The Annual Manchester Fairy Festival of 2026

2026 Manchester Fairy Festival. Photo courtesy of Laura Wohlgemuth.

submitted by Laura Wohlgemuth, Manchester District Library event coordinator

Magic was in full bloom at this year’s Annual Manchester Fairy Festival as little fairies and elves gathered for an afternoon of whimsical fun, creativity, and community spirit. Young festival-goers planted their very own fairy gardens using ferns donated by Debbie Kelly, along with tiny trinkets and fairy figurines purchased through sponsorship support from Worth Repeating. Participants also created ribbon wands and fairy headbands before enjoying a full lineup of enchanting activities, including a fairy dance taught by Miss Laura of Dance With Heart Studios, fairy story time with Manchester District Library children’s librarian Miss Abby, and a Fairy Interpretive Dance led by Fairy Enthusiast Laura Wohlgemuth and her fairy friends, Fairy Mary, played by Lilly Coe, and Fairy Persephone, played by Alexis Wohlgemuth. The magical day ended with a raffle where every child went home a winner, including one lucky participant who received a giant stuffed animal donated by the Manchester Lions Club.

The Annual Manchester Fairy Festival is not only a chance to share a little magic with the community, but also a time when Manchester’s volunteers truly sparkle. A heartfelt thank you goes to Worth Repeating for once again sponsoring the festival and helping make it possible for children to create fairy gardens, wands, and headbands at no cost. Special thanks also go to Debbie Kelly for donating ferns and helping little fairies plant their gardens; the Manchester Lions Club for donating the giant stuffed animal raffle prize; Dance With Heart Studios for sharing the magic of dance; Miss Abby for fairy crafts and story time; Bethellen for helping participants plant their gardens; Clever Creations by Amy for spreading joy through her clay creations; and Lilly Coe and Alexis Wohlgemuth for decorating, helping with crafts and dances, and assisting with cleanup. Thanks to so many generous hands, the Annual Manchester Fairy Festival once again brought a little extra wonder to Manchester.

Photos courtesy of Laura Wohlgemuth:

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.