Fairyland for Grownups

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Oaklandish Presents: Fairyland for Grownups (21+) is back, and tickets are officially available for sale online now!

Get tickets today for the Oaklandish x Fairyland event everyone’s been waiting for.

Live Musical Performances and DJ sets | Moonlit Puppet Shows | Live Art Activations | Dance Floor | Food Trucks | Local Brews | Wine | Cocktails | and Costumes, of course!

Fairyland for Grownups is a rare supernova of a Friday night.

It’s time to let your young heart run free and frolic through the fields of Fairyland with other beautiful creatures of the night. #F4GU keeps getting bigger, better, bolder, and even more bewitching! 

And yes, it’s four hours again, and tickets include one free drink ticket. 21+ only, ID required for entry.

THE LINEUP

	DJ SHELLHEART From Warriors events to Valkyries parties, to Outside Lands, to SF Pride, your Fairyland for Grownups DJ is a Bay Area heavy hitter + crowd-pleasing curator of musical magic and immaculate vibes. DJ SHELLHEART is keeping the dance floor aflame all night long.
	Seiji Oda Your Oakland-raised headliner combines his love for lofi with his hyphy roots, creating a sound that is peaceful but still slaps. The alchemy of his lofi-hyphy sound ignites the stage this year. Pull up, hop out, and see what all the buzz is about.
	The Shirt This year marks Fairyland’s 75th Anniversary, and our limited-edition Oaklandish x Fairyland collab tee boasts a mid-century, nighttime illustration of Fairyland. We don’t play favorites, but this year’s joint is fire.

Fairyland for Grownups is a night of revelry, art, food, music, local love, face-melting fun, community, and partying in the most Oakland way possible. Folks in all their Oaklandish diversity and flair come out in droves all dressed up to fellowship at Fairyland and party with other (obviously cool) grownups.

And it’s all for a great cause! Proceeds from Fairyland for Grownups help ensure that kids and kids-at-heart experience the magic of play!
Bringing the whole crew cuz you’re not new to this? Amazing! Newbie going solo? Even better! This event is a hit every year, come find the magic with your name on it. Something special is waiting for you here.

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FAQ

Get your posse together because general admission tickets for the 13th annual #Fairyland4Grownups are on sale now! This year's benefit will take place on Friday, August 15th from 6-10 p.m. at Children's Fairyland! Yes, you read that right—Fairyland for Grownups will again be four hours instead of three!

During the day, adults who want to go to Children’s Fairyland must bring a kid (and vice versa). But on Friday, August 15th, that rule does not apply. On that night, Oaklandish and Fairyland are hosting a night of pure imagination—for grownups only!

Come and dance in the Merry meadow! Enjoy local brews, puppet shows, live art, and musical performances! One drink ticket is included with your admission (you can also purchase additional drink tickets at the event), and food will be available for purchase.

Please note: This benefit event is 21+ and you will need to show valid ID at the gate. 

Here are video recaps from 2022, 2016, 2013, and 2012!

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Children’s Fairyland in Oakland—the nation’s very first storybook theme park—is famous as a family attraction and for its community outreach, including scholarships for free or reduced-price Summer Day Camp, a free writing workshop for aspiring young authors, free field trips, and Fairyland for All that offers low-income families reduced-price admission and an easy pathway to membership.

And yet for many Oaklanders, Fairyland is shrouded in mystery. Most of the time, Fairyland is off-limits to adults unless they’re accompanying a kid. But on Friday, August 16th, #Fairyland4GrownUps will give adults (only) a chance to experience this Oakland icon, for a night of pure imagination!

Please note: This benefit event is 21+ and you will need to show valid ID at the gate.

You’ve probably got questions. We have answers!

When and where is this happening? Fairyland’s Fairy Gates will be wide open to grownups on Friday, August 16th, from 6 to 10 p.m. Look for the Big Shoe at 699 Bellevue Avenue in Oakland on the shores of Lake Merritt. Visit the Fairyland website for directions and parking info: fairyland.org/visit-us/directions

NO REFUNDS OR CANCELLATIONS. TICKETS ONCE PURCHASED ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

At this time, all tickets are available for purchase online pre-event only. If tickets remain as we get close r to the event date, we will let people know if day-of tickets will be available at the door.

We will start pre-screening folks at 5:30 p.m. so that we can open the Fairy Gates right at 6 pm for the full experience. Please have your ID and and QR Code (all QR codes are individual and cannot be shared) ready at pre-screen so we can keep things speedy! There will be a bag check and no glass containers or beverages of any kind are permitted. Leave unnecessary bags and bulky items at home!

Parking is first come, first available. Parking on Bellevue Avenue for $5 a vehicle. Rideshares like Uber or Lyft can drop-off at the BIG Fairyland sign on the corner of Grand and Bellevue.

What’s actually happening at the party? The dance party will be in the Merry meadow There will also be a live musical performance from local musicians, and other surprise attractions around the park. We’ll have beer, wine, and cocktails, and a bunch of the Bay's finest food vendors will be slinging snacks! The best part: you’ll be allowed to explore the entire park, from the Jolly Roger pirate ship to Alice in Wonderland card maze. The rides won’t be operating, though, because rides and adult bevvies don’t mix. (Caution: Grownups are too big to climb to the top of the pirate ship or slide down the Dragon Slide).

Which local food and drink vendors should I expect to see there? We will announce soon!

How much do tickets cost? Tickets are $35 each ($30 for Children's Fairyland members) and available only to adults 21+. Each event ticket includes one drink ticket. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase.

Ticket proceeds benefit Children’s Fairyland, helping keep admission fees low (or even free) for local kids. Fairyland has lots of amazing outreach programs: summer camp scholarships, free field trips for low-income kids, Fairyland for All program that helps underserved families get their first membership, and more. This party will help keep those programs running, so thanks for your support!

Do I need to bring anything? All you REALLY need to bring is your confirmation email/QR code (again, all QR codes are individual and cannot be shared) and ID, but we’d recommend carrying some extra cash for food and souvenirs! To activate the many Talking Storybook Boxes, be sure to buy a limited-edition Magic Key from one of the roving fairies. And since this is a kiddie park, please don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want a toddler picking up off the ground in the morning (for instance, cigarette butts, glass bottles, etc.).

I bought a ticket, and now I can’t go to the party. Can I give my spot to a friend? Sure! If you want to give your ticket to someone else, no problem. The confirmation email/QR code (all QR codes are individual and cannot be shared) and proof that the ticket-bearer is over 21 are all that is needed for entry. 

Do I need to wear a costume? Not at all. Fairyland accepts all dreamers, regardless of their attire. Lots of people do wear costumes, though. And come on… you know you’ll probably have more fun in a tutu.