Princess Festival

Anyone that knows Graci and Jesi know that they LOVE LOVE LOVE princesses! So when we heard of "The Princess Festival" we knew that there was no question we would take them. (: Graci was so excited for a chance to wear her Make-a-Wish dress again!

The Princess Festival is one of the neatest organizations I've known. It's mission statement: To touch the hearts of young girls and communities to empower them in acts of service, kindness, and courage through the creative engagement of imaginative characters, stories, and events.

Every year, a new princess is introduced, complete with a book and everything. The goal is to have princesses that girls can both relate to and look up to. This year's princess was "Mila." I spoke to the founder of the festival and she said that Mila was invented because girls with short hair felt like they couldn't be princesses. Next year, they are looking to find a princess with down syndrome. Awesome. Wouldn't it be cool to have Lexi or Sophi as one of their princesses a few years down the road??? (:

As soon as they walked through the doors, they were sprinkled with pixie dust and given nametags, so that the characters could address them all as "Princess Jesi, Princess Graci," etc.

At the festival, there were princesses of all sorts. All of the classics, of course, but without the Disney twists. There were six different fifteen minute "adventures" including some fantastic plays. One of them was hearing the story of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" told by the twelve princesses themselves, and learning a dance with them.

All of the princesses and other characters were volunteers. There were also little service projects that the girls could help with throughout the day, and all of the proceeds of the festival go toward different charitable projects. It is amazing to read about what has been accomplished with this festival!

Graci and Jesi ate the whole thing up. Jeremy and I had such fun watching the magic in their eyes. I sure love my sweet princesses. (: