The direct to video princess tales are a dime a dozen. Producing role models out of these heroines, often overtly teaching values of integrity, goodness and end up singing songs where they always WANT something. These types of stories have been done to death. The princess is in love with someone below her royal status. The princess has to defeat the evil villain who wants the crown for him or herself. The princess wants to run away from home and be ‘free’. The damsel in distress. The chosen one. The one who has to kiss a TON of frogs before finding her one true prince charming. Plenty of adventure indeed but playing it safe. Sampling of story ideas of what came before and ultimately ending up just another archetypical follow your heart meh experience.
I do think it is impossible to not have one or two cliches when it comes to all things happily ever after. However, what type of fairy tale would you make if you had the chance?
Myself and Lexitron (my daughter) attended the Princess Festival last week here in Utah (this is our third year that we’ve done this). While the event has gotten bigger each year since our first undertaking back in 2009 they haven’t lost site of what makes this a truly special occasion. Your little princess will get to meet, play and interact with the likes of Aurora, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice and many others. The cast is almost always accessible for pictures, autographs and frolic. All of the personalities that we interacted with greeted the girls with the title of ‘Princess’ and then their name. What’s even more remarkable is that they have some of the same ‘actors’ from years pasts and even two of them REMEMBERED my daughters name, impressive. Part of the proceeds from the event are donated to a variety of charitable causes and there was enough magic, enchantment and activities that the four hours we were there flew by.
It even inspired Lexitron to write her own review:
The Princess Festival is fantastic. Why was it fantastic? In these next three paragraphs you will see why. I hope you enjoy it. It’s great, safe and appropriate for girls. It’s super fun and there is always stuff to do.
The activities are so fun. You can meet and play with the princesses. They’re are a bunch of characters maybe over thirty princesses. There are many shows you can go to. The Rumpelstiltskin show was funny and awesome. The twelve dancing princesses was fun too. You got to dance with them and the characters were all different. And there are carriage rides for four dollars.
I just had one problem. When I went there this year there were no pens but they had autograph books, but you have to buy them. You have to bring a pen if you want autographs. That was the only issue.
I had a great time. Your little girls will love it. It kind of reminded me of a mini Disneyland. Hope to see you next year.
-Dagobot
The Princess Festival runs through June 30th at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah.
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