Ayriat Stutsy, left, 12, listens while Wesley Stewart, founder of Festival of the Fae, gives pointers Saturday at his axe-throwing booth during the event on Luxilin Drive in Columbus. Aundrea Stusty, Ayriat’s aunt, said they traveled from Ponotoc to attend the Renaissance fair primarily for the axe-throwing event, but they had a great time seeing the rest of the festival’s offerings Saturday, including more than 110 vendors. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Ryan Weydeveld, a fire dancer at the festival, performs to a crowd of more than 30 on Saturday in front of the main stage at the Festival of the Fae. Weydeveld performed dances for nearly an hour with flaming items, including deer antlers and fire poi just before nightfall to close the festival’s first day. “I really just love playing with the fire,” Wyedeveld said. “To me it’s therapeutic just being around the flames, and it’s just peaceful to me.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Aelithen Grandmeadow (Allison Grantham), left, speaks with Adeline Buxton, who pets “Shadow” the dragon Saturday at the Festival of the Fae’s information booth. Grantham was offering a scavenger hunt quest for festivalgoers Saturday and Sunday for them to create their own souvenir dragon tooth necklace, she said. Grantham estimated that she had already sent between 50 to 100 adventures on the scavenger quest by Saturday afternoon. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Alanna Ellison, dressed as a moss fairy, poses centerstage with her prop dandelion Saturday during the craft costume contest. Ellison earned first place in the craft costume contest, which was the first of three contests. Ellison said the outfit took her two weeks to craft. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Koya Kazuireth (Fenn Flanders) left, performs while Hannah Caroll, center, and Donovan Bounds dance during one of Flanders’ improv dance sets at the festival’s main stage. Flanders, a senior biology student at Mississippi State University, said she spent two weeks creating her bird costume in preparation for her performances on the main stage. “This was actually my first ever costume that I’ve created myself,” Flanders said. “I’m really proud of it. It took about 60 hours.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Harley Alter, “bubbly fairy” for the Festival of the Fae, blows a stream of bubbles Saturday for shoppers near the vendor booths at the Renaissance fair. Alter said by Saturday afternoon she had already seen more than 100 children stop by to play with the bubbles at her station. “A lot of the adults have also really enjoyed popping the bubbles as they walk by (too),” Alter said. Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Courtney Blackwell, left, plays her double bass while Drew Blackwell, right, strums his guitar and sings Saturday during their set at the Festival of the Fae. The Honeyboy and Boots bandmates said the performance Saturday was the first time they had played the festival, adding that it was unlike any other venue or event they had played before. “I feel like I’ve been transported,” Courtney Blackwell said. “And I like that feeling of being in another world.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff

Kirk Nichols, owner and blacksmith of White Oak Forge, hammers indentations into a leaf hairclip Saturday at his forge on the Festival of the Fae fairgrounds. Nichols, who operates his forge out of Raleigh, typically makes it to about 15 festivals and events each year around the state to create necklaces, hairclips and bracelets during events. “I expect to make from start to finish normally 15 to 20 (items at an event),” Nichols said. “Normally early in the morning I do some quick turnaround projects and as the day goes on I do more extensive projects.” Braden Simmons/Dispatch Staff