05/29/2026
I’ve had quite a few people reach out asking if Happy Faces will be returning to some of the events I attended last year, and I wanted to share a little update 💛🎨
First, thank you! It truly means so much knowing people remembered seeing me at certain events and were hoping to visit me again.
This year there are a few events I WON’T be attending.. Some are simply because I was already booked elsewhere ahead of time, and some are because of personal scheduling.
But if I’m being transparent.. there are also a couple I chose not to return to.
Last year was my first big year stepping into larger festivals and events, and I learned a lot. I got to see firsthand how much thoughtful planning and communication can make an event amazing..not only for the families attending, but for the vendors and entertainers helping create the experience.
I’m incredibly grateful for the organizers who made me feel welcome, communicated clearly, advertised my business, and made sure I was in a space where families could easily find me. Those things matter, and I genuinely appreciate the events that went out of their way to support Happy Faces! 💖
But unfortunately I also experienced the opposite..
At one event, after being directed to my assigned space, there was a major miscommunication that led to me unknowingly moving another vendor’s property after I had been told by the event host to do so. It quickly turned into a very stressful situation where I was verbally yelled at & cussed at while trying to set up (all with my children right there beside me 😬)
To be clear, once we were able to talk it through, I understood his frustration and he apologized. The issue wasn’t really between either of us.. it came down to a lack of organization and spaces not being clearly prepared beforehand.
But situations like that are exactly why communication and planning matter so much! When vendors pay for a space and are told where they’ll be, that space should be ready and clearly set. It protects everyone involved and helps avoid unnecessary stress and conflict.
After all of that, I ended up losing a big chunk of setup time and was eventually placed off to the side and told to “make it work.” 🥴 I only stayed because I had already advertised and knew families were genuinely excited to come find me, I tried to make the best out of it but it was a very disappointing thing to experience to say the least.
I gave a lot of grace last year because I was newer to the festival world and learning as I went, but I also learned how important it is to value my time, my business, and the experience I’m creating for the families who come to visit me 🎨
At the end of the day, I want families excited to see Happy Faces to actually be able to find me, feel welcomed, and enjoy the fun experience they came for ✨
I’m always thankful for the hosts who communicate well, stay organized, and truly value the vendors and entertainers helping make their event special. Those are the partnerships I love being part of and will gladly continue supporting.
And to everyone who has reached out asking where I’ll be thank you so much. Your support means more than you know and I will soon be posting a monthly calendar of all of the upcoming events you can come visit me at 💛🫶🏼💛
