Dressed in gauzy wings and floaty dresses shimmering with glitter and rhinestones, Black cosplayers gathered in a woodland clearing in central Georgia for a three-day celebration of fantasy and self-expression.
The ATL Black Fae Fest took place at the Mystic Woods glamping site in Warm Springs, about 70 miles (110 kilometres) south of Atlanta. Founder Janelle Newell said she was inspired by Black Fae Day, a global event held every May to celebrate Black cosplayers and fantasy enthusiasts.
Newell described a fae as a “mythical creature, and it could be anyone! Like an elf, a mermaid, a gnome, a fairy, a dragon.” She called the Georgia event “a collective experience created by a growing fae family and community,” where everyone contributes “art, music, fashion, performance, support, organisation, or simply good energy and love.”
Participants enjoyed a range of activities, including hip-hop opera, ax throwing, fire dancing, yoga, nature walks, storytelling, Dungeons and Dragons, a fashion show, sound healing and a fight demonstration. There was also food, clothing and makeup for sale.
First-time camper Anniiyah Judd described the experience as “magical.” She added: “The experience was comforting. It felt connecting, deep, and I could feel the energy and frequencies.”
