Picture this: it’s a sunny Saturday morning in September and you made your way to downtown Valparaiso for the annual Popcorn Festival. You’re sitting along the street, surrounded by an energetic crowd, watching each of the floats pass with enthusiasm for the next. The smell of fresh corn is in the air and you’re drinking something refreshing. You look down the road and see a group of colorful fairies, carrying wands and sporting wings that are glittering and sparkling with every step. They are the Flanagin’s Fairies, and they’re here to spread kindness and magic to all.
When Donna Flanagin asked me to join her amazing group of fairies this year, I just about cried. I’ve always looked up to the women and young girls who make up Flanagin’s Fairies and walk in the parade each year, sharing their smiles, warmth, and positive energy with everyone they pass. I was preparing to write an article for Donna that would share with the community what it means to be a fairy – the visits to local organizations, the participation in the annual parade, and so much more of the work that Donna and her fairy crew do to make our Region a brighter place.
Many people, even those who may already know Donna, may not realize how much she puts her heart and soul into the work that she does for her business, for her family, and perhaps what she has the most fun with, for Flanagin’s Fairies. This was what I was hoping to capture most as I was getting ready to interview Donna and share the story; however, in true Donna-fashion, as the fairy godmother that she is, she demonstrated her kindness and welcoming spirit and asked me to join them for this year’s parade.
After eagerly agreeing to join the group for the 2021 parade, Donna brought me into her shop – Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service – and introduced me to a world of magic and inspiration that I had never known before. She helped me pick out the perfect gown, she talked with me about how to do some matching hair and makeup, and she gave me comfy slippers to walk in (that had gold bows on them, of course).
The look on Donna’s face when I tried on the most recent dress that she had found at a garage sale, the Jellybean Fairy gown, was pure joy, and I knew then that this was the one I would find myself stepping into on Saturday morning before the parade. It was a short, black ruffled dress with beads of every color on the front, and the name that Donna gave it was perfectly fitting. With the dress on, along with matching wings, my excitement grew even stronger.
What was most special to me, though, as Donna walked me through the process, was when she looked me in the eye and reminded me that dressing up as a fairy means that you are one of the most magical parts of a child’s day. This is something you must never forget as you walk in the parade, because feeding that child’s curious and imaginative mind is so important.
The children who I walked past that Saturday morning really did believe me to be real, and I really did feel the magic that Donna talked about that comes with the costume. You never truly know the power that you hold in being able to make a difference in others until you have the mindset and the understanding that the things you do and the things you say really do matter.
As a child, you worship those who embody the spirit and have the kindness and energy that you wish to see in your future self. You see all things with such a pure heart and your excitement for what lies ahead is truly unique. Recognizing how much we have to learn from children, as their minds are filled with such compassion and joy, is a powerful thing.
As I carried candies and glittering fairy cutouts in my basket, handing out as many as I could to the countless children who lined the street, I tried my best to give each child a special experience because their excitement was contagious. I could see myself in their smiles, a gentle reminder of how I was once in their exact shoes, feeling like I had just experienced the best day of my life because I got to look into the eyes of a fairy who had flown in just for this parade, just to give me this piece of candy.
Some of my favorite quotes were the children who said, “Oh my goodness, mom look, it’s a fairy!” or “Can I please have a pink candy?” or, the one that I’ll never forget, “Can I please give you a hug?”
Though the entire experience of being a fairy that morning was full of amazing surprises and emotions, there were a few moments of joy that stuck out to me the most.
For example, watching both young and adult fairies in the group take on their roles with the biggest smile and the kindest heart was really special to watch and be a part of. I learned a lot from both the younger girls and the women about how to always have a smile and positive voice and try your best to reach as many children as possible – even the ones who seem shy.
Since the fairies first made their debut in 2008, they’ve been inspiring young children and touching the lives of all those who see them with their grace and magic. One of the most beautiful testaments to the impact that a fairy can have involves the journey of two young girls in particular.
Ione and Fiona Skafish, daughters to Fairy Jennifer Oram Skafish, were once the young ones looking up to the fairies with excitement. Now the two girls have found themselves dressing up as fairies for years, being that same icon of inspiration and reminder of the magic of Disney for girls just like them.
Being able to see this transformation in young girls like Ione and Fiona where, at such a young age, they recognize the power of kindness and how easy it is to create joy for other children was amazing. The impact that a fairy can have when they know that children really believe in them is special, and seeing that demonstrated by so many young fairies who are coming together to play their individual roles and share in the magic that Donna has created was something I’ll never forget.
One of the most admirable qualities in someone is being able to utilize kindness in everything they do and realize how easy it can be to make someone’s day a little brighter. Being kind to everyone you meet, especially because you never know what someone may be going through, is likely my biggest takeaway from the whole experience. I am so thankful to each and every past and present fairy, and especially Donna, for welcoming me into the group and teaching me what it is like to live a day in the life of a Flanagin Fairy.
“My goal is to bring a little Disney Magic to Valparaiso and spread kindness and joy to all the little children, especially those who will never have the opportunity to visit Disney, and to make them feel special in some little way,” said Donna Flanagin.
For more information about Flanagin’s Fairies, visit Donna’s blog here. For more information about Flanagin’ Bulk Mail Service, visit mybulkmail.com.
