FERGUS – Julia Dilecce and Chris Zimmerman hope to bring delight and magic to the township with their Enchanted Forest of Fergus.
“We had a vision long ago to create a pretty, whimsical destination,” Dilecce said in an interview.
“In Fergus we found our perfect house in the perfect town. Now we want to bring some music and magic.”
The recently married couple is planning an Enchanted Forest behind the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex over two evenings, Sept. 23 and 24, from 6 to 10pm.
The big draw is the Toronto String Quartet, which will play for an hour each evening.
But the forest will also feature some of Zimmerman’s paintings – a collection of very large woodland characters, witches and other creatures that fit the theme.
They also plan to decorate the forest with lights and other forest features, transforming the space into a magical woodland scene.
The Outpost will be running a beer and wine garden and there will be vendors selling items at the Witchy and Mystical Vendors’ Market, Dilecce said.
There will also be a silent auction and proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington.
“We believe everyone should experience some magic,” Dilecce said.
“We have it as kids but lose it as adults. We want people to come, play, be curious, all while being safe.”
Dilecce said that because the spirit of the event is childlike and playful, they naturally thought of Big Brothers Big Sisters as the benefitting organization.
They hope it becomes an annual event but will gauge interest from this premiere event.
“We really want to expand into the forest,” she added.
“There could be a mermaid pad, unicorns, a mushroom area. That’s the long-term vision.”
And they hope attendees will get into the spirit and dress in their most “enchanting” costumes.
Tickets are $27.54 for adults, $22.23 for seniors, $16.93 for children aged three to 11, and children under three are free.
Tickets can be purchased through a link on their website, fergusenchantedforest.com.
Because of the location, bar and vendor purchases are cash only.
“We’re just two crazy people going all-in on an idea,” she said.
For more information, visit fergusenchantedforest.com.
