GREENFIELD — A warm, sunny Sunday afternoon created the perfect atmosphere for a mother-daughter outing in a pixie garden.
Moms, grandmothers, young girls and dancing fairies attended a tea party in the pixie garden at the James Whitcomb Riley Old Home and Museum in Greenfield.
Under a bright blue sky, the event attracted 100 attendees and raised funds for the Dance East Ballet Academy in Greenfield.
Event organizer Dana Hart said everything for the event was donated, meaning all proceeds will go to the ballet academy.
Some of the academy’s dancers dressed as fairies and strolled through the party while patrons watched a dance performance and were served tea, lemonade and sweet treats served on fine china.
“It’s all very magical,” Hart said. “The young girls all really love this.”
The event included a reading of some of Riley’s poetry.
“Riley was the children’s poet, so he would have loved that the children are here on the grounds,” museum director Brigette Jones said.
Sharon Paluga of New Palestine brought her daughter Meredith Staggs, 6, to the party. She said the event provided a fun mother-daughter outing that her daughter really enjoyed.
“This was her first year in ballet and dance, and we’ve had so much fun,” Paluga said. “This was a good thing for us to do together.”
Meredith agreed as she sipped tea in the sunshine.
Sitting at a table in the shade, Greenfield resident Kristin Spegal watched with pride as her daughter Paige danced as a fairy around the garden.
“This is so wonderful,” Spegal said. “For Paige, I’ve been able to see her grow. She started out as a pixie and is now a fairy.”
Paige, who was able to serve her mother tea, said dancing around the garden was the most fun.
“I like all the people here supporting us,” she said.
Although the event was attended mostly by women and girls, one man braved the tea party to spend time with his family.
“I think I’m the only one here,” said Adrian Hampton of Greenfield. “They told me I had to come here or I wouldn’t get fed tonight.”
Despite the good-natured threat, Hampton said, he had a good time.
Greenfield resident Frances Riddle dressed up and brought her granddaughter to the event.
“I love it,” Riddle said. “I just like the idea of having something special to do with my granddaughter.”
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For more information on the Dance East Ballet Academy or to make a donation, visit danceeastballet.com
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