary Princesses into Fairy Princesses!
Fairy crowns
Shopping for wings and things…
Princess Sweetie Pie wanted a red-flowered garland crown and she reached up (middle picture above left) and said “I want that one” as she chewed on the package containing her polka-dot wings. After trying it on, she took it off her head and said “I’ll wear it tomorrow.” Well, Mommy (Tiffany) would have none of that! “If you aren’t going to wear it today, then I’m not buying it for you!” They arrived at a compromise and Princess Sweet Pie had a butterfly clip for her hair. Princess P knew right away what she wanted: rainbow wings, an aqua garland crown and a lavender butterfly scepter! She was all set!
Fairy in flight – costumes complete, they were off to a day full of adventure and fantasy!
Second costume crisis of the day: “Mommy, I don’t want to wear the wings…” confessed Princess Sweetie Pie.
“Okay, let Katie wear them,” offered Tiffany. Problem solved and happy Katie (the Princesses P’s friend).
Fairy musings – a wingless fairy at the fairy bridge
With wings and things in place, the newly transformed Princess Fairies were off to the first event of the day: the Fairy Parade!
Winding through a dirt garden path filled with flowers, birdhouses, and special garden décor, the March of the Fairies signifies the beginning of the Fairy Festival.
Fairies gather where flowers grow.
“I want to go to the little house! I want to go to the little house!” declared Princess Sweetie Pie. It’s amazing what she remembered from last year! She was only two and a half then and now she’s only three and a half!
The world beyond the window…
Fairy sisters in the little house
Vision of a fairy (without wings or a garland crown!)
“Mommy, I’m hungry!” exclaimed all the fairies at the same time! It was 10:30 a.m.! NOTE: there is limited food and drink opportunities at Summers Past Farms. They have a drink bar where they mix up smoothies and sell coffee drinks, with small treats like packaged cookies; but a day at the free Fairy Festival requires that you pack a picnic! We were ready with lots of food and all of us (me, Mommy, the Princesses P, Grams, Grammy Jo and friends, Angela, Katie and Miles) settled into a relatively private place near the little house for our mid-morning picnic!
Katie and Miles with flowers
Katie gives Miles a hug
Fairy and her butterfly scepter
So, we sat down to eat this:
Fairy Picnic Menu:
Sweet & savory Pink Fairy Turkey Roll-ups
Fairy Cakes (Mini Cinnamon Muffin Melts)
Salted Caramel Cake Bites covered in semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate and caramel
Pea Salad with Bacon and Cashews in Tomato Cups
Classic Egg Salad on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Grapes in orange cups
Turkey Flower Cut-out Sandwiches
This is what happened:
From upper left to right clockwise: Angela helping me take the final shots for my upcoming Pea Salad with Bacon and Cashews in Tomato Cups post; pea salad disaster; white chocolate covered Salted Caramel Cake Bites with no sprinkles; Grammy Jo balancing her plate in her lap and trying to eat without spilling; Katie, Angela and Miles chowing down (the other fairies with Grams and Mommy were off to the restroom!); cake bites in disarray; Princess Sweetie Pie’s plate full of goodies left behind (middle photo)!
Picnic over and surprise! The Disney Princesses arrived for a photo shoot!
Lovely fairy, Princess P, in awe of the Disney Princesses!
Meeting the Princess Aurora
Meeting Belle and Cinderella
Meeting Merida
Meeting Snow White
Throughout, the Disney Princesses were lovely, sweet, charming young girls, spending time with each girl and not rushing although the line was long. The Princesses P were in princess heaven, although Princess Sweetie Pie was exceedingly shy with each Disney Princess (probably overwhelmed by their beauty and seeing the princesses “live” instead of as a cartoon).
Summers Past Farms is full of picture-taking opportunities. They have created facades of various old world-looking entrances that lead to nowhere, but are full of imagination.
Picturesque places for photo ops
And, they have two shops: a soap shop and the main barn turned into a large retail shop full of magical things including fairies, gnomes, cottages and lots of other things to buy and take home to create your own fairy garden.
Soap Shoppe
Painted on the wall of the soap shop:
“When hours feel like moments…you know you’re celebrating with good friends.”
The Main Shop and the Proprietress
Summers Past Farm’s cat, Chamomile, getting a pet from Grammy Jo.
Inside the Main Shop
Fairy portrait
Sunflower reaching towards the sky at Summers Past Farms
A wonderful day for fairies, princesses, moms and Grammies at Summers Past Farms! Have you experienced the magic of fairy days? Tell us about your adventure!
Tootles,
Other Posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s Archives
How Do Fairies Get Their Wings?
How to Create a Magical Miniature Fairy Garden
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