By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

December 10, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Do you know someone who has a special holiday wish?

The Fairy Princess will be taking requests up at the Kansas City Museum (3218 Gladstone) this weekend and next, doing her best to make holiday dreams comes true.

While the Fairy Princess event was cut from three weekends to two this year, the Kansas City Museum has extended the event hours at the request of pior attendees. In addition to being open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, the museum will also open up for visits with the Fairy Princess from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 11, and during the same hours on Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18.

According to the Kansas City Museum’s web site, the Fairy Princess tradition originally began in 1935, when Kline’s Department Store (1113 Main) opened its ‘Toyland’ toy department. Children would meet the Fairy Princess to reveal their special holiday wishes, before the Fairy Princess would wave her magic wand to conjure a surprise gift. The annual tradition ended with the closing of Kline’s in 1970, but the museum revived it in 1987, and has regularly drawn large crowds to the Historic Northeast during the holidays for visits with the Fairy Princess.

Saturday, December 10 was no different, as a line significant line formed even before the event began. Families congregated at the museum for a special story time, a visit and photographs with the Fairy Princess, arts and crafts, and a holiday-themed movie. The annual event has turned into one of the museum’s premier showcases. Kansas City Museum Recreation Director Paul Gutierrez describes the atmosphere on Saturday morning as “magical.”

“At 9:30 a.m. people were standing outside in line, in the cold, which they didn’t complain about,” said Gutierrez. “As we build more traction and more awareness for what we’re doing at the museum, I think that’s good for us and good exposure for the Northeast.”

Storyteller Joyce Slater grew up in the Northeast and has been spinning yarns for years. Between stories on Saturday, she explained that her passion for the Northeast and the Kansas City Museum keeps her coming back for the annual event.

“I love the Northeast; I love being here,” said Slater. “They see a piece of history in this place.”