Fairies, elves welcome spring on Pearl Street Mall – Boulder Daily C…

Fairies, elves and those who believe in them gathered on Pearl Street on Sunday.

Hundreds of people attended the Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival. The festival started in 2013 as a parade, but eventually grew into a full-fledged festival on Pearl Street Mall. Mar Young and Anna Salim from the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center said that the festival is a delight to have, as it’s a way to welcome spring with some fun. The festival also welcomes more than 15,000 tulips planted as they start to bloom. Young said that they are on “tulip watch,” and that the first tulip bloomed on April 5.

Hundreds of little kids walked along Pearl Street with fairy wings and saw the many businesses, nonprofits and community groups that had informational stands and activities for the kids. Some stands had face painting, hair adornments, violin playing, foam sword dueling and community painting.

But it was not just kids with fairy wings on. There were parents who matched their kids and cosplayers, where people dressed in costumes and played the part of characters. They walked around the festival with their intricate costumes and are more than happy to take pictures with festival attendees.

Debra Orgwal has been dressing as a fairy for festivals for almost 30 years. She said that she has been a part of the Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival since it started, and she has been happy to see it grow. Orgwal said that she first made her dress for the fairy parade, and has been slowly adding and adjusting it since. The costume tells a story and gives places for the fairies to have picnics or gather.

“As adults, we lose that magic we believed in the world,” Orgwal said.

She said that dressing up as a fairy is a way to connect with oneself and start to believe in the little things that can make life seem magical. She also said that she wants to nourish children’s belief of magical things. She also said that the community she found within the fairy festival is so welcoming, and she wants to remain a part of it.

 

Anora Ashman dressed as their original character Salazar, a tropical fairy. Ashley Ashman dressed as her original character Funaria the forest sprite. They both said that they partake in fairy events throughout the Front Range. Ashley Ashman said that the Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival is the first one of the season, and a great way to welcome in spring and take out the fairy costumes from storage. Anora Ashman said that although they do not need an excuse to dress up, wearing their costumes out for festivals is always fun.

Anora and Ashley Ashman said that developing their character and its backstory is another fun part of dressing up. Ashley Ashman said that her character is mischievous but still kind, while Anora Ashman said their character has gills that need to be protected from the sunlight.

“Our costumes take years and years of collecting bits and pieces,” Anora Ashman said.

“As we grow into our character, the character tells us who they are,” Ashley Ashman said.

Raven Jackson dressed as her original character Syra, a wine fairy. Jackson has grapes in her hair and hands out little bottles of fake wine made “fresh from the fairies.” She said that while she is not a great seamstress, her fairy outfits also come from thrift stores. Jackson said that she always wanted to entertain, and she found herself in the fae world scene.

“It was a want for entertainment, want for connection and want for friendship,” Jackson said.

She said that she found all three of those in the fairy festival scene.