Fairy tales do come true

Beneath the willows in a certain wooded glen, where the toadstools grow tall and soft enough to sit on, you’ll find fairies dancing, sipping tea and waiting to enjoy the teacakes baking in a nearby vine-covered cottage.

Now and then a bashful little fairy sneaks out to join a child having a picnic – and a storytelling Fairy Godmother comes out of a door in a tree to serve magical Fairy Tea and spin tales of pirates, princesses and unicorns to her little listeners.

This particular enchanted glen isn’t in Fairyland; it’s right here in Midlothian.

The Party Fairy store opened in May in The Village at Waterford. The elaborately decorated store sells consumes, tea sets, pocketbooks, puzzles, jewelry and toys-but its main product is something that can’t be inventoried or shelved.

The Party Fairy’s market niche is make-believe experiences. Owner Georgia Blair has spent the summer enchanting children ages 4-9 with everything from fairy dance workshops to Pixie Camp, a fairy-themed summer day camp.

“It’s all about storytelling and make-believe,” Blair said. “Everything we do here is story-based and original. We offer children a variety of fairytale experiences.”

The store offers Princess Makeovers, which includes a private tea party with the child’s Fairy Godmother and selection of a princess gown and accessories to take home afterward. Makeovers run $49.99 and are available by appointment only.

Birthday parties keep the store busy on weekends. In the larger of two party rooms offered at the store, the Fairy Godmother uses costumes and detailed fantasy sets to give little partygoers fairytale-come-true adventures as fairies, princesses, mermaids, knights or pirates. Themed party packages start at $300 and include everything. Parents need only show up.

The smaller party room is decorated in whimsical, vintage tea room style.

“It’s Miss Hattie’s Tea Room,” Blair said. “Miss Hattie is quite the character, with her own set of fun stories.”

The Pirate Captain is one of many characters who show up for tea in Miss Hattie’s Make-Believe Tea Room. There’s a Wizards’ Apprentice who does magic tricks, porcelain Ballerina Doll who comes to life and dances, and more. In fact the premise of the Tea Room is that you never know just who will show up for tea at Miss Hattie’s. Visitors can be tailored to the children’s ages and gender.

Perhaps the most charming characters who come to visit are the Flower Fairies, who live in the Enchanted Garden behind Miss Hattie’s cottage. They fly in whenever they smell Miss Hattie’s’ delicious teacakes baking-and the Sunflower Fairy has a reputation for eating the icing before anyone else gets any.

Tea parties in Miss Hattie’s Tea Room start at $250 and parents do not have to bring any items. For more about The Party Fairy, visit www.partyfairy.com.

– L.A. Eaton
Prime Writer