FAQ

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Explaining the Baltimore FÆrie Faire

What is the Baltimore FÆrie Faire?

Baltimore Faerie Faire (BFF) started as a one day festival in 2015, in an old stone church in Remington. Every year since (minus a plague year) we have a daytime faire for our faery family, and we also throw elegant dance balls with live music. This is all created by volunteers.

Do I come in costume?

We would love to see your costume, but it is not obligatory! (You may have an excellent human disguise to show off!)

You will see so many costumes, from all types of realms. Many vendors sell things that may help you build or improve your costume. There is usually a Costume Contest or Parade!

Almost everyone dresses up for the nighttime balls. We suggest you dress as you please.

Are there other (competing?) Fairy/FÆrie/FÆ Events?

We don't compete, we collaborate! We keep a list of (mostly mid-Atlantic) Faerie events here: Faery Events

Are you a non-profit?

We have not completed the paperwork to become a Formal NonProfit, but we are largely run by volunteers. We donate any profits to nonprofits such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Blue Water Baltimore, and the Trevor Project.

Who is Nina?

Nina, pronounced Nine-ah, is the Event Impressario.

How do you spell FÆry?

We spell it Faery most of the time. It's F + whatever vowels you have in your heart, perhaps an R in there. We are accepting of various spellings, as well as various creatures.

Tickets

Help me sort through the ticket options!

First, decide what you wish to experience.

Daytime tickets let you attend workshops (some have additional fees) and presentations, shop our vendors (all handmade goods!), and generally experience the vibe. (Right now, only 3-day Daytime tickets are available. Single Day tickets will become available closer to the event date.)
Tickets to the BALLS grant you access to the night time dances with live music. Each Ball has 3 different bands and a different theme.
There are also add-on experiences such as Tea Parties, and VIP tickets gives you access to the Royal Balcony, and early access to the hors d'oeuvres at night.

Obviously your best value is "All weekend," which includes all 3 days and both Balls.

If someone in your party is 12 or under, children can get a free daypass (and reduced-price VIP access) for each day. Adult supervision is still required. If you wish to bring your child to the ball, it will take a full priced ticket.

Tea Parties, Meet the Hogfather, and the Drag Brunch are add-on experiences, which include food. VIP does not include access to the Drag Brunch, but it does include access to a Tea Party, the Hogfather, and at least one exclusive crafting experience!

Do I need to buy a ticket?

Yes, Wristbands (or badges) will be checked at the doors into activities, such as the children's room, the ballroom, the workshops. All participants MUST wear wristbands during the event. If you lose your wristband, please go to registration to check in again for a new one. People will be turned away from event rooms without a valid wristband. Children 12 and under get in free with their adults, but will be given a wristband.

What about the workshops?

Whether you have a full weekend membership or a day pass, you may go to the workshops/panels/presentations.

Most workshops are free, but some make-and-takes require a materials fee. Others do not require a fee, but prefer people sign up to help the presenters prepare. See the Programming page for details.

Can I buy a ticket at the door?

If there are tickets left, yes. They will cost more. You can scan the QR code to buy the tickets ONLINE while at the door. Our HOTEL BLOCK however, is only valid for our discount until October 13. Get your hotel room BEFORE October 13 at this link: Lord Baltimore Hotel FaeryCon rates. The Monaco Hotel is attached to the Lord Baltimore Hotel and can be used for pverflow: Here is the group booking link: FaeryCon 2026 Group Booking Link

Kids & Children

Are there activities for kids?

Yes, during the day! Children are admitted FREE of charge until 5pm, with lots of activities for them! They enjoy the Faerie Market, arts and crafts, story times, live music and dance, costumed characters... including Mermaids. Make sure they visit the Ogre Trading Post!

Can kids come to the Balls?

The Balls? They aren't designed for kids. Please be advised that alcohol is sometimes served at the Faerie Balls, and children’s tickets cost the same as adults'. Consider a babysitter for that part, unless your kid loves a dress up dance with grown-ups and you are dedicated to monitoring their behavior at the epic, amazing Fantasy Ball.

I'm asking about KIDS, not children!

Oh, Baby Goats are welcome everywhere! Always! Just beware the Trolls.

Hotel & Venue

How do I get the fairy rate?

Get your hotel room BEFORE October 13 at this link: Lord Baltimore Hotel FaeryCon rates. Overflow Hotel is the Monaco: Here is the overflow group booking link: FaeryCon 2026 Group Booking Link

How accessible is the venue?

The Lord Baltimore Hotel has Accessible Queen and King rooms for those who use wheelchairs. We tryto make sure everything is accessible to all no matter the disability or need. We want everyone to be able to attend and enjoy! There are no "just 2 steps up" to access any of the convention space. Everything during the event is within the hotel.

Feel free to ask anyone with a staff/volunteer badge to pull a table or chair out of the way, or to bring you a chair as needed. Everyone understands these human bodies often require accessories to assist with vision, hearing, and mobility: do not feel they hurt your costume in any way!

What is the food situation?

The Lord Baltimore has the LB Tavern and the LB Bistro and Bakery. Service is slow at the Tavern. You can walk to a Dunkin and a few restaraunts, as you are downtown.

Hotel rooms have a small fridge and microwave

We do not have a "con suite" with snacks and sodas, as many small science fiction cons do, due to the hotel's regulations.

This is a Google Map Showing Close Restaurants.

Is the hotel haunted?

According to this history, yup!

And Ghost Tours will be available. (Poe's Magic Theater is not part of FaeryCon, and we don't handle tickets for its shows or history/ghost tours.)

Policies

What is the code of conduct / harassment policy?

Be respectful of one another and to our hosts at the hotel.
A Costume is not Consent. Please keep your hands to yourself.
Do not punch the Ogre or Kiss the Pixie.
Please don't drink too much or pressure others to drink.
We are guests here and need to treat those who are taking care of us and those we are sharing space with kindness and care.
Please report problems to our security team or the registration desk, who can find security.
Behavior that is considered to be harmful, harassing, or in any way damaging can result in being removed without a refund and possibly being banned from attending in the future.

Can I take photos?

We are photo friendly. Please DO offer to share pictures with FaeryCon! We do also have an official photographer: Bidlack Photography whose mostly candid pictures of our events can be seen here: https://bidlackphotography.pixieset.com/

Attendees should be aware that many creatures will be videotaping or photographing other creatures, and the press might be there too.

Attendees are responsible for notifying that photographer if they do not wish to be included in images, or just get out of the way. We realize this is very different from the photo policies at some conventions.

“Don’t take pictures of me” should be respected, and if a photographer does not stop, please report this to one of the staff immediately.

Kings, Queens, Court, Coronations?

Can you give me a quick overview?

The Reigning Fae Monarchs of the Summer months (The Seelie Court) are crowned at the Spring Faerie Ball. The Reigning Fae Monarch of Winter is crowned in November.

At most events, the current Monarch(s) hold Court where Gifts are exchanged with the populace and Royalty. Many "gifts" from the populace are in the form of dance and song, so Court becomes an interactive variety show. Important business like the deeding of lands and titles may occur, and the occasional Knighting.

We like to Shout "For the Fae!" three times when we get excited. Come see the Coronation of the new Unseelie Queen on Nov 13! They will rule over the Baltimore Fae until their last Court, in Spring, after which they step down for the Seelie Court to take over.

So not really ROYAL royalty?

Royal titles are appointed by Nina, our Event Empress, and are not hereditary. They are super duper really royal. Also, Baltimore City is still also ruled by a Mayor, Baltimore County by an Executive.

So Seelie/Unseelie? Is that like Good/Evil, Light/Dark?

It's a little more complicated. Both sides can be ambivalent towards humans. The Seelie Wikipedia entry gives a little more background, including that the terms seem to be from Welsh or Scottish origin. There are so many varying classifications of fairies and other magical peoples based on many different mythologies. There is often a Fairy Embassy at some faerie events with information about the ones from different countries. For now, start your wiki-dive here: List of beings referred to as fairies. Another great place to learn about how faeries appear in stories is at this Tropes link.

But yes, for the website, Seelie Mode is the light background, and Unseelie Mode is the dark background.

The Balls

Is the Fairy Scary Ball (Saturday) scary?

Naw, only to climate-change-denying fascists and TERFs. Well, they are scary to us, so it’s a fair turnaround.

Many People do dress to impress, and it being the darker half of the year, some characters will look quite scary, but we don’t support rotten behavior. Prepare to dance and dance! It is a more adult part of the night and the children will be few.

VIPS enter first, get first dibs at the appetizers, and can look down on the Ball from the Royal Balcony. Three bands: The Dust Bowl Faeries, Brinjal Faerie Band, and Kindred Crow. In between bands, there will be other entertainments.

What should I expect at the Coronation and the BridgerTROLL Ball (Friday)?

The Coronation of the new Faerie Queen happens Friday night! VIPS enter first, and visit the appetizer buffet, and then we take seats for the Coronation. Many gifts are offered in the form of dance, song, and feats of strength. Important business, like the occasional knighting, will occur.

Friday night at the Ball, we honor fancy outfits and trolls, big hair and bridges. Think “Bridgerton Ball” but with trolls. Any costumery is welcome, you do NOT have to be on theme. VIPS can look down on the Ball from the Royal Balcony. The bands are: Tower Green, Clipper City Crew Band and A Halo Called Fred. In between bands, there will be other entertainments.

The next Summer month monarch(s) will be crowned on April 3rd at the Annual Spring Fairy Ball (The Seelie Court).

More Lore

Will the fÆries steal my children?

No, not allowed to at this event, smart of you to ask. Parents should tell their children to come to registration if they are lost. Parents should also take a picture of their child when they arrive so staff can see what the child is wearing that day and make it easier for them to help them get found. Children are admitted free with their paying adult.

Will the fÆries steal my name?

Faeries MIGHT steal your name. If a Faerie asks for your name, it is best to say. "I am called (your name)," so as not to transfer ownership of your name to the Fae.

Who is the Hogfather?

In Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, he is the star of one of the novels. SpaaacePixie strongly recommends reading it, but you can find a useful summary at this fandom link. (That link also has useful annotations and explanations of references that were perhaps more clear in the UK in the 1990s It was also made into a surprisingly excellent tv-movie, available on some streaming services.

Are there core books I'm expected to have read or movies to have seen?

Nope! There are works many of us have read or watched, but there's no syllabus. We also support both rereading your favorites AND branching out and trying new authors! Libraries are magic. So are the authors who will appear live at FaeryCon!

What is a "CelebrifÆ?"

These are creatures who commonly appear at our events in the same guise, often (but not always) offering a service, thus accumulating some lore. Here are a few of them:

The Ogre: Often runs a trading post.
Dictionaria: will give you a special word.
Baltimore Krampus: punishes the naughty, collects toys for children.
SeaLeigh: a very friendly mermaid, who may ask you to walk The Plank.
That Orc Guy: He is just incredible. If we are lucky he might sing a song at Faerie Court, or joust with the Ogre.
Soolah Hoops: a faerie queen in her own right, this pixie shares hooping fun!
Puddingtoe III, a Goblin - find her in the kids area when she is not doing one of her presentations.
King Jack Skattersum and Queen Cat le Fay: once and future royalty, time travelers from the Jackalope Clan.

According to SpaaacePixie, who knows about these things, "everyone here is a star!"

Will the Ogre eat me if I don't have anything to trade?

He is happy to accept intangibles, such as a song, a dance, or a math fact!

Page last updated by SpaaacePixie, Sept 14, 2026