By Judy Fujita
Healdsburg is known for its scenic vineyards, world-class restaurants, vibrant music and art scene, and historic charm. But it also lays claim to a unique and whimsical tradition:
“fairy doors.”
These tiny, handcrafted doors, usually hidden at the base of the exteriors of building walls, have become an endearing feature of the town’s landscape. First appearing in the early 2010s, the fairy doors are part of a growing trend in communities worldwide.
Fairy doors began to appear in Healdsburg in 2017. It is suspected that a local or several local artists were and are responsible for their appearance. The first door made its appearance at the museum. The door looked as if it was a replica of the museum door. Since then, people who work at the museum have added their own touches to the door.
This “sudden appearance of a fairy door” at a commercial location seems to be the norm locally, and fairy doors always seem to reflect the theme of the business. Other Northern California cities in which fairy doors can be found include Cloverdale, Alameda and Berkeley.
In addition to reflecting the spirit of the businesses whose outer walls they adorn, Healdsburg’s fairy doors also often capture the artistic spirit of both the creator and the town in general. They offer a magical experience within the town’s downtown area.
While the origins of Healdsburg’s fairy doors ultimately remain mysterious, they were likely first created by local artists inspired by similar projects in places like Ann Arbor, Michigan. These miniature doors are crafted from wood, often have windows, sometimes open and close, and sometimes include miniature furniture or painted designs.
Walk through the town of Healdsburg on any given day and one will often find a family or a group of children running around trying to find as many doors as possible. The doors spark imaginations—who doesn’t want to know where the fairies reside when they are not working?
It is clear that many local artists and craftspeople are actively and purposefully working to keep the tradition of fairy doors alive, although the creators themselves remain anonymous. When my grandchildren and I walk through the downtown area, we often find doors that we have never seen before.
Move! Healdsburg, a grassroots organization created to make Healdsburg more bikeable and walkable, will sponsor a Fairy Door Walk on March 23, beginning in the Plaza. We aim to identify as many of the fairy doors in Healdsburg that we can find. We will do the walk en masse and end in the Plaza with snacks and prizes. The event is free; kids under 4 are welcome to participate, but only with parental supervision.
