This summer, magical fairies will return to Orlando’s 50-acre botanical oasis, reviving a tradition that has enchanted visitors of all ages.
Lew Gardens will host the Fairy Doors for the seventh time from June 8 to September. 7, inspires summer visits to outdoor spaces where visitors can embark on a magical journey.
The exhibit was first conceived by Tracy Misiche, the garden’s events and marketing director, in 2018 after her then 14-year-old daughter had an interest in fairies.
“My daughter has loved fairies since she was little. She was very interested in the magical world of fairytales,” Miche said. “I came up with the idea of making fairy doors and doing a little treasure hunt in the garden.”
Each fairy has a story, a job, a favorite flower, and a name derived from folklore and cultures from around the world. This year, all the doors have a plant theme.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
The door belongs to the butterfly fairy Elida. At the Fairy Door Exhibition at Lew Gardens in 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
“There’s a moon fairy and a sun fairy, but the door is a plant,” Mitsche said, referring to the bonsai-themed door. “That’s going to be a great element this time. It’s a little different than before.”
The doors will be made by Orlando City Clerk Colin Worley and then sent to local artists to be painted and decorated.
This magical exhibition aims to inspire a deeper relationship with the garden.
“This helps you walk around the garden and sometimes places you’ve never been before,” says Missiche. “People still come back. It doesn’t matter what age they are. People who grew up in this exhibition are now coming back as adults. I think that’s the best part about this exhibition. It reaches all age groups.”
The most rewarding part of organizing this special showcase is hearing the celebratory cheers throughout the 50-acre space.
“You can hear people shouting that they’ve found a fairy door. When you’re in the garden, you can hear people saying, ‘Wow!'” Misice said. “There are high fives and a smile on their faces knowing we created an amazing and memorable experience.”
For more information, visit leugardens.org.
Find @PConnPie on Instagram or email pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date on travel, arts and events by subscribing to our newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
2026 Foodie Award Winners List Revealed — See Who Wins
