EASTHAMPTON — If you believe in magic, Easthampton’s first-ever Fairy Fest in 2026 just might be your dream come true.
The festival, planned for next summer, is the vision of Bonnie McLoud, a longtime event organizer whose mystical journey through Ireland inspired her to bring a celebration of fairies and folklore to the Pioneer Valley.
“Ever since that trip to Ireland, I have loved fairies and all things mystical,” said McLoud, who visited a fairy glen at a farm during this trip. “Ireland is known for its mystical, magical creatures, and we were hoping to encounter some. In Ireland, a fairy glen is a section of forest where fairies are known to live. The farmer told the guide that every time he tried to farm the land where the fairy glen was located, something would happen that stopped him. Farm equipment would break, workers did not show up and so on. As we entered the fairy glen, you could feel the atmosphere change, and I had a chill run up my spine. As I looked around, the colors of the forest seemed so much more vivid. You also had the feeling that someone was watching you.”
While this is the first event of its kind in Easthampton, McLoud brings previous experience helping to launch a similar festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which has run successfully for over a decade.
“The biggest challenge is going to be to find the right resources to bring the festival to life here,” she said. “The Fairy Fest is something I want to do annually, so once I do it once, repeating it will be easy.”
One of the festival’s most ambitious goals? Breaking a Guinness World Record.
“We’re going for the record of the ‘Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Fairies,’” McLoud said. “The current record is 878. I thought it would be fun to put Easthampton on the map.”
The application process is already underway. McLoud is coordinating with Guinness to clarify exactly what counts as “dressed like a fairy”— wings, wands, tutus? Once the requirements are confirmed, the team will begin gathering and documenting the attempt. Evidence such as photographs, video and official counts will be submitted after the event.
But the festival is much more than a record attempt. McLoud is determined to make Fairy Fest a true celebration of Easthampton’s creative spirit.
“I was thrilled to learn that the town has a part-time Arts Coordinator,” she said. “I was surprised and elated that the town thought enough about the Arts to have someone working for the town in that role.” McLoud has reached out to Pasqualina Azzarello, the arts coordinator, and to groups such as the Easthampton Theater Company, CitySpace, Pioneer Valley Ballet and Show Circus to bring magical performances to the event. Vendors and artisans will also be carefully selected through a juried process to ensure their offerings align with the whimsical theme. She has already heard from stilt walkers, hula hoop performers, belly dancers and acrobats.
A highlight of the festival will be the Fairy House Tour, a family-friendly walk along a local path where children and adults alike can discover tiny handmade fairy homes crafted from natural materials.
“The Fairy House Tour is my favorite element of the Fairy Fest,” noted McLoud. “In addition to putting a call out to artisans and anyone else who wants to build and submit a fairy house, the weekend before the Fairy Fest, we hold community fairy house building workshops. In these workshops, participants have the opportunity to learn how to build their own fairy house to place on the Fairy House Tour path. The important thing to know is that the fairy house needs to be made with only natural materials. No plastic or store-bought items can be used.”
McLoud has already recruited 28 volunteers through social media and is actively building a planning committee. She’s looking for individuals willing to commit time and creativity over the next year, as well as day-of volunteers.
Anyone interested in joining the committee or volunteering can contact McLoud by email at fairyfest2026@gmail.com or through the Fairy Fest Facebook page facebook.com/fairyfesteasthampton.
But at the heart of all the planning and logistics is a simple goal.
“The theme of this Fairy Fest is ‘Believe.’ Who doesn’t love all things magical and mystical?” asked McLoud. “I want visitors to have their hearts filled up with happiness and joy. I love to hear the laughter of children. I do not think there are enough things in the world to smile about. I want to give visitors something to smile about.”
