Fantasy comes to life in South Frontenac woodland art show
Fantasy in the Forest Art Show celebrates three decades of enchanted creativity in a South Frontenac woodland.
Organized by Jamie Brick, the outdoor festival began as a modest gathering of six artist friends and has grown into a 31‑year‑old tradition featuring over 80 booths of sculpture, pottery, woodworking and handmade instruments. Set on an historic apple orchard turned forest clearing, the event invites both creators and visitors to dress in costume, turning the woods into a living fairy tale.
Highlights this year included Darryl Kicul’s whimsical cotton‑wood bark carvings that echo medieval towers, Jayne Ayre’s glow‑in‑the‑dark clay castles and “Grumpy Lumps,” and Ray Vincent’s nature‑inspired ukuleles that earned recent magazine recognition. Each maker blends found materials with imagination, reinforcing the show’s ethos of up‑cycling and mythic storytelling.
Beyond the market, the festival feels like a close‑knit family. Artists know one another, share jokes, and celebrate the communal wonder of walking among towering trees while costumed visitors compete for prizes. The atmosphere is described by attendees as magical, a rare blend of craft, performance and woodland charm.
As the event looks ahead, demand continues to outpace space, with hundreds of applications for fewer spots. Yet the enduring enthusiasm of both makers and audiences suggests that Fantasy in the Forest will remain a beloved fixture of eastern Ontario’s arts scene for years to come.