"There are other fairy festivals in the United States that focus on costuming and merriment, but none of them have the strong educational component of the Fairy Congress."

Surely the 9th Annual Fairy & Human Relations Congress involved plenty of learning -- learning about fairies! -- but this wasn't some dull book-learning seminar. Judging by this amazing video, the Fairy Congress featured attractions such as:

• Twirling, lots and lots of twirling.
• People wearing wings while running through a field and screaming
• An expert on orbs
• Some lute-playing guy who shows up everywhere

Unfortunately, the 9th Annual Fairy & Human Relations Congress had already ended by the time I received the hot tip about its existence. But mark your calendars for next year's extravaganza: June 25-27, 2010. The site's galleries should provide plenty of motivation to pre-register. If you don't believe in fairies, you will after seeing these photos!

- Andrew "Garbage Day" Miller (@DarbageGay)