Fae Festival unites magical beings across Central Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Ix Art Park transformed into a world of fantasy and color this weekend.

Costumes, creativity, and community took center stage as the Fae Festival returned to Charlottesville.

From fairy wings, to medieval cloaks, Ix Art Park transformed into a realm of magic and myth to celebrate the Fae festival.

“It’s magic,” Performer Madison Basile said. “It’s making magic.”

Mythical creatures of all sorts took over the park, transforming the space into a fantasy-filled celebration of creativity.

For some, it’s about building community, connecting with others who love to play in this magical realm.

For Skylar Carroll, a hairstylist at Color Factory salon, the reason is simple.

“I’ll take any excuse to dress up,” Carroll said. “I was very excited about that.”

This is the third year the Fae Festival has cast its spell on Charlottesville.

“This is the only thing like this Charlottesville does,” Hairstylist Kali Vosper said. “It’s really exciting to now have this.”

Madison Basile’s job is to dress as a mermaid and learn water acrobatics using her tail. Basile says it’s not just fantasy, but also inspiration.

“Just having fun with it,” Basile said. “I said, I’m going to go with the flow of a kind of mermaid. It’s just magic for everyone.”

Behind all that magic is a lot of work with costumes that range from last-minute finds to months of prep.

Saffron Soleil works with the Fae Federation. She says the best part is the hunt for what’s next.

“If I am making a costume or something,” Soleil said. “It’s a lot of ‘what do I have?’ I like to reuse things. I like to find stuff.”

Soleil says, it’s the reactions from others that make it all worth it.

“I just really love that everybody is so, like, curious,” Soleil said. “I think that’s the best reaction everyone has.”

The festival will run until 9 p.m. on June 28 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 29. For more information, click here.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.

Copyright 2025 WVIR. All rights reserved.