Artist Invitational & Seasonal Fairy Wreath Exhibit Highlights at Upcoming Fairy House Tour

A record number of fairy houses will be on display at the 9th annual event in the South End September 21 & 22

The 9th Annual Portsmouth Fairy House Tour will take place on September 21 and 22, 2013 from 11:00 am-3:00 pm on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum, the Governor John Langdon House, Prescott Park and Peirce Island in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and will feature more than 175 handcrafted fairy houses--a record number. New this year is an Artist Invitational competition where 10 select fairy houses build by creative professionals will be judged by Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spear, Architect Lisa DeStefano, and Fairy Houses Series® Author/ Illustrator Tracy Kane. Also new this year is a Seasonal Fairy Wreath Exhibit and Raffle in the Sheafe Warehouse in Prescott Park. More than 20 Seasonal Fairy Wreaths have been donated by local florists and designers and raffle proceeds will benefit the Prescott Park Flower Fund.

The Portsmouth Fairy House Tour is the world’s largest fairy house tour. Fairy houses are small structures made from natural materials to attract fairies and woodland creatures. The houses featured at this year’s event are made by local artists, florists, garden clubs club members, businesses, families, local school children and others.

Inspired by local author Tracy Kane’s Fairy Houses Series®, and produced by Friends of the South End with the assistance of Canoe Harbor Consulting, the annual Fairy House Tour attracts more than 4,000 families and fairies each year. The Tour occurs rain or shine and visitors are encouraged to make note of the new times this year.

The Artists Invitation will feature fairy houses created by Alan Amman, Andrea Abbott, Alyson M. Designs, Chick Family Ink, Flower Kiosk, Frake Fine Art, Jennifer Field Studios, Piper Boatworks, Rolling Green Nursery, and Snackerty Hollow Cottages. The houses will be displayed on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum and the Governor John Langdon House. They will be judged based on imagination/ creativity, innovation, and use of natural materials. Grand, second, and third prizes will be awarded as well as honorable mentions in each of the judged categories.

Tracy Kane, the Fairy Houses Series® Author and Illustrator will be on hand both days to greet ticket holders and sign autographs. In addition, the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater will be performing excerpts from “Fairy Houses—the Ballet!” on the Prescott Park Arts stage both days at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30. In the Wooded Grove at the Governor John Langdon House, the NH Theatre Project will be performing readings from Forest Secrets on Saturday at 12:00, 1:00 and 2:00 and scenes from “Forest Secrets--the Play” on Sunday at 12:00, 1:00 and 2:00.

Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $15.00 per adult, $10.00 per senior, and $5.00 per child ages 3-12. Family tickets are only available in advance. Day of tickets can be purchased at ticket booths at the Governor John Langdon House, Strawbery Banke (along Marcy Street) or on Peirce Island.

Raffle tickets for the Seasonal Fairy Wreath Raffle will be available at the Prescott Park Arts Festival merchandise booth and at the Marcy Street and Peirce Island ticket booths for $2.00 per ticket. Raffles will occur each day and entrants will be able to take home their wreath on the same day as their visit to the Tour. The Seasonal Fairy Wreath Exhibit and Raffle is open to the public.

Proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships are donated to the nonprofit organizations, schools and civic groups that participate in the Tour. Since the Fairy House Tour began, more than $150,000 has been reinvested in the community.

The 2013 Silver Fairy Sponsors are Infinite Imaging (design & print sponsor), and Parenting NH magazine (media sponsor). Bronze Fairy Sponsors are Lamprey Energy, Sanders Fish Market, Piscataqua Savings Bank and Rocky Coast Brand Identity. Fairy Friend Sponsors are Cunningham and Associates, Geno’s Sandwich and Chowder Shop, People’s United Bank, Rolling Green Nursery, Sandie Dika, Realtor and The Provident Bank.

For more information about the 2013 Portsmouth Fairy House Tour including information on special performances and other activities, please visit www.portsmouthfairyhousetour.com.

About Friends of the South End

The Friends of the South End (FOSE) is a nonprofit corporation in the South End of Portsmouth, NH. FOSE’s mission is to foster a cooperative, neighborly spirit; encourage preservation of the neighborhood's historic character; promote public safety; monitor and disseminate information about important developments in Portsmouth and the South End; and protect and enhance the quality of life in the South End. Membership is open to others who share the goals of the organization. For more information or to become a member, please visit www.friendsofthesouthend.org.