Faerieworlds

The Faerieworlds Festival is an annual music and arts festival currently held annually in Oregon in late July or early August. The festival's primary theme is the "realm of the faerie". The 2008 festival takes place on August 1st-3rd at Secret House Winery near Eugene, OR.

Events

The festival features internationally bestselling artists and authors, Grammy-winning musicians and crafters whose work is connected to or inspired by folklore, specifically faerie lore. Faerieworlds was started by Emilio and Kelly Miller-Lopez of the musical group Woodland, and Robert Gould of the transmedia arts company Imaginosis. The festival features the artwork of folklorists, authors and artists Brian and Wendy Froud, whose bestselling books on faeries, and whose conceptual design work with Jim Henson have earned them international acclaim.

Unlike other faerie and renaissance events, Faerieworlds main stage concerts run into the late evening, and feature a digital lightshow of the faerie art of Brian Froud set to the live music of Woodland. As the event closes, Faerieworlds often includes fire and dance performances by troupes and performers from around the globe.

Locations

Faerieworlds Festivals have now taken place in Sedona and Prescott, Arizona, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Los Angeles, California, North Plains, Oregon, and for the last three years at Secret House Winery in Veneta, Oregon.

Performers and artists

The festival main stage has included such acts as Solas, Woodland, Rasputina, Johnny Cunningham, Susan McKeown, Brother, Trillian Green, Kan'Nal, John Renbourn, Karan Casey, Gaia Consort, Heather Alexander, Tricky Pixie and more. Artists and authors featured at Faerieworlds have included Brian Froud, Tony DiTerlizzi, Michael Hague, Wendy Froud, Jen Delyth, Ari Berk, Terri Windling, Amy Brown, Holly Black and many more. In addition to a diverse lineup of musicians and artists, each Faerieworlds Festival features a vending village of juried crafters from around the world.

Impact

Each year, the Faerieworlds Festival benefits a community organization whose work betters the future for coming generations. Past beneficiaries have included environmental organizations and public Waldorf and charter schools. Faerieworlds differs from many events in the fantasy genre in its ecological and social focus and message by utilizing recycled printed materials, compostable foodware, and featuring a food court of organic and vegetarian food vendors.

FaerieCon

The creators of Faerieworlds held an event on the east coast called FaerieCon International, which took place on October 12-14, 2007 in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Special guests included Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Kinuko Craft, John Matthews, Caitlin Matthews, Charles Vess, Holly Black, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, Michael Hague, and many more fantasy artists and authors. FaerieCon 2008 will take place on October 10-12,2 008 in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Trocadero Theatre.

References

External links

* [http://www.faerieworlds.com Official Faerieworlds Festival website]
* [http://www.faeriecon.com Official FaerieCon website]
* [http://www.woodlandmusic.net Official Woodland website]
* [http://www.earthgatherings.org Official Earth Gatherings website]