Having no video of this year’s biggest convention yet, with 250 participants (that we can see) , this brief showing of 2008 gives you some idea of what goes on, in what is now their ninth and largest yearso far. The stated goal of the three day event is to "encourage communication and cooperation of the fairy and human realms," says one organizer Michael "Skeeter" Pilarski. Lindsay Swope, part owner of the Skalitude resort where festivities were held, was asked whether she believes in fairies or is merely sympathetic to those who do. Swope said, "I believe in it. Life is way more complicated than what we can see, hear and touch."Skeptics might mock the participants or dismiss them as New Age hippies, but their belief system is not much different from Native American animists or even Christians who believe in angels. You must admit, Lindsay Swope makes several good points!
As with most conferences, after a day of varied workshops, the fun really begins when people don their party clothes to parade and celebrate in which many participants dress as mythical fairies and devas. Mary Getten of Olympia,who
claims to speak with the fairies telepathically, and gives workshops in it, says of the human costumes and parades, "The fairies think it’s hysterical,"
I’m pleased if we mere mortals can amuse them, but I don’t think I’d like to hear their little fairy chuckles or snarky remarks about the costumes!