Fairy Tale Festival returns to Edsel and Eleanor Ford House on Saturday

GROSSE POINTE SHORES, Mich. – A day of enchantment and adventure awaits all little lords and ladies when The Fairy Tale Festival returns to Edsel & Eleanor Ford House on June 24.

With the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as this year’s theme, the grounds and gardens of the estate will be transformed into a miniature Camelot where families can enjoy a day of imagination and wonder.

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Little ones will be amazed by Merlin’s Magic Show, laugh with Cirque Amongus court jesters, learn about Medieval times, and mix and mingle with costumed lords, ladies, knights and jesters. They will also get to try to pull the Excalibur sword from the stone and see a catapult demonstration! And, of course, costumes are welcome at this fun family day out.

Like the legend of King Arthur, the enchanting estate conjures up a feeling of adventure and inspiration, said Kathleen Mullins, president of Ford House. “When you walk under the stone archway at our main gate, you immediately feel the magic, as if you have been transported to a different place and time. The Fairy Tale Festival is a perfect way to capture that feeling and to spark the imaginations of young ones visiting the estate.”

Children of all ages will enjoy the performers and demonstrations at the festival. Highlights include:

  • All the World’s A Stage will present a dramatic performance of the Newberry Medal Winner Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village.
  • The Michigan Medieval Combat Association will offer exciting demonstrations of their skills.
  • Music group A Reasonable Facsimile will play Medieval musical selections.
  • Storyteller Karen Czarnik will share folktales that have been passed down through the ages.
  • The Great Lakes Falconers Association will talk about the history of falconry with live birds.

In addition, there will be hands-on fun. Young ones will get to try Medieval challenges, including kid-friendly fun versions of jousting and archery, building a mini catapult and designing a coat of arms. Plus there will be crafts, lawn games, a petting zoo, magic and more.

The Fairy Tale Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.  Children under 2 are free.  For a complete schedule of events for the day and to purchase tickets, visit www.fordhouse.org.

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores.  Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share in Eleanor Ford’s vision of preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits and gardens and grounds events.

Here's the schedule for Fairy Tales Festival: 

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