Once upon a South Shore…
Come wander where the faerie folk live.
Tiny doors, mossy rooftops and chiming bells await along three free faerie-house trails in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Pack your wonder (and maybe a snack) and follow the faerie dust.
The trails wake up again in spring 2027 — come back when the ferns unfurl and the doors swing open.
How it all began
The faeries lost their homes — so the town built them new ones.
One fierce winter, the storms blew in off the bay and tumbled the faeries' tiny houses (roofs, doors, chimneys and all). The people of Mahone Bay couldn't bear it, so they gathered twigs and stones and sea shells and bits of kindness and rebuilt every last one.
The faeries were so charmed by such big-hearted neighbours that they decided to stay forever — and they've been peeking out from the ferns ever since.
Three little adventures
Which trail will you wander today?
Each path has its own faerie neighbourhood, its own secrets and its own pace. All three are free, family-friendly and waiting.
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Maggie Maggie River Trail Starts at 34 Clairmont Street, at the Aquatic Garden. A riverside wander past the River Keepers, the Faerie Dispatch and a whole neighbourhood of craft faeries. Wander this trail → -
The Secret Garden Trail Starts at 644 Main Street, beside Suttles & Seawinds. Slip through the Faerie Portal into a hidden secret garden, then on through Hemlock Grove and the gnomes’ domain. Wander this trail → -
The Merrymaking Trail Starts at 503 Main Street. Where the faeries come to rest, play and be merry — past the fairground, the spa and every faerie treat in town. Wander this trail →
A wander is also a hunt
How to spot a faerie
They’re quick and shy, but they leave clues everywhere. Tick these off as you go — how many can your family find?
- Listen for tinkling bells A soft chime with no wind to explain it is the surest sign faeries are near.
- Watch for a trail of faerie dust A shimmer that lingers in the air long after you blink.
- Check for tiny flickers of light Little glints among the leaves that dart away when you look straight at them.
- Watch for faerie circles A ring of mushrooms or stones is a doorstep. Step around it, never through.
- Listen for mysterious giggles A tiny laugh from somewhere in the ferns, just for you.
- Sense a gentle breeze in a still room When the air stirs and nothing else moves, a faerie has just flitted by.
- Look for butterflies Faeries love to travel with them — where one goes, the other may follow.
A little faerie know-how
Fun facts & faerie favourites
A few things worth knowing before you go — the sort of details that make a wander feel like being let in on a secret.
- A group of faeries is called a “Flutter”.
- Every time a bell chimes, a faerie gets their wings!
- There are five kinds of faerie: Fire, Earth, Water, Household and Boggarts (the most mischievous of all). Which one are you?
- Faeries cannot touch iron, cannot enter a home without being invited — and can never, ever tell a lie.
Your treasure map
The Faerie Trails Map
All three trails on one magical map. Print it out, tuck it in a pocket, and play a little Faerie I Spy along the way.
Faerie I Spy — can you find them all on the map?
- Two faeries, seven mushrooms and one bandstand
- Four churches and two sailboats
- Two tulips — what colour are they?
- A bridge and two daffodils
- One poppy — what colour is it?
- How many parking signs can you count? (There are three!)
For believers big and small
Join the Faerie Society
For just $7 a year, you become an official friend of the faeries — a gentle little club, beloved by children and grown-ups alike, that rewards kindness, curiosity and time spent outdoors.
- An official Faerie Society membership card with your name on it
- The faerie newsletter, full of tales, tips and tiny news
- An invitation to the Annual Faerie Tea Party
- Discounts on faerie-house workshops and crafty days
A wee, safe membership run by local volunteers — no screens, no fuss, just a yearly card, a newsletter and a reason to keep using your imagination.
Live from the trails
See today’s faerie sightings
Our little corner of the internet is full of doors, dust and delighted faces. Follow along — and when you visit, add yours.
Plan your day trip
Visit us in Mahone Bay
Mahone Bay is one of the most magical little harbour towns on the South Shore of Nova Scotia — three church steeples, a sparkling bay, kind shops and cafés, and faeries hiding all around. Three free trails wind through town, each with its own starting point. Make a day of it.
Travel like a faerie
- Stay on the paths and tread softly — faerie gardens are tender.
- Look with your eyes and gentle hands; please leave the houses where they live.
- Take your wrappers and treasures home with you (faeries tidy up after no one).
- Bring a little gift of kindness instead — a smile, a quiet voice, a careful step.
