Mirth & Mischief 2025
I had no idea what to expect when I got the chance to fill in last-minute as a vendor for Mirth & Mischief, but I knew it would be something special.
From their website: MIRTH & MISCHIEF is the Southeast United States’ premier fully immersive fantasy themed theater and afterparty experience. Inspired by Midsummer Nights Dream meets Game of Thrones meets The Labyrinth and set in a Renaissance castle in Helen, GA, MIRTH features a dynamic blend of cirque, dance, puppetry, character actors, virtual reality, video projection mapping, scent and sound effects, and live music. Read more about Mirth & Mischief.
I first started seeing ads for Mirth & Mischief back in February of 2025, and I was intrigued, but the tickets were out of my price range. Even though it would be held at one of my most favorite places ever, Uhuburg Castle in Helen, GA, I figured I would just have to settle for stalking social media.
At first, I didn’t even know that vendors were a thing for this event. Then, the vendor coordinator for CastleFaire posted in the vendor group asking if there may be anyone available to fill in a couple weekends last-minute, and luckily enough, I had the chance to take one of those weekends! The event ran every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in May and I was able to fill in the weekend of the 23rd-25th.
This was the most amazing event I’ve attended yet.
Friday and Saturday were for the 18+ crowd, then Sunday was their Fairy Frolick that was a much more kid-friendly variation of the event. Friday/Saturday, gates opened at 5 and the event lasted late into the night. Sunday’s hours were quite a bit shorter, just 12-4 if I remember correctly.
Vendor-wise, there were only a few of us, and boy were the vendors highly-curated. The weekend I attended, there was also a leather journal maker, a 3d printer who focused on large trophy hunter-style mounted dragon heads, a tarot card reader, a photography booth, and my friend from Dragon Eye Arts selling her monster boxes & accessories. Additionally, my neighbor to my right was a steampunk carriage photo booth. The carriage was actually made from an old hot air balloon basket frame with the fire attachment for the balloon still intact, and it was so cool!
The event itself was so immersive too. Arriving at the gate, you were greeted and given a map with instructions on where to go, then you could enter the castle, browse the vendors, and immerse yourself in the story. Among the things you could view throughout the castle grounds were Twiggleknock the little tree gnome, human rocks (think Geodude with a whole human body), the Trash Knights, and even a 20ft tall dragon.
The performances were done in two acts. Act 1 was done multiple times throughout the night as people arrived and it was inside the castle. It featured singing and aerial stunts and probably more but I couldn’t peel my eyes off the aerialists the whole time. After Act 1, depending on your ticket level purchased, you could then continue through the castle for more storytelling, or continue outside to the drink tent. Then after the sun set and the last Act 1 was performed, a single performance of Act 2 began outside. It included a video projection against the walls of the castle and more amazing singing, then moved over to an open area atop the castle walls where fire dancers lit up the night.
After Act 2 concluded, a DJ took over for the afterparty and we basically had a nightclub take over the castle, which was the MOST fun.
Highlights of the event for me include:
A beautiful luna moth gracing me with her presence when I first arrived & hanging around my booth the whole day/night Friday
Getting to vend next to my friend Dragon Eye Arts (always a highlight when I can be by a friend!) - she was kind enough to watch my booth for me so I could go catch the shows
Selling my patchwork-style black pirate hat that I’d literally been planning for ages
Meeting a lovely lady from Germany (I think??) who bought over $300 worth of stuff from me
Getting to bring my sister along on Saturday and Sunday to help out since she doesn’t get to come to a lot of my events and this one was such a unique one to attend
I was absolutely floored by the quality of the performances and how there were so many little details that were so thorough. If I have the chance next year, I am absolutely going back, hopefully as a vendor, but let’s be real, I’ll find a way to pay if I have to.
