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Julia Williams
Editor-in-Chief
A line snaked inside Kansas City Museum’s Charles and Anna Milbank Library Thursday, Dec. 12 as children and their families anxiously awaited to meet one of this year’s Fairy Princesses.
Fairy Princess — a tradition of a selected individual dressing in princess attire for children to share their holiday wishes, in a majorly similar Santa Claus fashion — began in 1935 at Kline’s Department Store, which was formerly located on Main Street, Downtown Kansas City.
This new holiday folklore was sparked to introduce and promote the Store’s Toyland section, according to the Kansas City Museum’s (KCM) website. However, families in attendance Thursday discussed how it was additionally the Kline’s Jewish background, which led them to the Fairy Princess concept.
When Kline’s officially closed its doors in the 1970s, it left Kansas City nearly two decades without a Fairy Princess. However, in 1987, KCM decided to continue this tradition at its location, 3218 Gladstone Blvd.
“People were lined-up around the block,” said Denise Morrison, Museum director of collections and curatorial affairs. “It wasn’t meant to go on year-after-year, but it did.”
Now, KCM is in its 37th year of granting holiday wishes to children and families across the Northeast Community and Kansas City Metro through its rendition of Fairy Princess.
“It’s very generational,” Morrison said, Thursday. “Grandparents bring their grandkids — wanting them to have that experience [they had].”
Rachel Kline, a mom who attended the Kansas City Museum’s Fairy Princess event this year — of the same last name as Kline’s Department Store — claimed she and the store have no relation.
This was her family’s first time visiting the Fairy Princess, as last year she said she felt her daughter was too young to participate.
“I grew up in Kansas City but never came [myself],” Kline said in an interview, Thursday. “We thought this would be fun.”
Thursday, Dec. 12 — the first day families could attend this event, which continued throughout the weekend — mothers and grandmothers brought their children dressed in their holiday’s best to meet Olivia Pikul — one of this year’s Fairy Princesses — and share their holiday wishes.
This ticketed event allows a one-on-one private meet and greet with the Fairy Princess — including a professional photograph, which is developed on-site for participants to take home the day of their visit.
This Fairy Princess additionally had a treasure chest, which attendees could look inside and choose an item from — including novelties from tiaras to magic wands.
Pikul said this marked her fourth year as a KCM Fairy Princess.
“I just love that it kicks off the Holiday season,” she said in an interview, Thursday. “It’s really cool to be a part of spreading Holiday magic.”
Pikul shared that there are several Fairy Princesses who work shifts throughout the weekend. In fact, every shift comes with a new princess.
With a range of Fairy Princesses, which participate in this event each year, Museum Deputy Director Paul Gutierrez said there are a slew of factors considered when selecting each candidate.
He said diversity is a major component each year in the selection process — ensuring to have a wide range and variety of princesses from different backgrounds. Interested applicants are additionally required to submit a resume for approval, prior to selection. He said a majority of individuals have previously volunteered with the Museum for years or came to visit the Fairy Princess themselves growing up.
“It’s really important [the Fairy Princesses] are diverse and mindful; If it wasn’t for them, we couldn’t do this,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said the Museum partners with Tulle and Dye Shoppe — a formal wear store located in Zona Rosa — to have the dresses fitted each year, expressing his gratitude toward the company for its handling of logistics throughout the process.
Daisy Garcia Montoya
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