Pictured: the flyer for the Thanksgiving Festival, the 1986 precursor of the Pasadena Waldorf School's Elves' Faire.
The Pasadena Waldorf School -- which is in Altadena despite its name -- holds its annual Elves' Faire on Sat., Nov. 20, and it's a special event: the faire is celebrating its 25th year bringing magic to children of all ages.
"It's our greatest friend-raiser and fundraiser," said Melissa Puls, Waldorf's director of development. "It's a sort of representation to our community, a gift to the children of the greater community from the Waldorf School."
The school has about 220 students in grades K thorugh 8, as well as a preschool program. The campus, at 209 E. Mariposa, is in a wooded area with 75 varieties of trees surrounding the historic Scripps/Kellogg mansion.
"It definitely feels very woodsy and magical," said Lisa McDaniel, a Waldorf parent and the coordinator of the Elves' Faire. It's different from other school fairs is that "what [we] do is so different -- you make crafts, it's hands-on -- there's something sweet and old-fashioned about it."
Pictured: Father Christmas hands out crystals at the 2007 Elves Faire. Photo by Mary Herman, M.D.
There are about 90 Waldorf schools in the U.S., and a thousand worldwide, based on the work of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Waldorf education is interdisciplinary, artistic, and emphasizes the role of imagination in learning.
In 1986, Pasadena Waldorf School held its "First Annual Thanksgiving Festival" at the Davies Building in Farnsworth Park, which later evolved into the faire on the school's campus.
Why elves? "It's a holiday reference," says Puls. "It's a magical holiday time, and the elves represent the magic that the children feel when they come to campus on that day.
"It's like an oasis here on that day, from the crazy business that goes on outside. So even though there are 4,000 people here, it doesn't feel like that."
The faire is a parent-run event, with 50 "area chairs" running different parts of the event. McDaniel, who coordinates them all, says "It's major, and the parents really take charge and carry it on and bring it to life, and make this completely magical faire happen. but it's a lot of work."
Pictured: bluesmen Zack and Jack perform at the 2008 faire.
Area chairs run everything from games to shops to the "green team" that strives to keep it environmentally sound.
"We make sure all food vendors use compostable plates, cups, forks, and spoons," Puls said. Last year, almost two tons of faire waste was recycled or composted.
Particularly important to the faire is that most of the items for sale -- from toy swords and shields to soaps and lip balm -- are all individually crafted and hand-made by parents and students.
One of the attractions of the faire is the Angel Room, where children, guided by an 8th grade "angel," can buy gifts for the grownups in their lives for four tickets. "The children love to do their Christmas shopping there," Puls said.
For the adults, there is also a silent auction, with "some amazing stuff in there, usually at 50-75% of value," McDaniel said.
The faire runs from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free, but tickets -- at $1 each -- are the preferred currency for almost all games and products. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own cup for free water, which is available at stations around the campus.
