WORTH TWP — Do you believe in a little magic? If so, celebrate the magical little ones at the Western Pennsylvania Fairie Festival, which makes its debut June 10 and 11 at Cooper's Lake.

Linda Varos of Springdale, executive director of the festival, said her idea for a fairy gathering caught on quickly.

"My initial plan was to have a small, regional festival," Varos said. "I sent a flyer to my friend in England, who also has the largest fairy site on the Web, just to show him what Iwas doing. Next thing I know, it's in Fairy Magazine."

Varos, who is an artist, said she came up with the idea after she started creating fairy illustrations in 2000. With the help of a few friends and volunteers, she made the idea of a festival a reality.

"I was doing arts promotion in Erie, so festivals get in your blood," she said. "The idea (for the fairy festival) just popped into my head."

The Cooper's Lake event will be full of fairy-oriented fun, including the crowning of the 2006 Fairie Queen, Candice Night of the musical group Blackmore's Night.

"That was accidental," Varos said. "I called her agent and asked if she'd like to be the fairie queen. He said she'd be thrilled.

"Now she's been made queen of two other festivals. I guess we started something," Varos said.

The fairy gathering is a family event, so there will be plenty of activities for youths. Headlining the children's events is an interactive stage production, "Dragon Scales and Faerie Tales," and a traveling puppet show, "The Enchanted Wagon," both by performer Animal X.

"These are activities for the whole family," Varos said, "but next year we hope to have a more specific kid's area."

Other activities will include chair massages from the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy, a tai chi program, card readers, a guided morning meditation and a wandering astrologer.

Four fairy artists, including Varos, will do print signing.

Vendors with such items as fairy wings, wands and crowns, metal sculptures, leatherwork, stained glass, clothing and books will be there.

Event-goers are encouraged to join in the fun by dressing in their finest fairy or Renaissance festival gear.

"Life is too serious," Varos said. "I think as adults, we need to let our inner child out ... That's part of the appeal of fairies."