Fairy Houses & Forts, this season’s blockbuster exhibition, is open through Oct. 7. Enjoy the exhibition of seven outdoor fairy house and fort installations and these related activities.
Ongoing Activities
- Garden Bingo: Youngsters 6 and under will have fun with this scavenger hunt through the exhibition.
- Exhibition Activity Guide: Geared toward older children, this guide will help you follow the clues to fun discoveries in the Gardens!
- Youth Lab Discovery Area: Build your own forts or fairy houses with Lincoln Logs and Fairy Garden Tinker Toys and read about fairy lore and forts from around the world.
- The Seven Doors: If you look closely, you’ll find seven secret doors to the realm of the fairies hidden in the Heartland Harvest Garden. Pick up a sheet of clues, locate all of the doors and turn in your completed riddle for a prize!
May 26-27: Storytelling
Enjoy tales of fairy lore and more from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
June 2: The Paul Mesner Puppets
The Paul Mesner Puppets presents Rapunzel, a veggie wonderful fairy tale about two avid gardeners, Okra and Romaine. The 11 a.m. performance is included with regular Garden admission and takes place in the Missouri Barn.
June 9-10: Enchanted Clay Fairy Ring Discovery Station
Learn about the magic behind the fairy ring and make a set of clay mushrooms to create your own fairy ring at home. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 23-24: Fairy Wind Chime Discovery Station
If you listen carefully you may hear the music of fairies chiming in the wind. Visit the Discovery Station to learn how to create a fairy wind chime to make music of your own. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 30: Booms & Blooms Festival
Visit the exhibit and celebrate your patriotic spirit during this family-friendly festival. Activities include a daylily sale, children’s crafts, face painting, ice cream making demo at 2 p.m., jazz/blues from 4 to 6 p.m.; Lee’s Summit Symphony performance at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks at dark. Learn more.
July 7-8: Edible Forts Discovery Station
Forts can be made of just about anything—logs, bricks and even pretzels! Join us as we build forts out of edible materials and then enjoy your creation as a snack. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
July 13: Enchanted: A Magical Evening in the Gardens
Bring the entire family for an enchanted evening in the Gardens, with hands-on games by Radio Disney, take-home crafts and a lantern-lit self-guided tour of the Forts & Fairy Houses exhibit. Reservations required; call 816-697-2600 x209 or reserve your tickets here.
July 21-22: Fingerprint Art Discovery Station
Fairies are very unique creatures—as unique as your finger prints. Come create your very own fairy artwork to take home. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
July 28-29: Storytelling
Enjoy tales of fairy lore and more from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Festival of Butterflies: August 3-5 & August 10-12
Enjoy new treasures from the tropics with the addition of a half-dozen new species, including the amazing "see through" butterfly and other rainforest beauties. Don’t miss our over-sized caterpillar "float," a costume parade, butterfly plant sale, photography exhibit and more. Learn more.
August 3: Moths & Milkshakes by Moonlight
From the massive beauties of the tropics to the mystical local Luna moth, these beautiful cousins of the butterfly are often overlooked. During this magical evening in the Gardens, a team of naturalists will introduce participants to the "night life" at Powell Gardens. Tickets include hand-crafted milkshakes and guided tours of several nature stations, along with admission into the Butterfly Conservatory. Reservations required: 816-697-2600 x209.
August 25-26: Enchanted Clay Ring Discovery Station
Learn about the magic behind the fairy ring and make a set of clay mushrooms to create your own fairy ring at home. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 8-9: Storytelling
Enjoy tales of fairy lore and more from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
September 15-16: Fingerprint Art Discovery Station
Fairies are very unique creatures—as unique as your finger prints. Come create your very own fairy artwork to take home. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 22-23: Edible Forts Discovery Station
Forts can be made of just about anything—logs, bricks and even pretzels! Join us as we build forts out of edible materials and then enjoy your creation as a snack. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 29-30: Storytelling
Enjoy tales of fairy lore and more from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
October 6-7: Final Weekend!
Send off summer and welcome fall during the Harvest Celebration & Antique Tractor Show, which includes antique tractors, homespun crafts, barrel train rides, a pedal tractor pull and much more!
The Magic of Art: Make Your Own Fairy House or Fort Art
Use natural materials to make your own rendition of a fairy house or fort from natural materials. The art station is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:
- June 13
- June 27
- July 11
- July 25
- August 8
- August 22
Did you know? Powell Gardens is offering a LEGO themed birthday party option to coincide with the Nature Connects exhibit. Learn more »