Don't forget to use the hashtag #Fairyland, tag our location and find us on Facebook (Children's Fairyland), Twitter (@fairylandca) and Instagram (@fairylandca) so we can see your photos around the park!
Children’s Fairyland is America’s first storybook theme park. Ever since we opened in 1950, we’ve been a magical place for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
FAIRYLAND 2015: A YEAR IN REVIEW
From Rileyland to celebrating our BIG 65, 2015 was another great year for Children's Fairyland. What made the year so great was seeing how you enjoyed the park. Whether it was one of our adult events, Member Day, Sleepovers, Birthday parties or just a regular fun day at the park, we love seeing the photos that you all share with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook over the past year. We are amazed by the beauty, happiness and fun you are able to capture in just one picture. These are just some of the best photos of 2015.
Don't forget to use the hashtag #Fairyland, tag our location and find us on Facebook (Children's Fairyland), Twitter (@fairylandca) and Instagram (@fairylandca) so we can see your photos around the park!
Don't forget to use the hashtag #Fairyland, tag our location and find us on Facebook (Children's Fairyland), Twitter (@fairylandca) and Instagram (@fairylandca) so we can see your photos around the park!
Saturday, January 2, 2016
SAVING STORYLAND
Although
Children’s Fairyland was the nation’s first storybook theme park, many others
followed. In the 1950s, the world was no longer at war, and families were
growing and looking for sweet places to spend time together. Disneyland, which
opened five years after Fairyland, was certainly the biggest such park, but dozens
of other smaller parks opened around the country, many of them inspired by
Fairyland.
One
of them was Fresno’s Storyland, which has recently been re-imagined after a sad
decline.Storyland,
which originally opened in 1962, closed earlier this year because of financial
difficulties. It reopened in September thanks to a dedicated group of people who
raised half a million dollars from the community.
Bruce
Batti, who heads an ad agency in Fresno, led the charge. He brought his sons –
now in their twenties – to the park years ago, and had fond memories of a place
devoid of electronics and commercialism, a place that inspired make-believe and
love of learning.
I
was surprised when Bruce told me a vocal minority had objected to the park’s
reopening.
“They said that the park wasn’t relevant, that their kids don’t know
the stories we’re telling,” Bruce said.
His
response: “Come to the park with a 3-year-old, and watch as they’re greeted by
a storybook character. Irrelevance is not a word that’s in their vocabulary.”
Bruce
firmly believes that certain things are timeless, and that one of those things
is family members interacting with each other in a whimsical way.
I
know I’m biased, but I have to agree.
The
path to Storyland’s reopening was not easy. Bruce’s agency pretty much adopted
the project, assigning copywriters, designers and event producers to the
project. Bruce himself devoted over 20 hours in some weeks toward bringing the
park back and creating a solid plan for sustainability.
It
worked. Contributions began arriving, from small individual gifts to a $25,000
donation from Fresno natives Brook and Robin Lopez, twins and professional
basketball players, who had loved visiting the park when they were young.
The
Fresno Zoo is adjacent to Storyland, and Bruce says an alliance between the two
attractions could be mutually beneficial. Storyland’s new board includes the zoo’s
CEO and board chair, as well as a former county supervisor, a financial expert,
the general manager of the local Univision channel and an attorney.
Bruce
knows that they have to prove they can be viable over the long term. But recent
press coverage is helping the cause – as are facility improvements that include
the repair of the park’s popular train, Americans with Disabilities Act
upgrades, new landscaping, a new sound system, upgraded security and a new coat
of paint. New park attractions are planned, including a recreation of our very
popular Jack and Jill Hill – a big hill covered in Astroturf. (We’re also proud
that Storyland recreated our Happy Dragon, and installed Storybook Boxes –
operated by Magic Keys, of course – inspired by Fairyland’s.)
Storyland’s
reopening was a resounding success, and the park is currently breaking even.
Bruce and his team acknowledge that much still needs to be done for it to
survive and thrive.
“We’re hell-bent on not spending more than we take in,”
says Bruce, who worked in the park’s ticket office for four days so he could get
feedback from patrons.
Some
months ago, Bruce visited me at Fairyland for a tour and brainstorming. I was
impressed with his energy and commitment to his community’s littlest kids. If
it takes a village to raise a child, it also helps to have a Fairy Godfather on
the job.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television
industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the
California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of
Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J.
writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves
to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film
and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
FAIRY WINTERLAND: YOUR BEST PHOTOS
One of the things we love to do here at Fairyland is to see and listen to your memories. We rounded up the best of your photos from Fairy Winterland. Thanks for sharing and we hope to see you in the park soon!
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
A LETTER TO YOU
Dear Fairyland Friends,
At this time of the year our thoughts naturally turn to family, friends, and gratitude. And so I’m writing to you, friends of the Fairyland family for whom we are very grateful—to ask you to make a year-end donation to Children’s Fairyland.
For thirteen years I have had the privilege of leading this one-of-a kind community resource. It warms my heart to see the extent to which Fairyland remains a beloved treasure for so many. It was especially evident during the celebration of our 65th birthday, when families across generations shared their connection to Fairyland with stories, photos, and gifts.
It’s evident every day Fairyland is open and enjoyed by children and families of all backgrounds. We are stronger today because of the dedication of donors, members, staff, board, and partners. As stewards of Fairyland we can all take pride in the joy we give. It’s a sentiment beautifully expressed by the leader of Brighter Beginning’s parent and baby program:
We can celebrate what we’ve accomplished with your support. Last fiscal year we served:
• 212,065 park visitors, including...
o 16,069 free or subsidized admissions, including...
We can celebrate the “rocks and gems” installed in the Jolly Trolly Tunnel, the restoration of our Carousel, a new barn for our dwarf dairy goats, and the constant and ongoing upgrades our staff and volunteers undertake to keep the magic of Fairyland alive: the gardens, the sets and rides, the new mural in the Japanese Tea Garden, the Happy Dragon’s roving eyes.
We can celebrate innovative partnerships, the expansion of our educational programs, the commitment to affordability, and the 100 families who received free memberships this year. We can celebrate Fairyland’s contribution to early literacy and school readiness, so important for the lifelong success of our youngest kids.
And we can celebrate the opportunity to do more. Join me, please! All contributions will be gratefully received.
Here’s how we can put your donation to good use:
$ 123 helps provide a free Fairyland membership for a family with limited means
$ 260 helps fund one summer camp scholarship
$ 495 helps pay for chartered bus transportation to Fairyland for 80 children and chaperones
$1,250 helps our 24 year-old alpaca receive care at UC Davis when needed
$5,000 helps produce a professional dance performance for 450 OUSD 2nd graders
Your gift is the key that unlocks the magic of Fairyland now and for generations.
Thank you for choosing Fairyland for your charitable support!
Sincerely,
C.J. Hirschfield
Executive Director
P.S. Do you have someone on your gift list who “has it all”? Consider a gift to Fairyland in that person’s name. We’ll send a holiday card acknowledging your donation in their honor.
P.P.S. You can submit your donation in the enclosed envelope or online at www.fairyland.org
At this time of the year our thoughts naturally turn to family, friends, and gratitude. And so I’m writing to you, friends of the Fairyland family for whom we are very grateful—to ask you to make a year-end donation to Children’s Fairyland.
For thirteen years I have had the privilege of leading this one-of-a kind community resource. It warms my heart to see the extent to which Fairyland remains a beloved treasure for so many. It was especially evident during the celebration of our 65th birthday, when families across generations shared their connection to Fairyland with stories, photos, and gifts.
It’s evident every day Fairyland is open and enjoyed by children and families of all backgrounds. We are stronger today because of the dedication of donors, members, staff, board, and partners. As stewards of Fairyland we can all take pride in the joy we give. It’s a sentiment beautifully expressed by the leader of Brighter Beginning’s parent and baby program:
“We would like to thank you for giving our clients a memorable experience. Our clients have gone through many hardships in their lives and visiting such a happy place with their children has given them a sense of hope and optimism. Thanks for putting a smile on their faces.”
We can celebrate what we’ve accomplished with your support. Last fiscal year we served:
• 212,065 park visitors, including...
o 16,069 free or subsidized admissions, including...
- 2,071 guests for 2014 Oakland Head Start day, and an additional
- 1,789 attendees for the local relaunch of the Clinton Foundation’s Talk Read Sing campaign.
We can celebrate the “rocks and gems” installed in the Jolly Trolly Tunnel, the restoration of our Carousel, a new barn for our dwarf dairy goats, and the constant and ongoing upgrades our staff and volunteers undertake to keep the magic of Fairyland alive: the gardens, the sets and rides, the new mural in the Japanese Tea Garden, the Happy Dragon’s roving eyes.
We can celebrate innovative partnerships, the expansion of our educational programs, the commitment to affordability, and the 100 families who received free memberships this year. We can celebrate Fairyland’s contribution to early literacy and school readiness, so important for the lifelong success of our youngest kids.
And we can celebrate the opportunity to do more. Join me, please! All contributions will be gratefully received.
Here’s how we can put your donation to good use:
$ 123 helps provide a free Fairyland membership for a family with limited means
$ 260 helps fund one summer camp scholarship
$ 495 helps pay for chartered bus transportation to Fairyland for 80 children and chaperones
$1,250 helps our 24 year-old alpaca receive care at UC Davis when needed
$5,000 helps produce a professional dance performance for 450 OUSD 2nd graders
Your gift is the key that unlocks the magic of Fairyland now and for generations.
Thank you for choosing Fairyland for your charitable support!
Sincerely,
C.J. Hirschfield
Executive Director
P.S. Do you have someone on your gift list who “has it all”? Consider a gift to Fairyland in that person’s name. We’ll send a holiday card acknowledging your donation in their honor.
P.P.S. You can submit your donation in the enclosed envelope or online at www.fairyland.org
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
ALL HAIL THE PUPPET!
Last
week, a great injustice was set right. After 17 years, the National Toy Hall of
Fame in Rochester, NY, finally inducted ... the puppet.
The
two other inductees this year were the game Twister and the water-blasting Super
Soaker. Brand-name finalists that didn’t make the cut included American Girl
Dolls, Battleship, Jenga, PLAYMOBIL, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Wiffle
Ball; generic toys that were passed over included the coloring book, the
scooter and the top.
As
Children’s Fairyland prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of
our historic puppet theater—the longest running in the nation—we couldn’t be
happier that puppets were finally honored. But we are scratching our heads as
to why this recognition took so long.
Puppets
have been used for thousands of years and in nearly every culture. From the
telling of folktales to the performance of religious morality plays, from
political satire to vaudeville, puppets made of every type of material have
been ubiquitous. More recently, and closer to home, a teenage Frank Oz was an
apprentice in Fairyland’s puppet theater; his later work with the Muppets and
as Yoda in the “Star Wars” movies helped catapult puppetry to popular culture
on television, in movies and on the stage.
At Fairyland
we have seen firsthand the magical effect puppets have on kids, both as
performing objects and as toys of individual children. Our puppet shows
captivate even the youngest audience members; they’re fascinated by the figures
that are at both real and not real. In kids’ own hands, puppets allow children to
create imaginary voices, plots and purpose.
To me, the
best thing about hand puppets for kids is that the play is open-ended: It helps
children develop coordination and manual dexterity, and the puppets become
snuggly friends as well.
We’re so
lucky to have the makers of the most innovative and engaging specialty puppets in the world
right next door, in Emeryville. Since 1976, Folkmanis’s nature-themed puppets
have won nearly every child-development, kid-tested and industry award. Right
now, in our gift store, we carry the Folkmanis octopus, a little eagle, a baby
sea otter, a zebra, a little porcupine, a honeybee and a screech owl.
Fairyland’s master puppeteer, Randal Metz, has observed the
power of puppets over his 46-year stint at our park. Randal once saw a young
girl who’d been terrified by dogs lose her fear after spending time with one of
our friendly dog puppets. Last month, another girl wanted to come backstage to
see, up close, a puppet that represented death. She and her father talked
quietly about what death means. We’ve also seen many examples of autistic kids
who are inspired by puppets to become more verbal.
Of course Randal is pleased about the puppet’s belated induction
into the Toy Hall of Fame. “They’re toys—but come to life,” he says. There was
only one time Randal adamantly refused to bring puppets to life: when a company
wanted to hire him to do a special puppet show to be recorded and shown to
employees who were being fired. Apparently there are a few places puppets
shouldn’t go.
To
see the complete list of Toy Hall of Fame inductees, including Fairyland
favorites bubbles, blanket, stick, ball and cardboard box, go to www.toyhalloffame.org/toys.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry.
C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions
and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the
Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column
for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty
of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from
Stanford University.
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