When we were in Utah for my family reunion in June, I saw billboards advertising "The Princess Festival". I checked into it, and found out it was the same weekend Ron was taking the boys to the Father & Sons Campout. So I thought this would be the perfect thing for Courtney and I to do together while they were gone. We had such a fun Mother/Daughter weekend! The Princess Festival was held at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. An older couple runs it. They have something like 40 grandchildren of which 36 are grand daughters! So they thought it would be fun to put on for them. They get dressed up too and all the workers at the festival are volunteers. This couple started their own charity called, In Our Own Quiet Way, and
all the proceeds of the festival go to the charity which helps children in Africa. I love the message the festival portrays for these young girls. Courtney knew that the money we paid for her ticket went to helping these kids in Africa. She also learned that princesses are not just pretty on the outside, but most importantly, on the inside. This was taught over and over at the different stations we went to throughout the day. It was such a fun, magical experience.
They had this cute carriage at the entrance to the festival.
There were a few booths you could pay extra and get your hair done, nails or face painted at the entrance if you wanted. It was kind of like the Bippity-Bobbity-Boutique at Disneyland, just a heck of a lot cheaper! It was only $2.00 to get your hair done "Princess Style"! Courtney wanted hers down like Sleeping Beauty's. We already painted glitter nails together the night before at home.
After her hair was done, we were off to enjoy our adventure!
Each year the Princess Festival introduces a new princess. This year it was Princess Mila. This is Courtney with her. She was the star of this years festival. They gave each girl a book about the new princess and a DVD. It also had a spot in the back of the book for autographs. In the book, Princess Mila's country had a big earthquake and everyone was scared. Princess Mila was scared too, but knew that everyone in her country was looking to her for guidance. She knew princesses had to be brave. So she thought of what she could do to help her country. She started picking up the bricks and rubble from the buildings and soon people saw her and followed her example. She learned to be a good leader for her people.
These are princesses from years past. They put on a play about how the Princess Festival got started. They told the girls how they thought of having lots of little girls come and have fun together and help others at the same time. They showed the girls a big pitcher of dirty water and asked them what they do when they get thirsty. The girls responded that they get water from their sink. These princesses told the girls that the kids in Africa would sometimes have to walk a mile or more to get a drink and when they did, the water often looked like this jug of dirty water. Then they told them by having this festival and each girl paying just a little money to come, they could help buy these children clean water to drink. Then they had a nice cold clean jug of water and gave each girl a drink since it was such a hot day.
There were princesses EVERYWHERE! At first, Courtney was hesitant to get her book signed. But by the end she was having so much fun and was asking
everyone for their autographs!
They also had all the regular Disney Princesses but they are all copyrighted so their costumes were not identical like they are at Disneyland. This is Sleeping Beauty.
She was very helpful. When we got lost, she let us follow her and she showed us the way! What a nice princess!
The Little Mermaid
Jasmine & Aladdin. Courtney was too shy to sit in between them.
Tinkerbell
Captain Hook
They also had service projects for the girls to do. This is Courtney helping tie a quilt for the kids that don't have any warm blankets.
Courtney's favorite play was Cinderella. This is her with her evil Stepmother and Step Sisters. They did such a good job!
Here Cinderella is with her Fairy Godmother.
Dancing with Prince Charming.
Courtney whispered in my ear after she got Cinderella's autograph, "I don't mean to be rude, but that Cinderella is too skinny and has freckles"
The cast all stayed in character as they signed autographs. These ladies were so funny! I also found it funny that there wasn't a line for Prince Charming! I couldn't talk Courtney into getting her picture taken with him. She would not do it!
We also saw the play of Snow White.
and then got her autograph too!
After the festival was over, I let Courtney pick out one souvenir to remember her day. She choose this parasol and then had a ball playing in the water by Noah's Ark.
We had such a good time together and I am so glad we went! Courtney won't be little forever!
They had this cute carriage at the entrance to the festival.
There were a few booths you could pay extra and get your hair done, nails or face painted at the entrance if you wanted. It was kind of like the Bippity-Bobbity-Boutique at Disneyland, just a heck of a lot cheaper! It was only $2.00 to get your hair done "Princess Style"! Courtney wanted hers down like Sleeping Beauty's. We already painted glitter nails together the night before at home.
After her hair was done, we were off to enjoy our adventure!
Each year the Princess Festival introduces a new princess. This year it was Princess Mila. This is Courtney with her. She was the star of this years festival. They gave each girl a book about the new princess and a DVD. It also had a spot in the back of the book for autographs. In the book, Princess Mila's country had a big earthquake and everyone was scared. Princess Mila was scared too, but knew that everyone in her country was looking to her for guidance. She knew princesses had to be brave. So she thought of what she could do to help her country. She started picking up the bricks and rubble from the buildings and soon people saw her and followed her example. She learned to be a good leader for her people.
These are princesses from years past. They put on a play about how the Princess Festival got started. They told the girls how they thought of having lots of little girls come and have fun together and help others at the same time. They showed the girls a big pitcher of dirty water and asked them what they do when they get thirsty. The girls responded that they get water from their sink. These princesses told the girls that the kids in Africa would sometimes have to walk a mile or more to get a drink and when they did, the water often looked like this jug of dirty water. Then they told them by having this festival and each girl paying just a little money to come, they could help buy these children clean water to drink. Then they had a nice cold clean jug of water and gave each girl a drink since it was such a hot day.
There were princesses EVERYWHERE! At first, Courtney was hesitant to get her book signed. But by the end she was having so much fun and was asking everyone for their autographs!
They also had all the regular Disney Princesses but they are all copyrighted so their costumes were not identical like they are at Disneyland. This is Sleeping Beauty.
She was very helpful. When we got lost, she let us follow her and she showed us the way! What a nice princess!
The Little Mermaid
Jasmine & Aladdin. Courtney was too shy to sit in between them.
Tinkerbell
Captain Hook
They also had service projects for the girls to do. This is Courtney helping tie a quilt for the kids that don't have any warm blankets.
Courtney's favorite play was Cinderella. This is her with her evil Stepmother and Step Sisters. They did such a good job!
Here Cinderella is with her Fairy Godmother.
Dancing with Prince Charming.
Courtney whispered in my ear after she got Cinderella's autograph, "I don't mean to be rude, but that Cinderella is too skinny and has freckles"
The cast all stayed in character as they signed autographs. These ladies were so funny! I also found it funny that there wasn't a line for Prince Charming! I couldn't talk Courtney into getting her picture taken with him. She would not do it!
We also saw the play of Snow White.
and then got her autograph too!
After the festival was over, I let Courtney pick out one souvenir to remember her day. She choose this parasol and then had a ball playing in the water by Noah's Ark.
We had such a good time together and I am so glad we went! Courtney won't be little forever!
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