Malden Ushering In Fall With Fairy House Festival

This magical fall event has become a tradition throughout the last decade.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Sep 16, 2026 1:03 PM EDT

MALDEN, MA — The city revealed details of its annual Fairy House Festival ahead of its return this weekend.

The four-hour event is slated to begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Pine Banks Park, located at 1087 Main St. Attendees are encouraged to either pre-build a Fairy House and bring it to the event, or construct one during the event using the Builder's Workshop. However, only pre-built houses can be eligible to win the Fairy House Walk contest.

Fairy Houses are small structures designed for fairies and other imaginary visitors including hobbits, elves, gnomes and trolls. Residents are also invited to participate in arts and crafts, bring a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon at the park.

The festival is organized by former City Councillor Barbara Murphy along with the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation, Pine Banks Park, and the Malden Public Library. The annual tradition dates back more than a decade, with the city identifying the 2019 celebration as the fifth annual Fairy House Festival. Hundreds of people from Malden and surrounding communities attended that year's event, which also featured story time, music, face painting and other activities.

The festival has continued in the years since, with events also held in 2021, 2024 and 2025. Pine Banks Park, which borders Malden and Melrose, features wooded trails, picnic areas, a playground, athletic fields and other natural areas.

The Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation, one of the festival's organizers, has operated in Malden since 1927 and provides grants to local organizations and scholarships to students.

The Fairy House Festival will run until 4 p.m. Saturday. Those looking for more information can contact Murphy via email.